Soarin questions for someone who is chicken.

[KimBean]

Hi! We'll back at Disney next month. Yay!!!

We want to ride Soarin. And I love simulator rides. Even the Harry Potter's Forbidden Journey over at the dark side.

One thing, I'm afraid of heights. I also have a fear of falling.

I was thinking Soarin was going to be just another simulator ride, until I started reading reviews.

My one big question.....I see the "seatbelt" that "keeps you in the seat". Is there ever any part during the ride, where you can feel yourself slide in your seat? Where you feel like you might slide out during the dips and turns? :O

I realize this is probably a stupid question. My hubby is telling me to suck it up and I'll be fine. I want to hear honest responses first before I tell him, No Way!!!!!

Thank you!!!

I'm the biggest chicken. I don't ride any of the rollercoasters and get kind of freaked out on dumbo, won't ride astro orbiter WAY TOO HIGH, and even barnstormer is me just staying calm for my kids.

I love Soarin. It is very relaxing. It doesn't set off any fears for me. I usually try to ride it 2-3 times a trip. They could update the video but love the ride.

 

[NewRVLady]

The clouds at the beginning are the scariest part because you're moving forward and you have no sense of "scale" when you're up in the air. I usually close my eyes and grip on to the side handles until you get into the actual movie part of the ride.

After that I'm fine and I'm a huge wimp when it comes to heights.

I agree- I shut my eyes in the cloud....otherwise this is my ABSOLUTE fave ride at WDW!!!!!!

 

[famy27]

I like to point out that there is no pregnancy restriction on Soarin' but there is on the safari ride at AK. Soarin' is not really a "thrill ride" at all. It is so mild, but it is one of the best experiences in the parks. I get chills (in a good way) whenever I hear the music, even if I'm sitting at my desk at work. I don't think you'd regret trying it. I've taken a few people with me who are afraid of heights, and they've all loved it.

 

[NYDisneyKid]

Just ask to sit in the back row. It doesn't go up as high.

And smell the smell of feet instead of the pine trees and oranges

 

[kamik86]

My older sister, the one that forced us not to fly to disney and made us drive because she wont' get on a plane, is scarred driving over bridges and even didn't like the monorail and wouldn't look out the window because it is up high went on this ride and was fine. She even was willing to do it again.

Honestly the seat belt is there to keep peopel from trying to move around and little kids that would wiggle about to much. If you just sit there you wouldn't even need the seat belt to hold you in.

 

[lustergirl]

Just ask to sit in the back row. It doesn't go up as high.

I don't like heights either. I asked them if I can sit in the back row and in the middle. And don't look down, just look at the screen

 

[mdsouth]

I'm going to do it. I'll be wearing my Disney Pary Pants and I'll try it!

Party on! You are definitely embracing your Disney side! You will love it! I was another afraid of heights person who was worried at first but I love!

Remember, Disney is all about safety! That is why I will ride ThunderMountain at WDW but avoid roller coasters in other parks

 

[wishing4PA]

I asked them if I can sit in the back row and in the middle. And don't look down, just look at the screen

I think the reason looking down helped me, although I do understand your point and probably not looking down works for a lot of folks, is because the actual height of the back row is much lower than the height depicted on the screen?

 

[NYDisneyKid]

You realize this attraction was designed using an erector set right?

 

[itchin2go]

I'm going to disagree with most posters. To me, the seatbelt doesn't seem sturdy enough to hold me in. I know it really is, but I would feel much much better if there was a bar in front to hang on to. The times I sucked it up and went on, I spent the time feeling like I was going to fall out.

Having said that, try it at least once. It is only a 5 minute ride, so if you end up not liking it it is over pretty quickly.

I agree. I hate heights and just not being in control in general. I felt like I was going to fall out the whole time. I kept my arm in front of my daughter (who was 6 at the time), because I felt like she was going to fall out too.

Let me stress that I certainly don't believe there's any chance that either of us was going to fall. But I FELT like I was going to fall. If it helps, I don't remember any shifting in the seat or any slipping. I will say that the movements were subtle, but they were unsettling to me.

I will also say that the one and only time I rode it, we were on the front row. Some feet in front of me would have helped. To cope with it, I looked sideways at the mechanism that controls the ride. That made me feel a little better. I appreciated the ride, and I understand why people like it, but I can't say I enjoyed it. I just couldn't let go and stop being scared.

Your mileage may vary, and if it makes you feel any better, even though I didn't like it - I lived to tell the tale!

 

[Boo Bear]

Honestly, you're sitting back in a seat and I never got the feeling of uneasiness like you get when you're high up and looking down. The video footage was taken from a helicopter, so you're obviously simulated to be "high up", but you're sitting back with things over your shoulders. It mostly feels like you're flying in a chair. There is a nice simulated breeze, pine forest scent and orange scents. It's quite pleasant. You don't really dip too much or anything and you don't notice how high you are unless you look anywhere other than the screen. I'd say it's worth a try just once.

 

[ZoZo]

I definitely have a fear of heights and a fear of falling, too. I even have trouble on ladders! But Soarin' is my absolute favorite ride. No trouble at all. As others have suggested, you can ask for the bottom row, and put the seatbelt strap through the loop to feel more secure. And don't look down!

I hope you'll give it a try!!

 

[pharaoh]

I am also very very fearful of heights. I just rode Soarin' for the first time at the beginning of this year. I was NERVOUS. I was also traveling solo to Disney for the first time, so I was extra nervous because I didn't have a friend to calm me down.

I especially got nervous when the CM's said we had to secure all our belongings and put our bags in the center.. I didn't understand why and immediately thought the ride was going to be more jerky than it actually was.

I really liked it! Since I didn't know what to expect, the only part where I got really scared was at the very beginning when they lift you up. I was in the second row, in one of the middle seats. I kinda embarrassed myself because I grabbed onto both of the little handles between the seats as they were lifting us up, just out of reflex, and the woman sitting next to me kinda laughed. Hahah. I probably would have too.

Anyway, after that, it was smooth sailing! I didn't feel like I would fall out at all. It did help me quite a bit to look away from the screen occasionally, off to the side to see the mechanism, like a PP mentioned. That helped to ground me and remind me that I wasn't actually flying around.

 

[Kasper1014]

Thank you all!!!! I'm going to try it. I'm pulling up my big girl party pants, and brave the soarin. Lol

 

[wishing4PA]

OP, come back and let us know how you enjoyed it, please!

 

[DVCcurious]

I've ridden every ride at WdW and Soarin is the only ride I refuse to go on again.

I am also afraid of heights. Soarin is terrible.

It doesn't matter which row you're in. Even the last row, where you're "lowest" will still put you 100 feet above the ground.

The thing about Soarin is, that they swing the seats out over huge chasm. So you may only "lift" 10 feet higher than where you started, but they swing you out over this gigantic gap and you're 100 feet above the ground and the bench is like swinging around.

It's absolutely terrifying. If you are afraid of heights I'd strongly recommend you don't do it.

If you do decide to try it when you get in the theater you should go to the edge and look over at the drop off before you agree to sit down so you know what you're getting yourself into. At least then you can back out. Once you're stuck in your seat and you're swung out over the abyss you are stuck there for 10 minutes of sheer torture.

I'll never go on it again.

 

[moondoggle]

I've ridden every ride at WdW and Soarin is the only ride I refuse to go on again.

I am also afraid of heights. Soarin is terrible.

It doesn't matter which row you're in. Even the last row, where you're "lowest" will still put you 100 feet above the ground.

The thing about Soarin is, that they swing the seats out over huge chasm. So you may only "lift" 10 feet higher than where you started, but they swing you out over this gigantic gap and you're 100 feet above the ground and the bench is like swinging around.

It's absolutely terrifying. If you are afraid of heights I'd strongly recommend you don't do it.

If you do decide to try it when you get in the theater you should go to the edge and look over at the drop off before you agree to sit down so you know what you're getting yourself into. At least then you can back out. Once you're stuck in your seat and you're swung out over the abyss you are stuck there for 10 minutes of sheer torture.

I'll never go on it again.

Wow I'm surprised to hear that! As someone who isn't a big fan of heights, and who really doesn't like drops/falling, I found Soarin' to be therapeutic.

Thank you all!!!! I'm going to try it. I'm pulling up my big girl party pants, and brave the soarin. Lol

You'll love it, especially at the end of a long day of park going when you can just let your feet dangle

 

[songkat]

The bottom row is perfect for me. When I was in the top row, I did feel like I was falling out (which was due to my fear of heights, not that I was in any danger), and I was terrified the entire time. But the bottom row is very easy and enjoyable.