Soarin' Screen

[doconeill]

Soarin' is my favorite ride in all the parks--I can't help thinking it would be worth losing it for a brief spell to ensure that other people get the same quality experience that I did the first time I rode it. That said, the last time I rode it, I felt like I was in elementary school watching a film strip for the first few seconds with all the specks!

That is a different problem..some of the "dirt" you see is dust that can build up on the projector, gets drawn in and sticks to the lenses. Sometimes it goes away, sometimes it's pretty persistent.

Another problem is film wear. I don't know how many copies of the film they may have, but like any other physical media it can wear out - especially when shown a hundred or more times every day.

If there is a major rehab for Soarin', I'd expect them to move to digital projection (and if they do that, don't be surprised if they vary the experience like was done with Star Tours). However, Soarin' is essentially an Omnimax film, which is a special form of IMAX. Digital projection isn't quite up to IMAX-level quality. There is a "Digital IMAX" out there, but the resolution quality isn't up to the traditional IMAX standard. So it may wait for technology to catch up.

 

[sassyredhead]

They aren't always listed before the window for people to start booking trips opens. And Soarin' is such a huge people eater closing it for any length of time would likely hurt Epcot quite a bit.

Your description of Soarin' as a people eater cracked me up. I had visions of guests entering the Land, never to emerge again. . .

 

[doconeill]

Your description of Soarin' as a people eater cracked me up. I had visions of guests entering the Land, never to emerge again. . .

Do you know that an equal number of people come out as go in?

How do you think they get those giant vegetables to grow so big?

 

[Kelblum]

It is my favorite ride of all as well, but do agree might be ready for a little refurb. I would be sad if it was closed when I went, but it wouldn't ruin my trip.

 

[bkoehl]

On our ABD Backstage Magic Tour in Feb we got to go behind the scenes at Soarin' at DCA and we asked about this. The specks are mostly dirt and dust on the film. They do try to clean it periodically but it causes some wear and tear on the film and as stated above, it's an old film so they have to be careful not to cause damage.

 

[KelleyGirl]

Agreed! I just noticed this a few weeks ago, and was thinking the same thing!

 

[Respect]

On our ABD Backstage Magic Tour in Feb we got to go behind the scenes at Soarin' at DCA and we asked about this. The specks are mostly dirt and dust on the film. They do try to clean it periodically but it causes some wear and tear on the film and as stated above, it's an old film so they have to be careful not to cause damage.

Then they need to put in a new screen. I go once a year to Disney in the summer and I have seen the specs gradually become worse. Time to take out the trash.

 

[doconeill]

Then they need to put in a new screen. I go once a year to Disney in the summer and I have seen the specs gradually become worse. Time to take out the trash.

Ummm...putting in a new screen can't fix a film...

They need to get a new copy of the film. Presumably they still have a master negative, and can make a new print - not cheap, but certainly cheaper than the digital conversion I mentioned earlier (especially since the tech isn't there yet).

 

[Respect]

Ummm...putting in a new screen can't fix a film...

They need to get a new copy of the film. Presumably they still have a master negative, and can make a new print - not cheap, but certainly cheaper than the digital conversion I mentioned earlier (especially since the tech isn't there yet).

Well whatever the solution, I'm sure Disney can figure it out. They've dealt with more difficult issues in the past.

 

[AndyFL]

I was really surprised as I read this thread that nobody mentioned the fly/moth that appears during the clouds and Golden Gate scenes. At fist I thought it was something that was happening real-time but when we went on it later in the day the same bug appreared at the same times....this was a couple weeks ago.

 

[keypooh90]

I totally agree! Those spots are definitely getting more and more noticiable.

 

[Wailea]

I totally agree about the screen. We rode Soarin' for the first time in January, and we were extremely disappointed. The picture quality was really poor. It was very fuzzy and the screen had numerous black spots. That took away from the whole experience. How can we feel like we're flying when the picture looks so bad? The screen reminded me of the one we have at our local old, cheap dollar movie theater. Definitely not up to Disney's standards.
We won't be riding it when we are going back to Epcot next month.

 

[Wadecool]

Okay I think the screen has gotten to the point where Disney really needs to put a new one in. The amount of black spots has become somewhat distracting. A few years ago the spots were tolerable, now they're becoming a bit annoying.

Anyone else agree?

I kept thinking that black spot on the upper right of the screen was a hawk flying.

 

[nytimez]

Definite "bad show" on Soarin' -- and it's become increasingly acceptable throughout WDW.

 

[KristinaB1024]

i couldnt tell ya...i had my eyes closed thru the whole thing i was scared, didnt expect it to feel so real and im terrified of heights

 

[CIA]

There definitely needs to be either a cleaning or a new video replacement. Getting really bothersome.

 

[mom2rtk]

Do you know that an equal number of people come out as go in?

How do you think they get those giant vegetables to grow so big?

I think that's what they do with the people who try to use late fastpasses..........

Well, you can't PROVE it isn't...........


Anyone wanna wager which they fix first...... this or the Yeti?

 

[Colleen27]

It does need it, but even when they decide to do it I don't think we'll see it happen until the back-to-school or post-Christmas slow season. Any other time of year would be too hard to have it down or even operating at 50% capacity.

Your description of Soarin' as a people eater cracked me up. I had visions of guests entering the Land, never to emerge again. . .

Do you know that an equal number of people come out as go in?

How do you think they get those giant vegetables to grow so big?

Now I'm going to be looking for the plant from Little Shop of Horrors lurking in the greenhouse next time I ride Living With the Land!

 

[k5thbeatle]

Definite "bad show" on Soarin' -- and it's become increasingly acceptable throughout WDW.

Couldn't agree more with the second part of this comment. Just "Ok" is now the acceptable standard.

 

[theatregrl04]

Now I'm going to be looking for the plant from Little Shop of Horrors lurking in the greenhouse next time I ride Living With the Land!

That would be a good place for it to hide...