Soarin' Soft Opening?

[momtotaryn]

We'll be there in early June and the old Soarin' would be just fine for us too!

 

[DVC4US]

I can see june 16th having a soft opening starting in the afternoon with the new film. (shanghai is in the future so technically shanghai closed for the night by the time we are eating lunch here).

I've been passing by when in epcot just in case they decide to do it quietly and only a few people here and there like they did with pirates.

I was thinking this too since Shanghai is 12 hours ahead of us. We will be in Epcot on the 16th so will definitely keep a watch out to see if there is a soft opening.

 

[goofyernmost]

I mean that when it "opens" there will be FP.

But, I don't know if Mem. Day will be considered a "soft opening"
or just an "opening with the original film." (That's the way it currently is at Disney California Adventure in Anaheim.)

I was thinking this too since Shanghai is 12 hours ahead of us. We will be in Epcot on the 16th so will definitely keep a watch out to see if there is a soft opening.

If they are even going to have a soft opening, it cannot be before the 16 when they have been talking about opening on the 17th anyway. They cannot show the "new" movie before that time without violating their agreement with China. Since it is the same basic show and the only difference is that there are three theaters now, I would think that they will just open it up and figure it out after. Until they get a giant rush that includes FP's, they really would have no way of knowing for sure, how it is going to work.

 

[Robo]

If they are even going to have a soft opening, it cannot be before the 16 when they have been talking about opening on the 17th anyway. They cannot show the "new" movie before that time without violating their agreement with China. Since it is the same basic show and the only difference is that there are three theaters now, I would think that they will just open it up and figure it out after. Until they get a giant rush that includes FP's, they really would have no way of knowing for sure, how it is going to work.

Making things easier to change...
The changing of the film from "old" to "new" can now be done with a few strokes on a computer keyboard.
Along with the third theater, WDW has converted to digital image projection (digital computer files as a source, instead of strip of film)
so to make the change in the show, it's no longer a physical process.

The seat-motion is the same way, just reload a different computer program.

The most "physical" change is in the loading of the specific "fragrances" for the "smells" at various scenes.
(I'm going to assume they are liquids in small tanks and are fine-misted into the fans/air near the guests' faces.)
From what I understand, they have stopped using the fragrances at DCA already, and are in anticipation of
starting with the NEW smells for the new show, when it debuts.
I figure the same with Epcot's shows.

 

[goofyernmost]

Making things easier to change...
The changing of the film from "old" to "new" can now be done with a few strokes on a computer keyboard.
Along with the third theater, WDW has converted to digital image projection (digital computer files as a source, instead of strip of film)
so to make the change in the show, it's no longer a physical process.

The seat-motion is the same way, just reload a different computer program.

The most "physical" change is in the loading of the specific "fragrances" for the "smells" at various scenes.
From what I understand, they have stopped using the fragrances at DCA already, and are in anticipation of
starting with the NEW smells for the new show, when it debuts.
I figure the same with Epcot's shows.

I agree, but, a soft opening with the new film, I don't believe is going to happen unless, as you say, they do it around Memorial Day with the old film. Might not be a bad idea though just to see how the flow works out.

 

[Robo]

I agree, but, a soft opening with the new film, I don't believe is going to happen unless, as you say, they do it around Memorial Day with the old film. Might not be a bad idea though just to see how the flow works out.

My entire point of the above is to say that it will be very easy to NOT show the new "film" until they are ready
(after the embargo,) but can easily open all of the theaters with the original "film" for as many days as they like.

And, from so many comments on this board, I'm seeing a lot of guests who just want the ride "open," regardless of which show is playing.

 

[goofyernmost]

My entire point of the above is to say that it will be very easy to NOT show the new "film" until they are ready
(after the embargo,) but can easily open all of the theaters with the original "film" for as many days as they like.

And, from so many comments on this board, I'm seeing a lot of guests who just want the ride "open," regardless of which show is playing.

I agree!

 

[plutosgirl]

Oh my!! Fingers crossed! We will be there June 2nd and I'd be just as happy with the old show because this ride is my favorite!! Now I'm excited!

 

[TGM]

Great! I'd be fine with the old film.

 

[DVC4US]

If they are even going to have a soft opening, it cannot be before the 16 when they have been talking about opening on the 17th anyway. They cannot show the "new" movie before that time without violating their agreement with China. Since it is the same basic show and the only difference is that there are three theaters now, I would think that they will just open it up and figure it out after. Until they get a giant rush that includes FP's, they really would have no way of knowing for sure, how it is going to work.

My point in my post, which I quoted another poster talking about the same thing, we are 12 hours behind Shanghai so if they close at 10pm on the 16th that is 10am FL time. We were wondering if there might be a chance for a soft opening of the new movie since it would have already debuted at Shanghai so they are not violating any agreement.

I know it's a long shot, was just throwing out a potential option. If you read through the thread, you will see that I was the third post telling the OP that Shanghai has the rights to debut the movie.

 

[Robo]

The whole embargo of the film until Shanghai "debuts" it is so flimsy as to be "ceremonial," at best.

 

[sheila14]

With soarin opening June 17, is there any word on soft openings before this date even if it is the old movie? 25 days until I am there!!!!!

 

[Dan Murphy]

Have not heard a word yet.

 

[Millionaire2K]

The film is already being shown in Shanghai and it uses "basically" the same music.

 

[WilsonFlyer]

SPOILER ALERT!

This IS it. Soarin' Over the World. The score is eerily similar for those that have asked.

 

[TGM]

Ok, so I've seen my fair share of Shanghai videos, and as WilsonFlyer pointed out, Soarin' Over the World/ The Horizon has been shown in Shanghai. Does this mean anything for EPCOT, or does it not count, because it's considered a 'soft opening'?

 

[Accident]

Ok, so I've seen my fair share of Shanghai videos, and as WilsonFlyer pointed out, Soarin' Over the World/ The Horizon has been shown in Shanghai. Does this mean anything for EPCOT, or does it not count, because it's considered a 'soft opening'?

if you have the contract in front of you we can help answer this but knowing disney and china, they have very very specific wording on when.

 

[ArielSRL]

It doesn't officially open until June 16th.

 

[dsimon9318]

Oh my!! Fingers crossed! We will be there June 2nd and I'd be just as happy with the old show because this ride is my favorite!! Now I'm excited!

I will be there June 2nd too! I really hope we get a soft opening by then.

 

[OKW Lover]

Is Soarin' keeping the same music with the new movie? We hope so!

Agree with @Robo 's response above. It really can't keep the same music as the old version. The entire experience (scene, motion, sound, scent) of the attraction is one integrated ride. Everything has to work together.