Is Soarin scary?

[TrsisHi]

My mom read in Birnbaum's book not to ride Soarin if you have a heart condition. Is it that scary or dangerous?

Teresa

 

[Donnask8pro]

I did not think so. I took my DS 5 and DS 11 w/ cerebal palsy on it. No one was nervous at all. Oh and took my Mom 78 yrs old. She loved it

 

[flea1267]

I am the world's BIGGEST chicken when it comes to rides/heights...and no it's not a bit scary, I just rode on the 3rd row and it's the lowest to the ground. It's maybe 10 feet in the air, the 1st row is probably 25-30 feet above ground and the 2nd row is maybe 20-22 feet above the floor. It gives you a "flying/gliding" sensation but trust me if I can take it anyone can....unless you have a severe heart problem I can't see why anyone who meets the height requirement can't ride it. It was so much fun!

 

[tinkerbell60]

It is neither scary or dangerous - it is all illusion. But, if you have a fear of heights - this will test your nerves. There are three rows of seats, each row moves forward and up towards a screen. If you are in the first row you do go up in the air pretty high. After that, there is very gentle rocking/swaying of the seats, but you feel like you are really flying.

It is a beautiful show/ride but only lasts about 2 minutes. I m afraid of heights so we requested the 3rd row, which is the lowest to the ground. It was so great, I might even try the 1st or 2nd row next time.

 

[Equidae]

I was a little scared the first time I rode it because I have a fear of heights. When we walked into the room with the 'hand gliders' I was still feeling uneasy. The ride starts and you are lifted a little ways off the ground and watch an Imax-type screen (not as big I don't think) that shows aerial photos of California as if you were hand gliding. Your feet dangle below you and you can feel you seats moving/tilting ever so slightly in sync with the video. It's very much a sensory ride. If you or your mom were to ride feel like it's too much, I think closing your eyes would help a lot. It's pretty short so it's over quickly. That said, if your mom has a heart condition, then it would be depending on how she felt and if she thought she could handle it. It's a really gentle ride I think.

 

[tommygirl79]

It isn't scary or dangerous at all. Remember that Disney is required by law to post those warnings to protect themselves. They should be taken seriously, but having knowledge of the ride itself will allow each person to decide whether or not it's something that might affect their particular condition.

I'm sure the warning come from the fact that Soarin' IS exhilerating...the seat DO go up fairly high within the building (I believe it's up to 40 feet) and ride moves a bit with the huge TV screen and it achieves the effect VERY well to make you feel that you are, indeed, Soarin'... If someone with me had a fear of heights, I would suggest maybe they sit it out but as far as scary or dangerous (as in a rollercoaster type thing) it's not...

 

[justloveit]

Soarin is not scary at all. You sit in swings and it gives you the feeling of flying over different areas of California in a hang glider. If you get motion sickness from watching home movies, you probably shouldn't ride it. But there is nothing scary at all. It is pretty spectacular.

 

[wdwgoofeeee]

It's not scary or dangerous at all. But I must add that the illusions created are so well done that I found myself picking up my feet so as to not the hit the top of the trees. I did likewise when we were flying over the water so I didn't get them wet!

 

[kelleigh1]

We loved Soarin'. My husband has a fear of heights so we weren't sure he'd like it but he was willing to try because he knew I was excited about it. (I'm the complete opposite. Love heights!)

Our first ride, we were in the front row and it's thrilling when it first lifts you up. But then it's a nice ride. The scene over the L.A. freeway made me a bit dizzy but that's because it's moving so quickly that I wasn't trying to look at everything and it was going by too fast.

For our second ride, we were in the second row and the lift wasn't as high so it wasn't as "thrilling" as in the front row. But it was still just as exciting for me.

 

[dreamscometrue47]

It isn't scary or dangerous at all, but if you are afraid of heights, I would definitely go with the 3rd row. My mom 79 rode Soarin' last week and loved it!

I definitely like the 2nd row better than the first. I don't usually get queasy on this types of rides, but I felt a little off when we rode in the first row, but felt perfectly fine in the 2nd. Go figure!

 

[FionaLovesShrek]

I had no idea what the format of this ride was, only that people kept saying they loved it. Sometimes I get a little motion sickness and I was worried about that. We were put in the first row and the lift up was so smooth I didn't think we were up very high till I looked down at the floor. My first thought was,"Holy Crap! Don't look down again!" but once the ride started, I forgot everything else. It was wonderful. We immediately got off and got a fast pass to ride it again. There is nothing to fear here. I this ride!

 

[liznboys]

I agree... While *I* don't find it scary, I can totally see someone with a fear of heights being uneasy with it (and making their heart race), or even someone who gets motion sickness. I happen to get motion sickness very easily, but it doesn't happen on Soarin' at all. I don't have a fear of heights though. I love it!!

When I rode it last month (I was 22 weeks pregnant btw, it's a gentle ride) I sat next to a young lady who was by herself, and I would guess it was her first time riding it. She was uneasy, looking for something to hold onto. Several times throughout the ride I would hear her take deep breaths and she'd reach her hand up to cover her mouth, close her eyes and turn her head away from the screen. I was starting to worry she might throw up or something! I wanted to ask her if she was ok, but I didn't want to make her feel worse. If she'd have gotten anymore obvious about her feelings, I would have said something to her. She was fine though and walked away acting normally. lol

 

[BeNJeNWaFFLe]

I can see it being scary if you have a fear of heights. But my mom is deathly afraid of heights (and has vertigo) and she rode Soarin' with no problems. (She can't even ride an escalator without fear.) I have a fear of falling (so heights are also a problem) and I loved it! Yes, you are lifted off the ground, but I was in such anticipation for the ride that I didn't even notice it. See how amazing the ride is, smell the smells, and there should be no problem. Enjoy.

 

[ElizabethB]

DH doesn't like heights. He didn't like Soarin' and won't ride it again. By contrast, I love it. But, I love planes, flying, etc.

I would not tell anyone that it's not scary -- that is such a personal judgment.

 

[trypnotic]

I rode on it last May, shortly after it opened. I hadn't read anything about it so I didn't know what to expect. The only thing that made me uneasy was the initial bit when they move you into position - it was only the uncertainty that made my heart leap! I have issues with being launched and dropped quickly - which is strange as I love Mission Space. After I rode Soarin' again and again, I obviously knew what was coming and it didn't bother me.

 

[vicceja]

Hi!

Soarin' is not scary at all - my little ones love this ride - very relaxing and exciting at the same time. She will luv it!

 

[theSurlyMermaid]

No, it is not. It is exhilarating.

Obviously, if you have a huge fear of heights, it may give you pause. But what a ride!

DH and I rode it three times.

 

[DVCJEN]

It bothered both my Mom and Aunt. It is not for everyone, especially those that fear heights or the sensation of falling.

 

[Collette]

I can't say that it was scary exactly. I do have a fear of heights though. It doesn't stop me from riding, but I feel the need to hang onto the bars that divide the seats. I think that had more to do with knowing how far off the ground I was than the ride itself.

The first three times I was either in row two or three. This last time I was nervous when placed in row one, but it turned out to be the best ride of them all. When there were no feet dangling in front of me, I forgot about the height and enjoyed the ride more than ever.

Collette

 

[Laurajean1014]

I got on the ride and when I noticed it had no hand bar, I got nervous!

This has never happened to me before.......

I started to panic as they lifted us up..... I was truly scared!

But, I told myself that it is not real and that I guess I would be a flightless bird if I can I came back to life as a bird. I then, thoroughly enjoyed the ride.