Soarin-4 hour wait today!

[disney world dreamer]

not at all surprised that it was that long of a wait.
when i went from december 27th 2008 to january 2nd 2009 lines were insane.
i went to epcot on the 30th and soarin was 3hrs20mins and i assume the next day it was longer than that.
we did NOT wait. soarin is not worth it at all for us if we don't have a FP+ and the line is longer than 30-45mins.

 

[KayKayJS]

We were at Epcot last night and had so much fun!! We got there at 630PM (until 1AM) and had a FP for Turtle Talk, Spaceship Earth, and Test Track. We also got our picture with Baymax, saw the new Pixar Short show, ate Dinner at Electric Umbrella, and walked around the world showcase. We were able to party with the DJs in China and Japan. We stayed in Japan at the silent DJ party for 2 hours and watched illuminations and the NYE fireworks from there. Awesome way to spend NYE. It really wasn't that bad if you have FP and don't go in with an expectation of waiting in standby lines. Will do it again.

 

[Angel Ariel]

When Soarin was posted as a 4 hr wait I went online to see if I could get a FP and I was. Granted it was for 9:10 p.m but it beats waiting in line for 4 hours. Same thing for Thanksgiving day. The wait was 2.5 hrs I was able to get a FP that was use able within 20 minutes of getting it! Why people are you waiting I don't get it

People in SB could have fp+ for test track, and can't get a fp+ for soarin because of tiers. Or they haven't used all 3 of their first fp+ yet, and thus can't get a 4th+ yet...or, they just don't know to. Many people always thought legacy was a paid service and many, I'm sure, still think that regardless of what wdw does to educate them.

 

[caroline1851]

Soarin isn't worth a wait over 20 minutes, I cannot imagine waiting for ANYTHING for 4 hours. crazy.

 

[Bullseye]

Even though we like Soaring, it would so not be worth fours hours of waiting. We won't even wait one hour in non-peak times.

 

[jerseygal]

I could never wait that long for a ride anywhere.

"Just ain't worth it"! HATE crowds..Too claustophobic!

 

[BuckeyeBama]

Was there with the family yesterday. Rode 4 rides, only Ellen without a FP. Soarin wait was 210 minutes when we used our FP. But we didn't go for the rides. The party and fireworks were excellent, best fireworks that we have ever seen. We return on the 3rd for the rest of our WDW vacation.

Roll Tide!

 

[MickeyWaffles]

My plane got in late today and I couldn't change my Soarin FP for nothing, so went after the fireworks and had a walk-on! Entered at 12:05 and walked out at 12:20. Now in a really long line for a bus.

We walked on Soarin, MS and TT after the fireworks last time we went for NYE. Totally unexpected and completely awesome. Everyone else was streaming out of the park.

 

[michygoomy]

I think that is the key. We had a BLAST on a spontaneous trip for NYE. but we went for the crowds, the fireworks, and the experience. We rode what we could, enjoyed the entertainment, and food. I would never get in a 4 hour line, for us the usual plan of riding early still worked! And yes, the NYE fireworks were TOTALLY worth the crowd!

We're down here now and having a great time! I was prepared but it's not bad. Only problem now is at studios where there is nothing to do while waiting for fireworks.

 

[Sean91]

If I was going over New Years I think I would avoid rides all together apart from Fast passes. I cannot get my head around standing in line for over 30 minutes, let alone 4 hours

 

[Eastern]

I think that most people figure they are going to be in the park anyway, for NYE, so it doesn't matter if they're wasting hours on one ride.

We have gone 2 NYE and we go with the expectation of not doing much. It's still fun and we would do it again.

 

[jhaig]

Just wait until Soarin closes and see what the wait times are for Test Track.

 

[RealBlast3]

Just totally out of curiosity--why for a M&G but not for a ride? Personally, I won't wait 2 hours for anything! But I'm curious about the distinction.

And 50 minutes for Living with the Land????

I've never even SEEN a line for that ride! We go end of August when things aren't that busy and that ride is always a walk-on. People really wait 50 minutes for THAT?

I love Living with the Land. It's one of my top faves. I probably prefer rides like that and Ellen's Universe of Energy, Spaceship Earth, Small World, to most everything else. Even Figment, which everyone makes fun of here, I love and look foreward too.

I think the coasters are exciting, sure...but...they take alot out of me LOL!

As for Soarin', sure it's wonderful but I wouldn't place it above anything else, and I've missed it on several vacations and I was fine with that. No one ride at Disney is make it or break it for me. I go to Disney for the cumulative effect. If something's down, or has a 3 hour wait, I move on with nary a second thought.

 

[RealBlast3]

Just wait until Soarin closes and see what the wait times are for Test Track.

Really? Well, I haven't done the scientific data on the relationship between the patrons of both of these rides to prove my opinion on it, but other than they being the 2 most popular rides in Epcot, I don't see any significant overlap in the two audiences for these rides? Soarin' for one, attracts EVERYBODY, all the families, all the ages, while something like Test Track is definitely going to lose a huge chunk of that grouping in my pinion. There are plenty who will never ride a coaster like Test Track. I think Test Track is dominated more by those who ride it over and over again, which tend to be certain age groups who, in my opinion, are not going to be riding Soarin' over and over again to the same degree.

I think maybe there may be a small bump with people who can't do Soarin' on Test Track, but I think, in general, it will be minimal and be spread throughout the park. People will just plan their day differently, without Soarin, and do other things - statistically, the likelihood of all the people who would have picked a fast pass or gotten on lane for Soarin at a certain time ALL heading over to Test Track, seems unlikely. I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[WDWRook]

If a ride has a long wait, even an hour or more, can one person "hold" a spot in line and let the rest of the family in later? Like, like the kids go get ice cream, or use the restrooms?

 

[CAS239]

If a ride has a long wait, even an hour or more, can one person "hold" a spot in line and let the rest of the family in later? Like, like the kids go get ice cream, or use the restrooms?

You could. But those around you won't like it. Bringing a child to the bathroom for an emergengcy bathroom break is fine, but holding a spot in line is very much frowned upon.

 

[mom2rtk]

Really? Well, I haven't done the scientific data on the relationship between the patrons of both of these rides to prove my opinion on it, but other than they being the 2 most popular rides in Epcot, I don't see any significant overlap in the two audiences for these rides? Soarin' for one, attracts EVERYBODY, all the families, all the ages, while something like Test Track is definitely going to lose a huge chunk of that grouping in my pinion. There are plenty who will never ride a coaster like Test Track. I think Test Track is dominated more by those who ride it over and over again, which tend to be certain age groups who, in my opinion, are not going to be riding Soarin' over and over again to the same degree.

I think maybe there may be a small bump with people who can't do Soarin' on Test Track, but I think, in general, it will be minimal and be spread throughout the park. People will just plan their day differently, without Soarin, and do other things - statistically, the likelihood of all the people who would have picked a fast pass or gotten on lane for Soarin at a certain time ALL heading over to Test Track, seems unlikely. I wouldn't worry about it.

If there wasn't much overlap, then they wouldn't have needed to put them into the same tier for FP+. After all, people wouldn't want to choose both, right?

 

[larryz]

If a ride has a long wait, even an hour or more, can one person "hold" a spot in line and let the rest of the family in later? Like, like the kids go get ice cream, or use the restrooms?

You're always free to wait at the line entrance until the rest of your party shows up.

 

[WDWRook]

Side but related question:

Can someone go into a ride that has a pre-ride or post-ride encounter, like Test Track or Mission Space, but not to the actual ride? Example, my wife and daughter certainly will NOT do Mission Space, but would enjoy the not ride interactive parts. If they are able to, do they wait in line or use a FP just for that part of it?

Excuse my ignorance please, it's been decades since I have been there.

 

[supersnoop]

Side but related question:

Can someone go into a ride that has a pre-ride or post-ride encounter, like Test Track or Mission Space, but not to the actual ride? Example, my wife and daughter certainly will NOT do Mission Space, but would enjoy the not ride interactive parts. If they are able to, do they wait in line or use a FP just for that part of it?

Excuse my ignorance please, it's been decades since I have been there.

Yes, almost every ride has a "chicken exit." When we did a class at Epcot, the folks at Mission Space asked specifically which of us were going to ride, and which wanted to walk on through.