Soarin...terrified of heights...can I do this?

[CursedCarolers]

Do not do this if you are afraid of heights...

Two of my friends cried... *sigh* I was really sure they'd be able to do Soarin but I was way wrong. haha.

 

[Schmeck]

Even with my fear of heights, I was able to enjoy this ride as long as I kept my feet resting on the mesh basket edge under the seat. The dangling feet part makes me very nervous, but once my feet had something to touch, I was better.

 

[seashoreCM]

If you can't do Dumbo, I would suggest not doing Soarin'. Even in the "lowest" row the scenes look as if you are high above ground.

By the way you can practice getting up courage by riding Dumbo or Aladdin's Carpet or (rear seat) Triceratops' Spin. You can move the lever just a little and rise just a little at a time (except for one quick rise all the way at the end of the ride). Just be sure to have sympathetic family members to fill all the seats in that car so nobody raises the lever too high on you.

 

[snyderla]

I am afraid of heights, and I always have to get my nerve up to ride Soarin, but I love it. I always sit on the 3rd row AND I put my feet on the storage net so they don't dangle. I close my eyes while we move up and until the fog clears, then if I start to get scared I try to focus on something. I don't look to the sides or down, cause even 10 feet can seem like a lot in the dark. and the front of the ride-in front of the screen- I think there is a pit.
If you are good with talking your self through fears, try it, if not stay away! Maybe they would let you just watch the video screen from the floor?

 

[teruterubouzu]

I'll be honest, I'm usually fine with heights, but I felt a bit nervous on Soarin'. The movie didn't bother me, it was sitting in that seat dangling above the floor, and we were in the back row.

 

[Seewhatimesdone]

I get nervous with heights, like in Tarzan's treehouse but when i'm strapped in with a seatbelt or bar like on Soarin' or a rollercoaster than i'm totally fine with it. I like Soarin' and I think everyone should try it just once. If you don't like it than you can just pass over it!

 

[Terry S]

I would say give it a try and if it really bothers you don't do it again. Both my husband and son are afraid of heights. They have both been on Soarn because it is a really great ride, my son does grip on the side bars of the seats really tight but he still likes the rides and continues to go on it. Now my mom is totally terrified of heights, she will not fly on a plane at all, can't go near the rail if she is on a 2nd story like in a mall or on a balcony. She also chewed me out big time after I convinced her that Peter Pan was a kids ride so she should go on it. She was terrified. Anyway, I did want her to experience Soarin as it is a really great ride so I talked her into going on it. She was very scared but she did enjoy the ride, having said that she said she was glad she experienced it and would reccomend everyone experience it once, but would not go on it again.

 

[kristinnn]

I honestly think it will terrify you, but you should try it. I'm such a chicken when it comes to rides, and doing splash mountain on my last trip was HUGE for me. I was shaking the whole time but I ended up doing it again with my best friend because I realized it wasn't that bad. I did Soarin' the trip a few months before, holding onto my friends hand like it was no tomorrow, sweaty palms and all (we were the middle front where you can't see the people next to you and it feels like it's just you in the room and the screen is surrounding you, that may have had something to do with it haha) but I LOVED it. Yes, it was scary. Yes, I felt so nauseous but at the end I was so happy I got to experience it with my friends. And I was so proud of myself after. So I say try it, knowing that you may not like it the first time but who knows it may become your new favorite!

 

[disney-super-mom]

You'll never know if you can do Soarin' until you do it......kind of a bummer, I know.

This is what my hubby did (he also has a huge fear of heights) before riding Soarin'.

First, he went to youtube.com and watched the entire Soarin' movie several times so he knew what to expect and what the scenes looked like. This actually is what probably helped him the most.

After spending a day riding other rides and getting his comfort level up with varying experiences, by the time we got to Soarin', he was ready to give it a try.

We did sit in the back row, and he did get a little nervous and tense at the beginning when the seats lifted up. But after the movie started, he relaxed and actually started to enjoy it a little. Sure, he still had a death grip on the handles, but even though he was a little afraid, at the same time he was enjoying the thrill.

He enjoyed it enough that he kept riding it through the years. He experienced the second row, then the first row, and it ended up being one of his favorite rides. He still may get just a little nervous to ride it, but really it's more excitement instead of nerves. He doesn't even hang on to the handles anymore.

Actually, Soarin' and other Disney attractions has really helped him with his fear of heights. However, he still isn't a big fan of the SunWheel at California Adventure (he'll only ride the swinging gondolas.....go figure ), and he absolutely WILL NOT RIDE THE ASTRO ORBITOR AT THE MK. (He'll ride the one at Disneyland though.) He rides all the other Disney attractions, and although he won't do open drop towers because of his fear of heights, he LOVES TOT!

Okay, enough of my ramblings. Watch the movie on youtube a lot and get comfortable with the scenes, go to the MK for an entire day and ride, ride, ride to get your comfort level up. Then eventually make your way to Epcot and give it a try at some point (third row of course).

You'll never know unless you try it. Prepare yourself and ease into it.

 

[BarbieGal457]

My DBF did this in January, and he's terrified of heights. The whole time he had a death grip on the handles and kept pushing himself back into the seat. He's fine with it now, but if I were you I would avoid it, or as PPs have said, sit in the very last row. That said, we were in the very last row and he felt it was still too intense.

 

[Little_Sister]

Thank you all for your comments, encouragement and warnings...I think I gotta sit this one out...

As I read all you guys comments I kinda got nervous just thinking about lift off, dangling feet and tilting...oh no!

I wish I wasn't such a chicken with heights because it sounds fantastic...I guess I'll just need to live through other people's experiences because this so does not sound like it's for me!

Thanks again everyone!!!

 

[dad2t&e]

I am scared of heights and I get dizzy also. I wondered if I could do Soarin?
There are three rows (I believe) with the first row going the highest off the ground.
My girls really wanted me to ride the ride with them, so I chose the last row, sat in the middle and tried not to get my self worked up. I made sure I was secured and just closed my eyes until we were lifted into the air (which was really quick) I set back in the seat and just enjoyed the view (as the butterflies roamed around in my tummy) as best as I could. Even though I felt a little nervous, the view and the smells were fantastic. It was well worth the sacrifice. After the ride was over I had to get a fastpass to do it again. Good luck, it is a ride you won’t forget if you do it.

 

[RockNRollerGator]

I'm afraid of heights and Soarin is the most uncomfortable ride as far as fear of heights are concerned that I've ever been on. I'll go on ToT all day before going on Soarin one more time.

It's certainly worth doing it once, but it's a terrible feeling if you have a fear of heights. Just sit back in the chair and hold onto the bars and you'll get through it.

 

[Not so Dumbo]

Dumbo scares me a little bit too. The first time I rode Soarin I was scared until about half way through. Now when I ride it, I use the crotch strap that is supposed to be for little kids. That way it gives me a little bit more reassurance that I can't possibly fall out of the seat.

 

[gallam5]

First time I rode it - I was butterflies in stomach the WHOLE time - you really really feel like you are flying and the sensation was overwhelming for me and I felt like I was going to fall out at times I even had my arms over my kds at times - yes forgetting- stupid!!! ( and I am not afraid of heights ) , but ... it is one of my faves ... right along with Tower of Terror!
I would recommend not sitting right in the front - seeing people's feet dangling in front of you would be a great reminder that you really are not flying so high in the sky -
it is a really great experience - so if you can - at least try it once!

 

[maxiesmom]

I've been on Soarin 3 times, and each time I was a little more scared. I can't really explain it, except to say that it seems too real. I do feel like I am going to fall out of my seat. The last time I was on, I hung onto the little handles for dear life! I think if there was a little bar going across the front to hold you in it wouldn't be so bad. But all that tipping and swaying makes me feel like I am going to fall.

If you are unsure and think you shouldn't ride, then you probably shouldn't.

 

[ouuga]

Terrified of heights here. I've gone on RnR and ToT, though I'm perpetually terrified that something wrong will happen. I went on Astro Orbitor and got motion sick.

Despite those problems, I would rather go on those rides again than go on Soarin'. The biggest problem was feeling that I was going to slide out and fall to the ground.

In fact, I'd rather go on Millenium Force or Top Thrill Dragster at Cedar Point than go on Soarin' where I didn't feel secure.

My suggestion? Go on it once, freak out (repeating to yourself, everyone else is doing it), and move on...

 

[lilmissdisney216]

My boyfriend is terrified of heights and he won't even ride Soarin'. Yet he has no issue with the monorail but he probably would cry on Soarin'. *le sigh* looks like another ride at WDW I'm gonna have to do without him. But in any case, I've never ridden Soarin but if you're in the back row you should be fine but if you're truly afraid of heights then I would avoid it ( I've seen a couple youtube videos of the attraction and have gotten some first hand experiences from people but I have not yet had the privelege of riding this ride yet). I would pace yourself, if you don't feel ready to ride it then I wouldn't push it. However I don't know if it would help, you could try looking up some videos of the attraction on youtube perhaps to get an idea of it kind of the 'know before you go' type thing.

 

[terbethk]

I'm pretty freaked to try this out, to be honest.
I'm TERRIFIED of heights...but oddly enough rollercoasters don't bother me.
Now if I'm on top of a building or on a ferris wheel or drop tower...I'm TERRIFIED. I think I've discovered that it doesn't bother me if I'm going so fast that it's over quickly....but if I'm suspended in the air or nothings moving I really freak out. Hence...why i'm scared to try soarin. Plus...Imax movies used to scare me as a kid. So I'm a little nervous, but I'll try it.

 

[disneypolybride2008]

i'm a little scared of heights and the first time on it i was very nervous and had the sweaty palms and it was wierd to be up high w/ your feet dangling. once i saw on the tv show how it worked i felt much more at ease. i did notice that some rows would be higher up than others, like the first row looks like it goes up the highest, maybe request that you get the last row so it's not so high. good luck