Soarin closing for good in October?????

[greymauser]

A friend of mine just got back from doing a site tour at DLR with a disney exec. She said that they told her that they were going to close down soarin in October for good. I asked if it was because of the park rehab and they told her no. I find it very interesting that they would close down one of the top draws in the park. Does anyone have any input???????

 

[XxDisneyFan00xX]

This is Disneyland correct?

 

[DebbieB]

I doubt they would close it down unless they are going to replace it with a different movie and call it something else. They spent alot of money building those buildings in both DL and WDW, they have not been open that long and are popular. I've been to both and they are pretty much identical. One nice thing DL has is a single rider line.

 

[shellybaxter]

While I find it difficult to believe they would close it down (not questioning your friend, just think its strange) we found that Soarin didn't have the same "pull" in DLR as it did in WDW. It never had a line when we were there and you definately didn't need fastpass. The ride is exactly the same, but people just don't flock to it. Our family rode it several times since it was so easy to get on - we were kind of in shock

 

[TLinden16]

I highly doubt that this is going to close permanently. Maybe they'll do a new movie to keep it fresh, but I doubt that it would close completely.

The two times I went to Disneyland (Oct. 2005, and Oct. 2007), there were long lines for Soarin', and I needed a fast pass to get on it within a reasonable amount of time.

 

[PrincessBelle39]

I also couldn't imagine that they would close it down for good. We went in Sept 2005. Yes it was a while ago now, but the only option we had to get on it was by fastpass. The que was enormous. I can't imagine they would close a more popular ride.

 

[HydroGuy]

Soarin Over California (SOC) is the signature ride at DCA. It was built at Epcot (and renamed to just Soarin) where it became the most highly rated ride at all of WDW. At most times of the year at DCA the lines are long and you need a FP. However, SOC at DCA is now seven years old. The first few years it was wildly popular with super long lines. While still popular, the lines are not quite as long as initially. However, an SOC FP is still a good idea at DCA.

Soarin at Epcot is still highly popular and has not been around as long as SOC at DCA. That may explain its higher popularity at Epcot. It is newer.

In any case, the OP heard a wild rumor - the best kind - but it is just that - a rumor. And I doubt there is any truth to it at all.

What may have been said, or misunderstood, is that the Condor Flats area at DCA is the location where SOC is located. As DCA is undergoing a $1 billion renovation over the next four years, there has been lots of discussion about Condor Flats going away to be replaced with a different theme. Sort of like (hypothetically) removing the Toontown theme and retheming that area of MK.

For more information on the DCA renovation see: "Disney's California Adventure Project Tracker" http://micechat.com/forums/showthread.php/disneys_california_adventure_project_tracker-81393.html

 

[EnnEss]

Soarin' isn't really the signature at all at DCA. Grizzly River Rapids (why cant they have this in AK?), California Screamin', ToT all top it. Soarin' is not really popular at DCA and the previous poster is correct in saying its a walk on most of the time. There can be 30 minute lines at Tot and walk on at Soarin'. I have always been baffled why its so popular at WDW. Even when it was brand new at DCA, this attraction never drew in comparison with the other rides in the park. DCA is slower than Epcot, but even so other things would line up a lot more.

I still doubt they'd close it, although they are doing massive retheming and construction at DCA. Even then, I know they are doing each part section by section, first being the pier, last being the entrance. The area where soarin' is will be themed to match a new natural theme that grizzly river is going to receive that will match the existing playground theming (rumored animatronic dear, bears, etc., yay!). I think thats a year or two away and even then I would presume they'd fit it in because the ride can put through big numbers even if its not so popular as in WDW.

 

[Mamu]

I would be very surprised if they closed Soarin' at WDW. It's still the most popular ride at Epcot. Maybe there's other plans in California for changes.

On any given day this ride has an hours wait, even during non-peak times. Why would you get rid of something so popular after you've spent so much money to build it. Like other have said maybe the'll change the film, which will bring it back to the days of 2-3 hour waits and fast passes gone by noon.

 

[DisneyWorldOct08]

I don't think I've ever seen less than an hour wait for the one at Epcot... Personally, it's a fun ride but I wouldn't wait an hour for it...

 

[HydroGuy]

Soarin' isn't really the signature at all at DCA. Grizzly River Rapids (why cant they have this in AK?), California Screamin', ToT all top it. Soarin' is not really popular at DCA and the previous poster is correct in saying its a walk on most of the time. There can be 30 minute lines at Tot and walk on at Soarin'. I have always been baffled why its so popular at WDW. Even when it was brand new at DCA, this attraction never drew in comparison with the other rides in the park. DCA is slower than Epcot, but even so other things would line up a lot more.

Hmm. Guess that is a matter of opinion. On every day I have been at DCA over the last five years the Soarin Over CA Fastpasses ran out far faster than GRR, Screamin and ToT. And mid-day standby lines at Soarin were always over an hour while those at Screamin and ToT rarely got above 30-40 minutes. In the summer GRR standby lines do get over an hour like Soarin, but are much shorter in the winter for obvious reasons. Even so, GRR Fastpasses in the summer were still easily obtained later in the day unlike Soarin FPs which ran out mid-to late afternoon.

Another reason I would call Soarin at DCA the signature ride is that ToT was not first built at DCA. GRR is a copy of sorts of a previous ride at AK (Kali). And while California Screamin is unique to DCA, it has the weakest theming of any of the Disney coasters in the USA. It really belongs more in a Six Flags park that at a Disney park. While they chose to build Screamin at DCA as opposed to something like another Rock'n'Rollercoaster I will never understand. RnR would have been a perfect fit for DCA.

OTOH, Soarin was built originally at and for DCA.

 

[Dolce27]

While I find it difficult to believe they would close it down (not questioning your friend, just think its strange) we found that Soarin didn't have the same "pull" in DLR as it did in WDW. It never had a line when we were there and you definately didn't need fastpass. The ride is exactly the same, but people just don't flock to it. Our family rode it several times since it was so easy to get on - we were kind of in shock

I had the opposite happen to me when I was at DLR in November. I returned with my FP to a huge FP line one day and the stand-by was quite a wait also.

 

[wilde_oscar]

I'd stick this in the category of of cutting the top off of Space Mountain in WDW... won't believe till I see it, and even then will be looking for the photoshop crop marks.

 

[Crazy4Disney06]

While I find it difficult to believe they would close it down (not questioning your friend, just think its strange) we found that Soarin didn't have the same "pull" in DLR as it did in WDW. It never had a line when we were there and you definately didn't need fastpass. The ride is exactly the same, but people just don't flock to it. Our family rode it several times since it was so easy to get on - we were kind of in shock

Maybe it's the time of year you visited? Everytime I have been to Disneyland there is always long lines even with the fastpass.

 

[disneynutz]

An attraction with that kind of attendance... I don't see it closing.

 

[GalDisney]

Whomever says Soarin' Over california is not popular is very misinformed. It is the top attraction at Disneys california Adventure.

 

[Mike_M]

SoC (DL) had considerably longer lines last summer then ToT did. ToT's line was so short, we rode it twice in a row.

 

[EnnEss]

Hmm. Guess that is a matter of opinion. On every day I have been at DCA over the last five years the Soarin Over CA Fastpasses ran out far faster than GRR, Screamin and ToT. And mid-day standby lines at Soarin were always over an hour while those at Screamin and ToT rarely got above 30-40 minutes. In the summer GRR standby lines do get over an hour like Soarin, but are much shorter in the winter for obvious reasons. Even so, GRR Fastpasses in the summer were still easily obtained later in the day unlike Soarin FPs which ran out mid-to late afternoon.


OTOH, Soarin was built originally at and for DCA.

I may have just been lucky at DCA regarding lines. As for the coaster there, I know its underthemed, somehow I still just love it though. I like the fact its outdoor a lot more than Rockn'. Just opinion obviously though. Also makes for amazing pictures.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

. . . A friend of mine just got back from doing a site tour at DLR with a disney exec . . .

1) Must have been a bus driver or front line manager.
2) Bes drivers and entry level managers know everything.

 

[CanadianGuy]

Moving this over to the Rumors Board.

This one ranks right up there with the cracking down on the number of AP visits and so forth.. While anything is possible.. I'd be HIGHLY surprised if this were true. Where's Jim Hill when you need him.. if we could just get him to report this we'd be virtually guaranteed it would stay open..

Thanks,

Knox