Soarin...

[MisMikiNikiLynne]

Can someone tell me a bit about soarin the ride? I am concerned as My DGD is 8 y/o and gets scared quite easily. I know this ride is simulated, but how high off the ground does it really get? Is there a lot of turbulance to it? Can a CM easily assist me with her if she gets too frightened and get her off the ride?

 

[Dizneydaz]

You won't be able to get off the ride once it starts. If you're concerned about your DGD, I would suggest asking the CM if you can sit in the back row (#3). That row lifts the least off the ground. The front row will be the highest, I'm guessing about 20 feet or so in the front. There is no turbulence, basically you are seated in rows on something that resembles a hang glider. As soon as the ride starts, you will be lift of the ground and there is a 2 story high, curved screen, in front of you with scenery from around California. The seats will tilt to the side, during parts of the ride. It's really a cool ride. My DD7 has loved this ride since she was tall enough to ride (about 2-3 yrs. now). You are seated in rows of about 8, or so, with seat belts.

SPOILER ALERT!-Also, during the ride there are small fans above you that will blow wind on you, and smells, during certain parts. The ride ends with you flying over Disneyland over the Christmas parade and you end up in the fireworks. It really is an awesome experience, and hopefully you can get your DGD to ride it. If you remain back in your seat during the ride you really don't even noticed that you are high off the ground.

MORE SPOILERS-If you decide to ride, and she starts to get a little nervous ,have her look for the following things during the ride:
The hidden Mickey on the golf ball;
The fisherman in the river-casting;
The skier who falls at the top of the mountain;
The horse back riders in the valley;
The hikers on the left side of the screen; and
The hidden Mickey in the fireworks;

The ride itself only last a few minutes, so even if she doesn't like it, it will be over soon.

Click here to read about it on allearsnet.com http://allearsnet.com/tp/ep/e_soar.htm

HTH. Have fun! Let me know if you have any more questions.

 

[quadaunt]

I'm a bit biased as Soarin' Over California became My Favorite Theme Park Attraction of All Time when I first rode it at Disney's California Adventure in 2002. However, I will try to help.

Soarin' is actually an IMAX film that is projected onto a domed screen. It simulates hang gliding flight over the state of California, with breezes in your face, and smells such as orange as your soarin' over the orange groves, pine as your soarin' over pine trees, etc. There are nine rows of seats with 10 seats in each row. When the ride starts you are lifted up and forward to be closer to the screen...my guesstimate is that you are 12 feet off the ground. The beautiful soundtrack theme begins and the rows of seats are gently tilted and dipped in sequence with what you are viewing on the screen. It is not turbulent at all, and would not be scary at all to those who don't have a fear of heights or of flying. I am prone to motion sickness but have never had the slightest problem while riding Soarin'. One thing about Soarin' is that if the motion of the movie is making you queasy, or if the sensation of flying is frightening to those who have a fear of heights, you can simply close your eyes. My SIL and DNi9 did say that it made them slightly queasy, but they are the only two people I've ever ridden it with who have had that problem.

There is no way of stopping the ride for your granddaughter without stopping the ride for the rest of the 89 riders. You know your granddaughter best so I would recommend your riding Soarin' first to experience and then deciding whether you think it would be too upsetting for your granddaughter.

 

[Disneytwinz]

Soarin' is a smooth ride...not jarring movements. My twin 4 year olds rode it and one was kinda nervous. She got off wanting to go back on again. The first ride I told her if she didn't like something just close her eyes and squeeze my hand. She did fine. Everyone is different so you might want to ride the first round and then be able to assure her yourself. Good luck- it's a wonderful ride...this coming from someone (me) that doesn't like heights!

 

[Disneytwinz]

Also to add to my last comments, the movement of the Soarin' ride itself could be compared to the movement of a ferris wheel without the height, imo. I could not really tell how high I was because of the darkness and the wrap around screen.