What exactly is Soarin'?

[calliest]

Is it virtual reality or do you actually go up in the air?

 

[Valstew]

You go up in the air the front row goes the highest.

 

[DisneyWorldbuff]

You rise into the air and see a "movie" on a giant screen that makes you feel as if you are "soarin" in a hang glider. Really awesome attraction!

 

[BadPinkTink]

I asked this on my first trip to Disneyland, as Soarin Over California was one of my friends favourite rides and she said we HAD to do it. All I got was, its amazing, you will love it, not that helpful, right, so heres the info I wish she would have told me.

Soarin is a gentle 2D flight simulator ride. It takes you on a helicopter ride over various real life locations. Each location has a theme and there are smells pumped into the air to match the theme /location. The whole ride has a musical soundtrack which goes from dramatic to gentle depending on the location.

You sit in a row of about 15 people. There are 3 rows of people on a flight pod. As the flight pods are loaded, all 3 rows are on the ground. You put your bags under your seat and there is a lap seatbelt. When the pods are loaded, the lights dim and the pods move forward towards the giant screen. As the pods move forward, the rows move upwards. Row 1 goes ontop, row 2 in the middle and row 3 on the bottom.

The giant screen is curved so everyone gets the same view. It feels like you are flying.

 

[Klayfish]

I think the rows for Soarin in Epcot seat 8 across, maybe 9. As said, there are three rows. You have a seatbelt, similar to that of a car, but only across your lap. When the ride starts, a "hood" type thing lowers making a roof over your head. Don't worry, it's not claustrophobic low at all, just helping block your vision of those people in rows in front of you. When the ride starts, the rows lift up and move forward toward the screen. The front row goes up really high, toward the top of the screen. The middle row is a few feet below that and the third row a few feet below the second. You're still pretty high, I'd say the third row is 10' up and the other rows are higher. You then watch a movie on the huge screen in front of you and it gives you the sensation of flight. The row you're in will tilt forward or back ever so slightly with the movie, but nothing dramatic at all. It's a gentle flight, there are no crazy dives, flips, etc...

 

[Wackdawg]

I think it's a giant slingshot that gets you Soarin' across the world showcase lagoon quicker.

 

[cdnjason]

Here you go: