How to get the middle on Soarin

[Robo]

Since I know, going in that the Eiffel tower is going to look "bent" if I'm not in the center,
I just think, "Yup, that Eiffel tower sure looks bent." and that's about the amount it really affects my day.

It's not a positive, but as Disney things go, it's certainly not a game-changer.

 

[HopperFan]

I agree with Robo - it's not a game-changer but is sure is nice to sit in the middle. I find it well worth the wait. I have never had an "eye-roll" from a CM, or if I did I didn't notice.

They wait until they turn their back to roll their eyes .............

That said it made a difference on the old movie to have the best experience since it was camera shot.

Given the new "movie" is lots of fake computer generated that doesn't work well with the screen, it's warped from any where we've sat.

 

[WEDWDW]

It isn't JUST the Eiffel Tower that looks "curved".

We always ask for B1-never had a CM act like it was a bad thing for a Guest to do.

If it ever gets to the point that it is a problem,I'm sure they will end the practice of Guests making seat requests(front or back row on Coasters,etc.),but until then,my thoughts are if Disney allows it,I will take advantage of it.

We even request front row on LWTL-try it some time-COMPLETELY different experience from the front row.

 

[Deanie1]

I asked for B1 for the first time on our last trip. I figured I deserved it since the previous 2 trips I was seating n the farthest edge seat on the bottom row. Twice in a row!

I have never sat in the front of LWTL. I love that ride so I will ask very politely next time.

 

[JETSDAD]

We just let fate decide for us. Sometimes it's B1, sometimes elsewhere. We laugh at the curved views and let first timers that we chat with in line know the best spots if they would like to ask for it.

 

[alilang]

Yes B1! We love the top row to avoid dangling feet views!

 

[Linleedo]

We haven't seen the new Soarin yet but I see people saying you want to be in the middle to avoid the bend effect. How do you accomplish this? Is there a specific section to aim for in the queue?

Simply ask when you get close in line(before you go into the area for seating). They will ask you to step aside, if it's not available and they will call you in line, when the line starts form for the next ride.( Ask for front row, too!)

 

[PrincessWithABlaster]

It isn't JUST the Eiffel Tower that looks "curved".
.

Agreed. It's everything. Spaceship Earth is oblong.

It IS just the nature of the kind of IMAX (Omnimax) screen they use to encompass the guests.

Ah, but they are supposed to use a fisheye lens when filming and its tilt is supposed to match the angle of the tilt of the dome. That's how they normally prevent distortion with Omnimax. The film is created with a convex lens that distorts the image in the opposite way that the screen does so they negate each other.

My guess is that since Disney used a mix of CGI and actual filmed elements they decided it would be too hard to fisheye the CGI to match a fisheyed film. They probably would have had to write software or paid someone to do so.

They used a film created to be flat on a curved screen when that's clearly not what's supposed to be done. I still contend that that's a screw up. Or maybe more accurate to say that it was a really poor choice. If I had created it, I'd be embarrassed to show it.

 

[jcvalenti]

I think I've ridden Soarin' about 30 times since it opened in 2005. Of those thirty times, I've probably asked (very nicely) if I could wait for "B1" about 28 times, and never once had any problem or any sense of annoyance from a cast member at all. Oftentimes we have a big group of 12 - 20 with us, but it's never an issue - we all know to line up and get out of everyone's way until the next ride. IMHO, it is a far superior experience to be able to see that whole screen and have no legs in the view - but others dont seem to care that much.

As for the new film, It's disappointing from a visual perspective. Focusing on harsh, linear lines of architecture (such as the Eiffel Tower and the Taj Mahal) really exaggerate the barrel distortion of the perspective. The "old" Disney would never have allowed such a technical screw up in a feature attraction - in essence only 1/3 of the guests viewing every show has an acceptable perspective of the show ... that's ridiculous.

 

[SaintsManiac]

The only time we ever asked to sit B1 I got a rude reply from the CM. I never asked again. I just book PPO at Garden Grill and enjoy being first on for the day.

 

[gharter]

we've sat in B1 a few times and other rows as well. B1 is better, but I don't really notice the flaws that much even though I know they are there.
If you want B1, just ask. Never been told no.

 

[DisneyOma]

To step back a bit...
since I know, going in that the Eiffel tower is going to look "bent" if I'm not in the center,
I just think, "Yup, that Eiffel tower sure looks bent." and that's about the amount it really affects my day.

It's not a positive, but as Disney things go, it's certainly not a game-changer.

Not to you, but to others, it could be. I've got tricky vision - when we went on Soarin' this past summer, we were over on stage right. I could barely make out parts of the film because of the distortion. So for me, it is a game changer.

The top lets you have an unobstructed view of the screen (no feet hanging down in your vision).

I guess I'm lucky to be short, so that I've never had feet in my vision! I'd have to look pretty high up to see feet

As for the new film, It's disappointing from a visual perspective. Focusing on harsh, linear lines of architecture (such as the Eiffel Tower and the Taj Mahal) really exaggerate the barrel distortion of the perspective. The "old" Disney would never have allowed such a technical screw up in a feature attraction - in essence only 1/3 of the guests viewing every show has an acceptable perspective of the show ... that's ridiculous.

I agree - they screwed up. It's actually worse than the original, IMO.

 

[KrazeeK120]

The only time we ever asked to sit B1 I got a rude reply from the CM. I never asked again. I just book PPO at Garden Grill and enjoy being first on for the day.

Really?? That’s too bad. What did the CM say?

I’ve asked for B1 a few times and it’s never been an issue.

 

[SaintsManiac]

Really?? That’s too bad. What did the CM say?

I’ve asked for B1 a few times and it’s never been an issue.

She sarcastically said we would have to wait another 20 minutes. I just said never mind and we moved on. It was really busy and she may have had a bad day. Who knows. They're human

 

[HopperFan]

She sarcastically said we would have to wait another 20 minutes. I just said never mind and we moved on. It was really busy and she may have had a bad day. Who knows. They're human

DD worked there. It happened all the time so no big deal to them BUT the standard was, at that time, to have you wait for the next showing .... which could be with load/show/unload 20 minutes.

 

[MinnieMSue]

This summer on our last Epcot day my daughter decided we needed b1. Every time we saw the show we ended up being in the very end seats (but top row). She wanted one time to not see curved mountains and Eiffel Tower ). We were prepared to ask but irony of ironies we were put there without even needing to ask. It was where we fell in line. We even ended up being in the exact center seats. Pure luck.

 

[SaintsManiac]

DD worked there. It happened all the time so no big deal to them BUT the standard was, at that time, to have you wait for the next showing .... which could be with load/show/unload 20 minutes.

I totally get that. It was the tone that I found strange, but like I said, we moved on.

 

[slpeters]

I'm pretty sure we got pulled forward. We were far enough up in the line that it seemed like we would make it in in the next surge. My husband turns to me and says "isn't there some section we're supposed to ask for?'' My mind went blank and I guess my face showed it because a passing CM leaned in and said "You're supposed to ask for B1, come with me." He pulled us out of line and we waited with him and were sent off to B1 ahead of the next surge. I don't think we ended up in an earlier theater but his little bit of pixie dust did get us the section we wanted in the seating we were lined up for, rather than the next one.

 

[TinkSassy]

I always ask for B1 unless I'm going to get multiple tries at it on a trip. If it is a one time stop - why not ask for the best view? You might have to wait for the next load but I'm ok with that. If I get to go many times in a trip I'll just sit where they put me as I'm bound to get the center at least once.

 

[GillianP1301]

We have never requested a certain section and over the years have sat in just about every row/section. Sure B1 is nice because it's centre and no dangling feet, but I honestly didn't enjoy all my other rides in different sections any less. It's just not a big deal for me.

That being said, I often see people standing to the side who have requested B1 and that's fine and I think they will continue to accommodate until they get to a point where too many people are requesting it and they end up with a backlog of more than one party at a time waiting for the exception.