How high up do seats go on Soarin?

[SRUAlmn]

Soarin' is one that I try to get out of every year. We rode several years ago in the front row. The lift up was terrible- I think the clouds did me in!! I rode w/ 1 eye open and a death grip. In the meantime my 3 older dc where totally enjoying it! We rode 2 yrs ago in the 3rd row. and I swear the motion of the gliders did me in. I never felt it the first time we rode in the front seats. Again w/ the 1 eye ride and death grip. oh and I do use the middle strap too! It is very realistic.
I can do roller coasters but not soarin'. I am leaving Soarin' to DH to ride!

All I can say is give it a ride! If you can't do it-- ride w/ your eyes closed!

This is my fear. I have a heights issue AND a motion issue! So high maintenance Even the final scene in the Great Movie Ride makes me a little dizzy (when all the stars are flying and your car is moving at the same time.) Do the seats on Soarin actually tilt or move during the show other than the initial 'lift off.' My whole family LOVES this ride and I never get to enjoy it with them. Although, I do get to snack on some yummy Sunshine Seasons strawberry shortcake while I wait

 

[seashoreCM]

Lunch with an Imagineer.

I'm sure it has to be less high. Ten foot pitch (between tiers) tops.

Like, 15', 25', 35'

In order to have decent sight lines at the screen for that many people you don't want them spaced out too much.

Now that my trip is over and I am back home I am trying to visualize the seating and relate it to my home. I have ceilings just under 8 feet and don't think that the row above was higher than the next story.

Yes I can see feet dangling from above without too much effort while at 15' pitch I would have to really crane my neck to.

The seating sections tilt a little, forward and back, during the ride. I thought I could feel some left and right tilt except I did not see the various tiers tilt relative to each other to accomplish that.

 

[keahgirl8]

I have a HUGE fear of heights. The first time I rode it, I was panic stricken the entire time that I was in line. Sweaty palms, fast heart beat. You know...the whole kit and kaboddle. Anyway, the worst part for me was the initial "take off" when you go off the ground. Now, when I ride it, I just close my eyes really tight for that part and enjoy the rest of the ride. I guess it is a mind over matter thing. The scenery is amazing so if you can talk yourself into it, I would go for it.

I totally agree. I was TERRIFIED the first time, and I'm still pretty scared when it first takes off. If you can push past that though, it is definitely worth it. It's an amazing ride.

 

[SueM in MN]

The Disney website says “be lifted 40 feet into the air", so the highest row is at least 40 feet.

I’ve ridden in each row and I am pretty brave to look down, so I would agree with the figure posted by Luv2CtheMouse
1st row - 45 feet

2nd row - 30 feet

3rd row - 15 feet

 

[Kristinluvsdisney]

Thanks everyone!! I still dont know if i can brave it. Im getting nervous just reading about it and my trip is still 2 months away. 15ft is pretty high and with the seats tilting. I liked the 8 ft better, too bad it wasnt so. I just think even though you cant see how far you are up with the darkness, i will still be thinking about it and ill probably have a panic attack or something. On our last trip my 5 year old loved soarin and mommy cant bring her self to get on. I dont tell him why of course, just that i dont want to ride, i wouldnt want to put my fears on him, i want my boys to love all the rides.

 

[anniebean]

I have to say, that I am not someone is is frightened by heights. I climb 10 foot tall ladders at work without a though. But Soarin scares the bejeezus out of me! You can tell you are high up, don't let anyone fool you. Add to that the fact that the ride vehicle dips and sways with the movie, and that you can feel your feet swing, and you have one realistic ride. It does feel as if you are flying!

THIS!!!! I'm a rollercoaster lover, heights don't bother me, but HATE this ride. Will not ride it again. I don't like the fact your feet are dangling and refuse to ride it with my family again. I was praying the whole time to get me off the ride. I would ride RnRC a million times before I'd get on Soarin' again!

 

[DJT]

I am afraid of heights but I will ride Soarin. The first time I rode it, I was so scared but my family convinced me to ride it. Maybe also part of that was a fear of the unknown. After I rode it, I was fine. Now it's my favorite ride and I prefer to be on the top row. I love it! I also have a vertigo issue at times so I just close my eyes for a few seconds during the parts of the movie that could cause me to become dizzy. No problem.

Donna

 

[starrysky]

I'm not a fan of roller coasters (thunder mountain is my limit) But I do love Soarin. Heighwise not great and you can tell that you are high up, maybe best to request a seat in the lowest row.

The only bit i have the problem with is the lift off for somereason my stomach just goes south on that bit. The rest I LOVE just wish the scenes were less jumpy and more smooth transitions.

 

[LuvLuvLuv]

i sat on the end last time. we were in the top row. being the genius that i am, i looked down to my right. it was much, much, much higher than i anticipated. that's all i can think of now when i ride it. the bunches of times i've been on the ride in my life, and i just decide to look down last november sure i'll still go on it.... but from now on, i'm looping the child thing thru my harness

 

[hookedonears]

It most certainly is not 6-8 feet off the ground. The carriages lift off the platform and then move over the pit. The third row is about 40-50 feet up.

You didn't complete your description. It moves over the pit filled with hungry alligators and crocodiles and a few large snakes and spiders.

 

[buffettgirl]

You didn't complete your description. It moves over the pit filled with hungry alligators and crocodiles and a few large snakes and spiders.

haha..it might as well be for those of us who are like this
Who knows what's down there.

 

[cariann77]

I am also terrified of heights and think that maybe we should skip this one, but I hate to miss anything just because I am too scared. Are you able to request the lowest row to be seated in? Will they honor your request?

 

[SueM in MN]

I am also terrified of heights and think that maybe we should skip this one, but I hate to miss anything just because I am too scared. Are you able to request the lowest row to be seated in? Will they honor your request?

Yes, people request the bottom row frequently. They may have you stand to the side of the preshow area temporarily if the bottom row is already filled, but you can get the bottom row.

 

[LuvLuvLuv]

honestly, if you look straight ahead... you'll never know.

i go to the world 2 or 3 times per year, normally ride soarin at least 3 times thru the trips, and i just on the last trip looked down and freaked out. my advice is to not sit on the end and you'll never know. this is not a ride to miss.

 

[nroush313]

You didn't complete your description. It moves over the pit filled with hungry alligators and crocodiles and a few large snakes and spiders.

Actually it's zombies No but it is where we go if you drop your shoes or phone or camera. Oh and there is a cherry picker down there so if the ride stops in the air and we can't manually lower the carriages we can still get you down. That's why I am saying it is really higher than 15 feet because if we can keep a big machine down there without you seeing than it must be high.

 

[lllGurulll]

One of the problems I keep having on this ride is constantly getting seated in the bottom row, row3 back row when getting seated. Can you request the CM to put you on the next ride to get row one or row two? I would like to see this from the higher points of view for a change.

 

[stargazertechie]

One of the problems I keep having on this ride is constantly getting seated in the bottom row, row3 back row when getting seated. Can you request the CM to put you on the next ride to get row one or row two? I would like to see this from the higher points of view for a change.

Yes, and usually they'll honor your request, but you may have to wait a cycle for them to finish filling the ride.

I hate being on the bottom row with everyone's feet in my face

 

[TagsMissy]

I love coasters, tower or terror, etc but Soarin freaked the heck out of me! LOL

The first time we road it my hubby and I were split up for some reason and guess who the LUCKY goose was who got first row? MOI... I was not pleased to ride on apart from my hubby in the first row and when we got left the ride hubby says he'll never forget my "I am going to kill you expression" ROFL Anyways I've ridden it since and as long as hubby is with me I seem OK for the most part -- but I think part of it is that I know what to expect now.

 

[Mom2m&k]

I do not like heights...but I can do this ride. It took me a little time to figure out but if I put my hands under my eyes...like a salute but under my eyes...so I can't see that it looks like I am flying through the air, then I am okay. It does take some mind over matter. It is such a beautiful ride and really if you hate it just close your eyes and it will be over quick!

 

[RandFamily]

After reading this thread, I'm thinking that maybe it's not just the fear of heights that is the issue for people since so many of you say you are afraid of heights yet love Soarin. I think it's a fear of falling - it's the movement plus the height.

I have ridden it twice and both times I've panicked so badly I could barely stop shaking for like an hour afterwards. Even after asking for the bottom row, I found it terrifying - gripping my daughter like I would die, heart pounding, sweating - absolute panic.

I think the problem is that the illusion is SO GOOD that it really feels like you are falling - not just sitting up high - but falling. The seats are always tilting in different directions so there's no way to get any sense of stability. And you can't easily see the ground, as mentioned, so it feels like you're higher than you are.

I don't want to scare people who might indeed love it, but I've tried hard to love it and I just can't do it