Soarin..... need advice

[erinz]

So I've read on a couple of threads that it's best if you are sitting in the front (row #1?) and that you can ask the CM if you could wait for that row. Has anyone done that?

So, what's the ride like if you're sitting in the other rows? Do you see feet dangling infront of you the whole time?

Also, do the seats have seat belts?

 

[saffymom]

I rode three times. Once in second row and twice in third row. The second row wasn't too bad but if you looked up slightly you could see the row of feet above you. In the third row you could see the bottom of the screen and that took away from the experience somewhat. DH did sit in the first row, and he said it was much better. But still an awesome ride no matter where you sit!
Also, there are seat belts.

 

[safetymom]

You can ask a CM and they will have you wait until the next loading. Personally it isn't that bad in the 2nd or 3rd row. I just think someone is flying above me.

It is an awesome ride.

 

[Metro West]

I've ridden in the first and second rows. The dangling feet certainly ruined the effect for me. Try to get the front row if at all possible.

Soarin' ride count: 8

 

[KristaTX]

I rode in the 1st row/far right section and in the second row/middle section. I liked second row much better. I was way more distracted by seeing where the screen cut off when I was in the 1st/top row than from seeing people's feet from the second row.

 

[jwfla422]

I think I was in the 2nd row, gee didn't even pay enough attention to realize...LOL! I did see feet dangling but they weren't in the way and it certainly didn't take away from the "effect"...awesome attraction!!

 

[sc9500]

My advice is get there early and you might be able to ask a CM for the row you want -there was a 90 min wait last week, my DD and I rode it about 6 times

 

[Metro West]

I rode in the 1st row/far right section and in the second row/middle section. I liked second row much better. I was way more distracted by seeing where the screen cut off when I was in the 1st/top row than from seeing people's feet from the second row.

That's very true too!

 

[DisneyWisher]

We were there during AP preview, we asked CM if we could ride in the first row, she told us she couldn't guarantee it, she then put us in the second row, a CM comes and moves the 2 people behind us to the first row. We were a bit turned off by since we had already asked. When we had asked we were being directed to the first station (lack of a better word) there are 3 seating stations and each has 3 rows, so she could have let others go by but I guess it wasn't in the cards. When we went back to Epcot on the following Tuesday they had Soarin' open and when we asked about the first row the CM just asked us to wait til they began loading the next station. We liked all the rows but I liked the first row the best. The dangling feet are not in your way whatsoever. Actually its kind of funny watching them respond. Like when going over water some people raise their feet.
For small children there is a strap that goes between the legs that you slide the seat belt through.

 

[monarchsfan16]

We rode twice, once in the first row, once in the second. Yes we could see the feet a little bit, but they weren't that big a distraction. You become so into the ride itself and the images on the screen that you hardly notice the feet, in fact they sort of seem like part of the ride itself. Of course that's just my 2 cents. And yes there are seatbelts. And if you don't come up to a certain point on the seat itself once you're seated you have to thread the belt through a loop between your legs first. Before I rode when they told us that I figured that would be just little kids that had to do it. I'm 5'2 and was only about an inch over that arrow pointer. So just a heads up about that.

 

[TurnR@TheMouseHouse]

I rode Sorin a couple of weeks ago for the first time. What a ride!

I was in the second row. All I can say is this ride was so real to me and I really felt like I was going to tumble out of my seat. That looking up at those dangling feet was somewhat of a comfort. Brought be back to "this is just ride, just a ride"

I think next time I'll try for the 1st row to really step out of my comfort zone!

 

[shafke]

I rode twice in the 3rd. One in the middle section which was not bad compared to the worst seat which is in the 3rd row far right or far left which I had on my first ride...

In case you need to picture it...
xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx - 1
xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx - 2
xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx - 3
*---------------------------* = these are the worst seats. At least 1/4 of your field of view is cut off due to the curvature of the screen. You need to turn your head to look at the center of the screen or else you see a lot of black.

 

[antkim]

Is this a Fast Pass ride?

 

[monarchsfan16]

Yes it is a Fast Pass ride

 

[KristaTX]

Yes - fast pass and single rider. And I agree with those of you who get a kick out seeing other people's legs and feet react to the movie . I liked seeing that and it added to the fun.

 

[marriedmarylander]

Two rows of people? One on top of another?

 

[KristaTX]

There are 3 rows of people, three sections. Imagine that you are looking down from above at the rows (and thus the tops of people's heads):

In case you need to picture it...
xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx - 1
xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx - 2
xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx - 3

I'm going to do a crummy job explaining this, but here goes. All 3 rows are at floor level when you walk into the theater, one behind another with row one facing the screen, row 2 about 8 feet behind them, and row 3 behind row 2. Although you don't notice when you go in to be seated, all the rows are attached to a big wheel type thing, kind of like a half ferris wheel (not really -but that's the best way I can describe it). When the movie starts, the "wheel" rotates, raising the rows up (kind of like 10-person long ferris wheel seats - the seats are able to "swing" which keeps your seat upright). So vertically row 1 ends up highest, row 2 in the middle, and row 3 on the bottom. Everyone ends up with a front row view, but at different heights. When the movie ends, the seats rotate back down to floor level.

So when I said above to pretend you are looking down at the rows (and people's heads), now look back at shafke's diagram and pretend the seats have lifted and that you are the screen. You would be looking at people's fronts. Does that make any sense at all?

 

[Simba's Mom]

If you're a person who's afraid of heights (like me) you might want to avoid row #1. The ride is so realistic, it's hard to remind yourself that you're not really way up there! Only embarrassment kept me from yelling "I've changed my mind! Let me off!" when it first began. I (sort of) got over my fear and by the end, I almost got back in line, I loved it so much, but I definitely would have asked for a row other than #1 next time