How to See Soaring

[Debbie]

DSis and I (ie two adults of a more "mature" age) will be in WDW in August. . .hot, humid, and harrowingly busy.

We'd like the best plan to see Soaring. EMH-am/pm- or no? Are there single rider lines for this one? Fast passes? I understand that there are 3 levels, so it'd be cool to try it three times, right?

So thanks to anyone who has used a plan to see this one, and is willing to share it!

 

[safetymom]

Get there as soon as you enter the park in the morning. Get a fast pass and maybe even ride it then. Fast passes go quickly.

Most days the single rider line is not open. They will take single riders from the lines when you are close to loading.

I don't think there is a bad seat in the house. Something different to see in every seat.

You will love Soarin.

 

[curiouser]

Definitely get FPs. We had FPs and were able to almost walk right on.

Soarin' is amazing, but I don't think you need to sit in all three levels to expierience it fully. We went on it twice and sat in two different rows (levels) and it was only minorly different. Besides, what row you get put in its totally random as to where you are in line.

 

[Greg K.]

We rode it three times during our most recent trip, on different days. We asked the CM if we could sit in the first row, and he was very happy to accomodate us (though if you ask for a certain row, you might have to wait a few minutes, until the next ride.)

I recommend the first row -- no dangling feet!

And I recommend what others said, too -- get a FP first thing in the morning. During the week, if you get to Soarin' by about 9:15, you can usually ride with just a 10 or 15 minute wait. On weekends, though, it can stretch to 30 minutes or more by that point.

 

[snappy]

We rode it I think 6 times our last trip (two different days).

Get there early, I would go on a non EMH day, the day after EPCOT's evening EMH. Be there before opening. Grab a fastpass and get in the standby line.

There was a single rider line when we went, it was not being used. I asked the CM checking fastpass return times about it and he said it was not being used (we love the single rider line at TT). He said Disney was going to remove the single rider line at Soarin' soon.

I prefer front row, middle. Lower row on either the right or left side I could see a little too much of the side or bottom of the screen. Still enjoyed the ride tremendously whereever we sat. It is awesome.

The CM's were accomodating when we asked once to ride in the front but we were told not to expect it when they were really busy. DD9 who is a very chipper red headed blue eyed darlin' asked, no way was the CM going to refuse her.

At night when we went one of the concourses were closed (there is an A and a B concourse), resulting in significantly longer waits, even for fastpass riders like us. I think they opened up the other side later (this was around 9 pm, right before Illuminations on EMH evening night). I would love to know if they have a schedule when the close one side or the other, or if it is just random, depending on personnel availability. I could not understand closing one side since there were so many people in line, a 3 hour wait for standby, they even announced it, since it must have gotten longer while some folks were in line. Who in their right mind would get in a line with that kind of wait posted?

 

[tc]

When we were that in May, fastpasses were gone by early afternoon, witha stand-by time of over 2 hours. So, get there early, and get a fastpass. Even the single rider line was long.

I think the best ride is the 1st row. I was distracted by the dangling feet in the 2nd and 3rd rows. Our first ride was in the 1st row, and didn't even realize there were others below me. Our next few rides were in the 2nd and 3rd rows, and I finally requested the 1st row again. The cm was very accomodating and we barely had to wait (there was only two of us).

This is an amazing ride! You'll love it!

 

[Greg K.]

A castmember at WDW told me a GREAT way to see and experience Soarin' is to wear sandals, and leave 'em on the ground before take off.

With your bare feet dangling in mid-air, she said, the sensation is incredible -- you feel weirdly vulnerable and free.

We didn't do it, but some of you out there might want to give it a try . Tell us what you think!

 

[Debbie]

Thanks so much for the replies. So....get there early, grab a fast pass, hop in line and RIDE! Best the day after a late EMH. Single-rider line is not an option-we'll save that for Test Track Oh...and leave the shoes on the ground. Thanks again! I can hardly wait!

 

[SqueakyMouse]

We just spent a long weekend at WDW -- Fri through Mon night. Soarin' was really the only attraction on our must-do list this time. Passes disappeared by lunch time each day. By evening, posted wait times exceeded 120 minutes. Yesterday, we picked up a fast-pass shortly after park opening. Our return time began at 11:45. Lines were posted at 90 minutes when we returned. With our fast pass, we had only a 5 minute-or so wait. I think this attraction is wonderful but not worth waiting more than 30 minutes!!

 

[byoung]

One of the must due each trip rides.

 

[Debby7]

Here's what worked for us. Get to the park at opening or slightly after. I went to Soaring for fastpasses with everyone's cards. Rest of my family went to the Fountainview and ordered breakfast treats. I met them there for a leisurely breakfast. Usually had a little time to shop . then walked right on with our fastpasses. Great ride !

 

[Suebie]

We'll be there at the beginning of September with only 3 days for the parks so our schedule is tight. We planned on doing Epcot for a 1/2 day from late afternoon to park closing. The day we are going to Epcot is an EMH evening. Will additional fast passes be distributed for the EMH evening? What time are they distributed?

Thanks.

 

[snappy]

The one time we were at EPCOT for evening EMH, I did not see them restarting fastpass and we WERE there after 9 pm. I don't think they restarted them we left the LAND area before 9:30 pm.

Anyone else know?

 

[disney1990]

We were at Epcot in early July and loved Soarin. My best bet -- go at park opening and ride. AFter getting off the ride, pickup a fast pass and come back and do it again later. It's Worth It!!!