My observations about Soarin'

[caribear]

Hi All!

Just a little report about Soarin'


I was at WDW on Sunday, 4/17 and Monday, 4/18. I headed straight for Epcot, as I could not wait a moment longer to check out Soarin'. They were checking ID's and many people were turned away. I have to say that I think The Land looks awesome!! The only attraction that was open on this day was Soarin'. I overheard a CM say that Living with the Land would be opening on Monday.

The wait time posted for Soarin' was 50 minutes. The line stretched all the way out of the que! I think we really only waited about 30 minutes though. Now, I have to say that I do get motion sickness from rides such as Star Tours and Body Wars, but I heard that Soarin' was a pretty smooth ride. In one word, I would describe the ride as "Awesome!" The attraction is divided up into to 2 theaters or as they say "Concourses." In each concourse there are 3 sections: A, B, C. If you are seated in section B, then you are in the middle of the IMAX screen. Sections A and C are on the left and right of the IMAX screen. Each section is also divided into 3 rows. Row 1, regardless of which section you are in (A, B or C) is the row that rises the highest inside the theater. Row 2 is in the center and row 3 is closest to the floor. I know everyone will have there own opinion on this, but I think the ride is really dependent upon which row you are in. I went on Soarin' 4 times over 2 days. I rode in all 3 sections and in Rows 1 and 3. Without a doubt, section B1 is the ultimate ride. You are up the highest, thus there are no feet dangling in front of you and you are in the center of the screen. You really feel immersed in the action of the movie. You can notice the top of the screen, but it was not something that took away from the experience. Later I rode in Section A, Row 3. I really did not enjoy this ride half as much. Row 3 is the lowest off of the floor and you can really see the bottom of the Imax screen.....I really didn't feel as immersed in the film as I had while in Row 1. I rode again in Section C, Row 1 and had another awesome experience. My last ride was in Section A, Row 1.....again it was great! I can't comment on Row 2, as I did not get the chance to experience the ride in that row.

As far as motion sickness goes....the ride is so smooth....you can barely tell you are moving. There is only one scene in the movie that got to me after the 3rd ride in a row...but I just remembered to close my eyes for a second and I was fine. If I did not ride 3 times in a row I would have been fine.

All in all this is an awesome attraction. Fast Pass is definitely the way to go. You will miss the interesting trivia about the biomes, but you will avoid a long wait.

The ride was open to all guests on Monday, 4/18, although it seemed to be running on a hit or miss schedule. I was told it was open in the AM, but when I arrived at The Land at 12pm, it was not open. By the time I rode Living with the Land it was open again and Fast Passes were available. The only attractions opened in The Land were Soarin' and Living with the Land. I really did not notice too many changes in Living with the Land. The set-up inside the greenhouses were a little different and there are now electronic gates in the que before you board the boats. Garden Grill, the new Sunshine Seasons and Circle of Life movie were not operating yet.

Sorry if this is very long winded....just wanted to pass along my observations

I also have a couple of Hidden Mickey pictures from the Flower and Garden Festival to share, but I will post them tomorrow! Epcot looks so beautiful!!

 

[AllyBri]

How long does the ride last?
Thanks.

 

[caribear]

I believe the actual ride time is about 5 minutes. To me it's like Mickey's Philharmagic...you don't want it to end!

 

[drp4video]

I was down from Michigan as my daughter sang at Epcot. I was able to ride Soaring four times on the 16th. I was at MGM that day, and my daughter left from MGM to go back to Michigan with her high school choir (they took a bus, I flew ), so I drove over to Epcot. Got there about 5:30 p.m. and the ride was having tech difficulties and when the ride re-opened, it would stay open till the park closed.

So I went over to America and saw Davy Jones from the Monkees perform. I got back to Soaring about 7:30. It was open and wait sign said 10 minutes. I basically walked right on, did the ride, and went around again. Did this 4 times, never waited. I rode the first row three times, and the third row once. The first is the best by far. The ride is amazing, and the land looks great. (and my daughter was not a happy camper )

 

[mickeym0use]

do you get to choose which row you want to sit in or does the cm tell you where to go?

 

[Finally_Talking]

We rode it on Sunday, 4/17 and again on 4/18. We LOVED it - what a great feeling. The cm's told us which row to sit in. We were in row one twice and once in row two. Row one is the BEST. You don't have anyone's feet above you to distract from the view. (not a big deal, I just preferred row one). I suppose you might be able to step aside and wait for the next ride to get in the row you want - I don't know, we just went where we were told.

 

[dreamingdisney]

I've been on Soarin' several times at DCA and think it's an awesome ride! My 4 year old DD absolutely loves it. Can't wait to try it out at WDW!

 

[caribear]

Mickeymouse, the cm's basically direct you to a section/row. If it is not busy, then you could probably request a row....but otherwise you just go to the directed row.

I can't wait for DH to try Soarin' in May!! I wish my 3 year old could ride it!!! She is really petite though, so I think we will have to wait another 3 years before she reaches the 40" requirement.

 

[Zurgerific]

thanks so much for the reviews - great and very informative. i'm looking forward to taking my family again and seeing soarin' for ourselves.

as a matter of fact, i'm planning on taking them the same we you were just there in 2006 - can you give me the complete rundown on the crowds and the weather for april 16/17/18 - + + +? (we were there june 6-13 2004 last, before that august 2000 as a point of reference - we don't like too much crowd or heat)

thanks,
zurgerific

 

[Mr Poohbrain]

We were there on April 17th and got to ride it as well!

WOW! It was really cool and I loved the smells.

My only complaint (and it's a minor one) is that I didn't like how the scenes broke. I think there could have been a little better flow from one "experience" to the next.

But, still, it was awesome. I was in B2, DH was in 1st row (can't recall if it was A, B, or C - we did a baby swap.)

Zurgific - I thought it was a bit crowded down there, but we are usually September people. I think this time of year is really hit or miss any more with Spring Break. We thought it (SB) would be over by then, but it seemed like there were a lot of people from Boston (saw a lot of Sox shirts and caps) there that particular week.

Mrs. PB

 

[pumba]

and did Soaring on the 17th with AP opening. I have to admit that the Soar got to me .........I was so motion moved that I had to shut my eyes a few times. Mostly because of the height issue. I actually thought I was over the ocean and the mts and the hot air balloons. My husband and the two grandkids did it both days and a total of 4 or 5 times. They loved it also. The new food area is going to be totally awesome. The look of it is gorgeous. The land was open for the ride as well when we were there.

 

[Keggy]

I was able to ride Soarin' twice over the AP/DVC preview days. I have riden the DCA Soarin over CA 3 or 4 times in previous trips. They are exactly the same except for the queue areas.

I am extremely motion sensative and I am fine on this attraction. We always ask for the middle row at the top. One Cast Member at EPCOT did give us a dirty look and said - if I must... OH WELL! It is one of my favorite all time attractions.

Kelly

 

[emeraldlover]

We just happened upon Soarin last week. We went to Epcot around 6 and did the ride through the golf ball (can't for the life of me remember the name of it and I have ridden it more times than I can remember). When we came out I was looking at the sign that tells the wait times and saw the Soarin was open with a 40 minute wait.

Well ran right over and it was about 6:50 p.m. and they were closing down the line at 7:00 p.m. so we were just about the last people let in for the day. We ended up in the first row, and I usually get motion sickness on rides such as these, but I ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT. It was the best ride (along with Mickey's Philharmagic). The next day we were at Epcot and the wait was over 80 minutes and it was just to hot to stand outside in the line.

As for the wait times last week, I was very surprised. The parks (MK and MGM especially) seemed sooooooo crowded and yet we never waited longer than 30 minutes to get on any rides. In fact, we went to MK on the 18th and didn't get there until after 10 a.m. and the kids rode SM 3 times in 30 minutes. We then hit Splash Mountain in the middle of the afternoon, and we were in line and through the ride in 30 minutes (the sign stated 50 minutes).

Everyone needs to do Soarin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[jodistar]

Those of you that have been on Soarin - How do you think someone that is afraid of heights? The reason I ask is because my fiance and I are going for our honeymoon this coming October.

Now he isn't afraid to ride on a plane but doesn't like ski lifts, etc. Any advice?

Any information you could give I would really appreciate it.

Thanks,

Jodi

 

[pumba]

I will fly in an airplane but this really got to me. I was holding onto my seat like I was going to fall into the ocean and the mts. Maybe this was just me but I was fine as long as I shut my eyes or only opened up one eye at a time. My granddaughter was laughing at me the whole time. She would yell .....GRAMMA open your eyes and see this one. Or smell the orange groves. It was an awesome ride I am sure . hahaha......but tell your fiance if he can try it to remember that he can shut his eyes and remain calm like I did......if he feels like opening them up .....do one eye at a time....

 

[jodistar]

I will fly in an airplane but this really got to me. I was holding onto my seat like I was going to fall into the ocean and the mts. Maybe this was just me but I was fine as long as I shut my eyes or only opened up one eye at a time. My granddaughter was laughing at me the whole time. She would yell .....GRAMMA open your eyes and see this one. Or smell the orange groves. It was an awesome ride I am sure . hahaha......but tell your fiance if he can try it to remember that he can shut his eyes and remain calm like I did......if he feels like opening them up .....do one eye at a time....

Looks like I might be Soarin - solo. Oh well, maybe he will get brave although I've been on ski lifts with him before and I don't want to have to deal with that again but then again.....If I can ride TOT, then he should be required to ride Soarin (I'm not really good on elevators or elevator related rides).

Thanks again for the help. I appreciate it! Sounds like a great ride.

 

[caribear]

Jodistar,
If you sit in row 3, in any section, you can see the bottom of the screen and you are not really that far off the ground. If you are in row 1, then you are the highest off the ground. When you first "take off" you can here people say "oooohhhh" because you are lifted up basically in the dark and it seems a little quick.

 

[CrazyforDisney]

We went to Epcot around 6 and did the ride through the golf ball (can't for the life of me remember the name of it and I have ridden it more times than I can remember).

Its Space Ship Earth.