Soarin for Little One

[CTDisneyfan816]

I would say if the little one is exceptionally afraid of heights or sudden loud noises.

 

[ktlm]

I should have mentioned that my DD who loves Soarin is also somewhat afraid of heights, but Soarin doesn't bother her. Be sure your DD is not on the end of the row. Really, other than feeling it lift up, when you are in front of the screen, you don't realize how high you are off the ground. If doesn't feel like that much of a lift when they raise it. I really didn't think we were that high up. If you are on that top row on the end and look over the side, you realize it. Makes sense since there are 3 rows that the top row does have to be pretty high up when you think about it.

DD also likes Star Tours and Mission Space (the easy side). We figured out that if it is a screen and she knows that she is not actually going anywhere it just feels like she is, that she is fine with it. If she knows she is actually moving that fast like on a roller coaster= not okay. We let her ride Star Tours when she was 5 because she was begging to as all the boys in kindergarten talked about it. I thought she would hate it because at that point she hated all thrill rides except Soarin. I told her it would feel like she was flying through space, but really that we were just in a room that was bouncing up and down and rocking back and forth and we weren't going anywhere. To my surprise, she absolutely loved it and begged to ride again immediately. It was something about knowing that she wasn't actually going anywhere that made her secure. She is fine with simulators like Soarin, Star Tours and Mission Space, but not okay with thrill rides that actuall go places. Don't know if that will work for your DD, but it did for mine.

 

[jtowntoflorida]

My daughter had turned 5 on our first trip and LOVED Soarin'...she rode it 4 times that trip (thanks to rider swap and some pixie dust from another guest, who gave us an extra set of FPs back when that was allowed). On our last trip, our son was 3 and finally tall enough to ride. He was a little unsure getting in, but loved it...until the end. He's not a fan of fireworks and in the end, you fly through Disneyland's fireworks.

I agree with the posters who said that in the MK the fireworks are extremely loud.

 

[Frozen2014]

Thank you all. I am not worried about the fireworks (never really thought about it). We won't be catching Illuminations but will see at least one night at MK (possibly regular Wishes, but the MNSSHP one for sure). I'm sure she'll be fine with that.

Good tip if we go not to put her on the end. We would probably have her sit between DH and me so ok. Reading the posts though, I'm not jumping to sign her up. Really on the fence with it.

Dh wanted to tell them the day of our trip (no way!). I want to tell them end of the summer, which is about 1.5 months before...but after FP selection.

 

[navyblue8]

My kids ride it as soon as they are big enough and while initially scared (I'm the mom dragging my kids onto rides) they LOVE it once it starts. I forget how old my ODD was but YDD was a couple months shy of 5.

 

[MomForFrozenAddicts]

Last year my 6 yo finally made the height requirement for Soaring. I was trying to build her excitement over the ride. I told her that we would be flying all over America. During my ride, I kept saying how cool it was and "look we are at _____" My daughter turned around and said to me: "Mommy, it is just a giant movie screen. Can we go back to TestTrack?" Well, I don't have to worry what to pick for my tier 1 FP+. LOL

 

[eyehartdisney]

Why not watch some ride throughs with her? She could tell you if she wants to try it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXBqviMRypg Here's a link to soarin's ride through

 

[Ronda93]

You can hold her hand, but there are armrests between the seats. You will not be able to hold her against you.

 

[GenevieveRaqs]

DS didn't bat an eye at Soarin' when he was 4 and LOVED it last week, just after he turned 6. It's very tame.

 

[Frozen2014]

You can hold her hand, but there are armrests between the seats. You will not be able to hold her against you.

Thanks so much for the photo. This helps. So basically, does the ride just lift up - or does it lean at all?

 

[Malibustyle23]

Thanks so much for the photo. This helps. So basically, does the ride just lift up - or does it lean at all?

Those seats are going to lift up once the "ride" starts and they will be one over top of the other one in a vertical line so everyone is directly in front of the screen. They will sway with the ride. I believe it feels more active than it actually is since the movie portrays you moving fast and they blow air at you to make it seem as though you are going faster in some scenes.

 

[canadianmom2three]

It lifts up until you are in position for the ride (the three rows lift up to varying heights and sort of end up directly over top of one another. The top row is quite high. Once started, it doesn't lift anymore, just leans backward and forward very slightly (as though you are gliding). You can ask to sit in a specific row (such as the lowest) although you may have to wait a bit longer to be accommodated. Then at least the initial lift would not seem so scary, since it is completely pitch black in there while you are being lifted (and descending).

 

[Ronda93]

The photo has the first two rows. There's another one to the left. There are three groups of three rows. After you're buckled in, the theater darkens and the part extending above the seats will lower. Then the seats are raised - the front row becomes the top row. Some talked of a butterflies sensation... I liken it to the lift of a ferris wheel, up and forward.

The movement of the seats is subtle. Tipping a few degrees with the flight on the screen.

 

[bigbabyblues]

You could ask for the third row. If you look up, you will see other people's feet, but that happens in the second row also. The third row doesn't go up very high. There is a gentle swing-like motion, sort of like a swing being pushed by a breeze or something, but nothing scary and I have never felt like I was going to fall or anything. My kids rode it as soon as they were tall enough and they loved it.

 

[lovesdumbo]

My dd is tall for her age. I brought her on a few months after she turned three because she is usually pretty fearless. I don't know if the rise into the air is what freaked her out but she hated it! I mean sobbed the entire ride. I felt bad that she was scared and I also felt bad for the other people on the ride who had to listen to the screaming kid. She showed no sign of uneasiness until we went in the air. She did really enjoy big thunder mountain though. I'm not trying to sway you either way I am just sharing my experience

I had a similar experience with my youngest when she was 3. I couldn't understand why Soarin had a height requirement until I took her on it. She freaked out-didn't cry but tried to crawl out of the seat. On that same trip she loved Test Track! The next year when she was 4 we tried Soarin again and she LOVED it and insisted she always had. I think at 5 your DD will enjoy it.

 

[smidgy]

I am terrified of heights. the first time I rode it, I was very scared. but I keep doing it, and now I am just a little scared. (I even ride it in the top row now! tee hee)

you might not know that you can say you need to sit in the bottom row. I did this for quite a while before I "graduated". the bottom row doesn't go as high.

it kinda helps that you see other people's feet, so you know it's not real.

 

[smidgy]

I had a similar experience with my youngest when she was 3. I couldn't understand why Soarin had a height requirement until I took her on it. She freaked out-didn't cry but tried to crawl out of the seat. On that same trip she loved Test Track! The next year when she was 4 we tried Soarin again and she LOVED it and insisted she always had. I think at 5 your DD will enjoy it.

this is what scares me about really little kids on "thrill" rides. you never know what they're going to do.

actually, I never liked riding the merry go round with my little kids I would stand next to them, cause who knows waht stupid idea gets into their heads? like "hhm, I think I'll get off and go ride that pink horse!"

 

[pumpkinjl]

Both of my girls rode soarin for the first time at age 3 or 4. They are not daredevils and my youngest is scared of everything. However, as soarin is one of my favorites, I prepped them, ahead of time. I told them that it is all pretend and fun, but if they get scared that they could close their eyes. Also, you sit right next to each other, so you can put your arm in your child's lap or even hold their hand. A previous poster mentioned the fireworks at the end. They are very loud, but again, I told them about it up front and told them to hold my hand if they got scared. My oldest got off and exclaimed "I didn't even close my eyes." My youngest said that the fireworks were loud but, she wanted to do it again. On all of the rides, I stress that they can closed their eyes and that I will be right next to them.

 

[smidgy]

everyone mentions the fireworks, but the part I hate is when the fighter jet? goes by and it jiggles the glider a bit. it's not so bad if you know it's coming

 

[Frozen2014]

This site is so great. Thank you for all the replies and taking the time to explain and share your experiences.

So now I think I'm leaning towards taking my DD5 on Soarin. It seems ok. The start may scare her a bit if it gets dark, but I'm guessign that's a short time? Also I guess I should say that she doesn't mind heights as she loves the ferris wheel. I think fireworks will be fine (unless it is a sudden loud noise, in which case we will all jump).

To clarify, is it the third row or bottom row that we should ask to sit? Better stick wtih the 'easier' version first time (well, not like we'd go on it again with the wait times)