What happened to Soarin?

[Uno Mas]

OK, I know this has been discussed in the past, but I can't remember the explanation or find the thread. Just got back and found the condition of the Soarin film to be horrendous. Was in the concourse to the left (is that A or B?) in row B1. There were so many black specks on the screen that it was to the point of distraction - at some points you were so focused on the black specks you weren't even paying attention to the film. I don't recall it being this bad in the past - I remember a speck or two, but not so much that it looked like the film was covered with bugs. Any idea what's dirty - film, screen, projector, all?

 

[ImDMous]

Looking at where you usually stay in your signature, you must be talking about WDW but the DCA one is looking just as bad. Lots of black spots everywhere. I really wish they would remaster them or whatever they need to do.

 

[mickeyplanner]

We noticed the same marks during our March 2012 trip to WDW. That is bummer that TT is down and Soarin is the main attaction at Epcot these days.

 

[Ramsfan28]

I just got back and rode Soarin' twice - it seemed to be in better condition this trip then last year.

 

[Robo]

It would just be a matter of money for them to order a new print of the film for any of the theaters.



.

 

[MouseEarsForAll]

Isn't this the same company who made a big deal over how GREAT Soarin' was...they've obviously reconsidered that...

Just like EE...

 

[Geoff_M]

We were at WDW this month and saw Soarin' three times, I didn't see any significant issues with the film. I think the problem is that people have gotten so used to digital projection that they forget that dust in projector gates is par for the course. I didn't see any obvious signs of scratches or other damage to the print. The only thing that I noticed was that two of the seats next to us were out of commission due to the seat belt take-up mechanisms being broken.

 

[flortlebap]

We noticed one was far worse than the other - no black spots in the other concourse.

 

[Hopefully]

We were at WDW this month and saw Soarin' three times, I didn't see any significant issues with the film. I think the problem is that people have gotten so used to digital projection that they forget that dust in projector gates is par for the course. I didn't see any obvious signs of scratches or other damage to the print. The only thing that I noticed was that two of the seats next to us were out of commission due to the seat belt take-up mechanisms being broken.

Our experience in May as well (well not the broken seats). We really did not see a lot of black spots and we watched Soarin twice

 

[PrincessAurora]

I noticed the black spots at Epcot in March and DCA in April. Both were distracting and that print really needs to be replaced.

 

[mjp12831]

It would just be a matter of money for them to order a new print of the film for any of the theaters.
.

Honestly I don't notice it, but there have been plenty of threads on it here, so I believe that it must be an issue.

My thoughts are the same as Robo's - its not as if they need to go out and reshoot a film, they can just make a duplicate that they can run while they clean up the original version, or maybe they even have a clean version somewhere and just need to duplicate that. This could happen without any ride downtime.

In the grand scheme of operating a theme park, this can't be a huge expense.

 

[Pixiedust34]

We noticed the poor quality last August.

Soarin has been in operation since 2005 with little to no rehab (none that I can remember) so that attraction gets a lot of wear and tear! Perhaps once Test Track is up and running, Soarin can get some of the TLC it needs to do repairs and either clean up the old film or replace it with a new one.

 

[MouseEarsForAll]

We noticed the poor quality last August.

Soarin has been in operation since 2005 with little to no rehab (none that I can remember) so that attraction gets a lot of wear and tear! Perhaps once Test Track is up and running, Soarin can get some of the TCL it needs to do repairs and either clean up the old film or replace it with a new one.

"Tender care loving"? That's a new one!

 

[bytheblood]

The screen/film does really need cleaning. Hopefully they will clean it up soon. I believe they have to close both concourses to do that.

 

[PrincessBelle39]

We haven't been since October 2009 and we noticed black specks on the screen then. I found them quite distracting. I had hoped it would have improved this time.

 

[Robo]

The screen/film does really need cleaning.

1- Hopefully they will clean it up soon.

2- I believe they have to close both concourses to do that.

1- That would be nice.

2- Nope.
Totally separate operating theaters.

 

[Pixiedust34]

"Tender care loving"? That's a new one!

LOL! I'll edit original post.

 

[Gravydeen]

I couldn't keep my eyes off them. I kept trying to see if they were birds or just specs. I came off the ride unsure. Maybe they were some of both.

 

[DustyPixie]

I remember reading posts about the poor condition of the film before we went to WDW last October. I had never experienced that on previous trips, but as odds would have it, we had always done Soarin' in the concourse to the right. In October, we were directed to the concourse on the left the first time we rode it and WOW! it was really bad. I was really disappointed in Disney that they had let the film deteriorate that much without replacing it when it's a premier attraction. Gee, maybe they'll direct some of the income from the increase in ticket prices toward doing that!

 

[North of Mouse]

We have noticed some larger "dust/spots" that at first I thought were birds, then they magically disappeared But, really, they don't bother us - it's still one of our favorites