FOP Smells

[HydroGuy]

I was one of the lucky/insane few who braved FOP on opening day - but with my trusty FP in hand. I had a FP for the 2nd day too. That was two years ago and both times I rode FOP I felt slightly queasy at the end. For me, the only WDW ride that gives me the queasies is ST. ST was worse than FOP.

Flash forward two years to last Sunday. I got on FOP at RD and also had a FP. So FOP rides #3 and 4 for yours truly. The goods news is I had zero queasies this time. FWIW, at RD I was on a near empty stomach, and later, with FP, it was right after lunch at FTBBQ. I was good both times.

But I noticed in the morning (and again after lunch) the smell inside the entry queue when you are near boarding. And when I did, I had a faint feeling of queasiness. The smell is kind of a lab-type almost hospital smell. That lasted all the way thru to boarding the ride (so 5-10 minutes), then once the ride starts the smells change to those that come from the ride itself.

Maybe that has been discussed here before, but I will say I find that smell near the boarding area to be negative.

Further, I rode Soarin on Wednesday (a couple days ago) and noticed that FOP smell again on one of the scenes - I can't remember which scene.

 

[gap2368]

FOP does have some sents in the ride itself but I have not smelled any in the line ( FP) and I have done it 20+ times at least.

 

[hiroMYhero]

I was one of the lucky/insane few who braved FOP on opening day - but with my trusty FP in hand. I had a FP for the 2nd day too. That was two years ago and both times I rode FOP I felt slightly queasy at the end. For me, the only WDW ride that gives me the queasies is ST. ST was worse than FOP.

Flash forward two years to last Sunday. I got on FOP at RD and also had a FP. So FOP rides #3 and 4 for yours truly. The goods news is I had zero queasies this time. FWIW, at RD I was on a near empty stomach, and later, with FP, it was right after lunch at FTBBQ. I was good both times.

But I noticed in the morning (and again after lunch) the smell inside the entry queue when you are near boarding. And when I did, I had a faint feeling of queasiness. The smell is kind of a lab-type almost hospital smell. That lasted all the way thru to boarding the ride (so 5-10 minutes), then once the ride starts the smells change to those that come from the ride itself.

Maybe that has that been discussed here before, but I will say I find that smell near the boarding area to be negative.

Further, I rode Soarin on Wednesday (a couple days ago) and noticed that FOP smell again on one of the scenes - I can't remember which scene.

We just had In-N-Out burgers for dinner and I should have known not to open a thread with “Smells” in the title.

I’m very sensitive to scents and especially “off” smells but I’ve never noticed anything within the queues in the 3 times I’ve ridden FoP.

Maybe they had a Code V? But that wouldn’t account for that scent in Soarin’.

Perhaps @rteetz may know or have noticed. He’s ridden FoP a number of times.

 

[rteetz]

We just had In-N-Out burgers for dinner and I should have known not to open a thread with “Smells” in the title.

I’m very sensitive to scents and especially “off” smells but I’ve never noticed anything within the queues in the 3 times I’ve ridden FoP.

Maybe they had a Code V? But that wouldn’t account for that scent in Soarin’.

Perhaps @rteetz may know or have noticed. He’s ridden FoP a number of times.

Is it the Ocean scent on Soarin? That one is in both FoP and Soarin I believe.

 

[MommaBerd]

Is it the Ocean scent on Soarin? That one is in both FoP and Soarin I believe.

That’s what I was thinking, too.

 

[Haley R]

Is it the Ocean scent on Soarin? That one is in both FoP and Soarin I believe.

I believe the OP is talking about a smell before getting on the ride

 

[rteetz]

I believe the OP is talking about a smell before getting on the ride

Yeah I know, the only thing I can think of that you’d get in both places is the ocean scent.

 

[Haley R]

Yeah I know, the only thing I can think of that you’d get in both places is the ocean scent.

Oh okay. I’ve never smelt anything in the que before for fop.

 

[HydroGuy]

Is it the Ocean scent on Soarin? That one is in both FoP and Soarin I believe.

I think that is it.

 

[MommaBerd]

I think that is it.

I like the smell...but it does have a, for lack of a better word, bitterness to it.

 

[WEDWDW]

The smell is kind of a lab-type almost hospital smell.

I know exactly what you are talking about.

I really don't know how to describe it-maybe "industrial".

And I experience a "similar" smell in the boarding queue("Ketchup/Mustard/Mayonnaise Pipes" area) for Dinosaur.

 

[mkla2015]

I've never noticed a smell in the pre-boarding area but I LOVE the "ocean smell" on soarin and FOP- if anyone is interested bath and body works sells a candle during winter called sparkling icicles and it smells very similar.

 

[HydroGuy]

I've never noticed a smell in the pre-boarding area but I LOVE the "ocean smell" on soarin and FOP- if anyone is interested bath and body works sells a candle during winter called sparkling icicles and it smells very similar.

I am not sure if we are all talking about the same smell. The FOP smell to which I am referring does not smell natural to me at all. A PP mentioned "industrial" and I agree.

The Soarin smells have never bothered me and have frankly been a positive. It might be that Soarin's only lasts for a few seconds so it is not annoying but at FOP you have to endure it for 5-10 minutes - from the queue, to the two pre-shows, and to the boarding area. It does not go away until the ride starts and the air starts to blow on you.

 

[mamamelody2]

Huh. I have ridden FoP 5 times but never noticed the smell you're talking about. DH didn't mention anything, either, and he's really sensitive to smells.
Not that I doubt it's there. We just haven't noticed it luckily.

 

[Dug720]

While I've never noticed a smell in the lab area, if there was to be one, I'd expect it to be lab-type since you're IN a lab (which may be why I didn't notice it or think it unusual).

I agree with the other poster who said perhaps the times you noticed it there had been a protein spill.

 

[SM1992]

Maybe my imagination is running a bit wild, but......I've noticed smells I would call " industrial or electrical" on many rides in Orlando. I would guess there's lots of electric /hydraulic/ mechanic functions going on, perhaps this might be what it is?

 

[HydroGuy]

As I summarized in the OP, I have only been on FOP on 3 days with 4 total rides. I believe the smell was there all four times. I concluded last Sunday that it was an intentional scent as part of the ride experience. Especially since it went away so quickly once the ride started and you transitioned to the Avatar in Pandora. But perhaps it is not intentional and just part of the construction materials in that part of the queue. Or it only happens occasionally and I got lucky on my 3 days.

It would be an interesting question to ask a CM who works that part of the ride - for anyone going soon...

 

[HydroGuy]

Maybe my imagination is running a bit wild, but......I've noticed smells I would call " industrial or electrical" on many rides in Orlando. I would guess there's lots of electric /hydraulic/ mechanic functions going on, perhaps this might be what it is?

I hit all four parks over the last week and never smelled anything like this - except how I mentioned Soarin in the OP. And that was of course short-lived and connected to one of the scenes - so obviously introduced intentionally.

My nose is not super good so one of you scent-hounds out there might be able to explain it better!

 

[Miffy]

I've ridden FoP numerous times--including, most recently, in December--and there is definitely a very particular aroma in the inside queue area. I can't quite place this scent since that's the only place I've ever smelled something like this. It's a sort of a cold, industrial aroma. I've always assumed that it's intentional. I love FoP, and I enjoy that aroma as well--it's part of the immersive experience of being there.

 

[tinkerhon]

I know exactly what you are talking about.

I really don't know how to describe it-maybe "industrial".

And I experience a "similar" smell in the boarding queue("Ketchup/Mustard/Mayonnaise Pipes" area) for Dinosaur.

As long as it doesn't smell like the sewer smell near Mouse Gear, I'm good ! )