Soarin’

One of the coolest rides at Disney world! And dare I even say it… The hour wait is worth it! Fast passes can be hard to come by but when you get it, enjoy every minute of this cool ride! It entices the senses and the thrill of dangling feet is so much fun! My daughter who is 4 loves this ride so much! The ride is also a bit longer than your typical 20 second ride which is what makes this attraction that much better. If you don’t go on soarin then your missing out.

One of the best attractions at Epcot. I love that it’s kind of outdated and simple. I was lucky to ride it the last day it was open before it closed for refurbishment on 1÷5÷2016. I can’t wait to see what they do with it next. Will update review then.

Not bad. I have to say I liked «lift off» and my feet «dangling» in the clouds. Some of the scents used were pine and orange. They were subtle at first but kind of annoying. I get that they want you to feel like you’re there, but there’s a reason I never use air fresheners; they make me nauseous. I also liked the blast of cool air for the sensation of wind, but I was freezing! Maybe some warmer temperature air blasts would be better.
The other thing that was a tad odd is that the clips don’t mesh into one. You kind of go through the forest, and then you’re all of a sudden at the beach without any smooth connection of film or in this case, landscape.
Great contraption, and cool effects overall.

OKay… it’s neat don’t get me wrong but it is not worth a two hour plus wait… FAST PASS IT…

I have no idea why this is such a popular ride.
They can’t even replace the video in the seemingly 30 years since this ride was opened? It’s low res, and seems very old. The cheesy smell effects don’t even work. My family and I were really disappointed with the quality and age of the ride especially given its popularity.
I am betting that most people who have written a positive review of this ride have also ridden it as children.

I can’t believe it’s been a decade since I was on Soarin’. The last time I rode this, it was during the cast member opening weekend. Sheesh. I suppose that’s because I never wanted to wait in line.
Our wait time said 35 minutes but the line wasn’t that long. In truth it was more about 20, and that’s quite fine, however once we were loaded into the large carts and lifted, there was a technical glitch so one of the ride loaders entertained folks by taking photos for them. And then he’d take one of himself! What a neat souvineer!
The ride itself is one of my favorites in Epcot. I love that it is an amazing sensory experience, with wind, scent in sound. That they try to fully immerse you into the event. The film is showing it’s age though as there’s a glitch in it and it shows if you look for it, but otherwise it’s still a beautiful ride through California and it always makes me smile when we end up in Anahiem.

Soarin is located inside the land pavilion at Epcot at Walt Disney World. Apart from one sign out front, you may not even realize it’s inside. It’s on the first floor and in the back corner. It is probably my favorite ride Disney has and I’m assuming others feel the same because it always has at least an hour wait. During busy times it can get up to 2 – 3 hours.
Soarin is basically a flight simulator that takes you across California. It’s a big room but at the present time there are only two rooms. (More are being built) You get seated in row 1, 2, or 3. I always ask for row 1 because that means you end up at the top of the screen. The seats are very comfortable with just a seatbelt. There is a 40 inch height requirement.
Once the ride starts you feel like you are actually flying over different areas of California. From the orange groves, Napa valley, the Golden Gate Bridge, Yosemite, LA and even a quick trip to Disneyland. They push smells at you along the way which just makes it more realistic.
I have a fear of heights so I do get nervous, I just can’t look down. You are up pretty high but it’s just so wonderful to see it all. This is definitely one of my favorites and I always make sure I get on it.

One of the best rides in EPCOT.
I heard they’re changing it to Soarin’ Over Florida soon, so that will be pretty cool.
I live in California so it’s always fun to see the places in CA I haven’t had a chance to see yet. Oh and the safety briefing in the beginning is a hoot.
Definitely get a FastPass, don’t be standing in that crazy long line!

This was my first time on Soarin’. I kept feeling like it was a new ride. Maybe because the wait is always so long or that I haven’t been to Epcot since 2008. I looked it up and the ride was opened in 2005. So it’s 10 years old. I feel that it’s showing it’s age. Maybe that is why they’re going to close the ride at the end of 2015 and open it back up in the summer of 2016.
We got a FastPass for the ride and still had to wait about 20 minutes. That was a little annoying. It was however better than waiting the 75 minutes with the other people. The whole concept of the ride is you’re in a seat that moves up and over a large, circular screen. The screen projects different scenes from aerial shots of California. They also pip in smells, such as pine trees and oranges. The smells are more like room refreshers. The screen/​image projection isn’t the best. You can see the framing for the screen, a bunch of rectangular shapes that shine through the picture. If you’re wearing shoes that come off easily, you can leave them where you start and they will be back there when you get back as it brings you right back to the starting location. I hope that the refurbishments bring it into this decade.

I remain absolutely baffled as to why this ride always has an hour or more wait time. It’s a theatre with seats that float. The «smells of California» everyone raves about barely work (I smelled oranges for like 2 seconds at one point).
The worst part is the editing. You’re on a ride that jump-​cuts all of it’s sequences. It is impossible for me to get into the mood when I’m going down a river and BAM suddenly I’m in a canyon without any sort of transition.
There is no story with this one either. It’s just a giant 20-​person hang glider with badly edited aerial footage. Go ride Test Track a few more times, or try drinking around the world.

On the few trips we get to do to Epcot, this is always our first stop. We make sure to get the fast pass the night before so we don’t have to wait in line, as it’s one of the most popular rides, ever.
If you’ve never done it, it’s like flying over California in a hang glider. Over river gorges, mountains, orange groves, etc., until you reach Disneyland and fly through the night time fireworks. You get the air currents, turns, etc., without any of the problems with landing in one piece. You even get the scent of oranges as you fly over the groves. My only complaint is that they need to serve you a glass or OJ when you come in. :)
This ride is to be updated sometime within the next year, to take us soarin’ over new and exciting locales. I can’t wait to see where we go!

We needed to kill an hour so we chose this ride.
I was warned in advance that this ride was just sitting and elevated in front of a gigantic screen, but whatever I haven’t ridden it and I can’t use my next Fast Pass yet. The wait was about 50 mins and I was patient. The interactive queue features several games that «read» body heat against a screen so you can «move the land» to create mountains, «pop balloons» to reveal a hidden picture, or «navigate a hot air balloon ship» to gather gems. Pretty cool but it works better if there’s group cooperation.
We finally got seated the the ride. Still not sure what I was to expect. Then everything goes dark and we get lifted in the air. Holy heck! Thank god for the lap belt. We sat somewhere in the middle so we could see everything. I do like that the ride had different scents related to what you’d be flying over. Pretty cool.

This is one of the most overrated Disney attractions, period. It’s clever, but I just don’t see the draw.
The ride is basically a simulation of being in a hang glider as you fly over different parts of California. (This is an exact clone of the Soarin’ attraction in Disney’s California Adventure, with slightly different theming as you walk into the ride.)
You walk into an area of the building that’s somewhat like a futuristic airport terminal. (It’s supposed to resemble Charles De Gaulle in Paris, but I don’t see the resemblance.) After you enjoy a brief safety introduction by Patrick Warburton (NICE WORK, PAL. *Thumbs up.*), you are ushered to your «glider» in the ride. You then enjoy a rounded imax-​style movie that you «fly» though. As you fly through different areas, they pipe in smells for the areas you are going through, including piney smell for a forest section, and orange smell as you fly over orange groves.
The lines for Soarin’ are always stupidly long. This is because due to the «theater» format, capacity isn’t super quick. When I’m visiting, I will never ride this ride without a fastpass, unless it is first thing in the morning and there’s not a line. (Even riding the ride in the off-​season and arriving in the standby queue first thing in the morning STILL yielded a 20 minute wait.)
It’s an okay show, but I’d rather have the Kitchen Kabaret back. (It’s not worth more than a 10 minute wait, in my opinion.) Audio anamatronics always beats scents and imax movies, in my book.

This is Epcot’s signature ride. One of my favorites for sure. The premise is that you are in a hand glider or at least sitting down while flying through California.
They have a fan going to make it feel like wind is passing you as you brush up against the trees and your feet almost touch the water. It’s really fun. They also have citrus smells and smells of pine so that you really feel like you’re right above the corresponding areas.
The lines to this amusement ride are extraordinarily long. Your best bet is to get a fast pass or just find a time of day that people are just not there so that you don’t have to wait over an hour.
Whatever, if there is no choice for fast pass or you just can’t find it on a fast pass, wait in line anyway, it is well worth it.
It is my second favorite ride at Epcot!

I first had the pleasure of this amazing attraction at Disney’s California Adventure in Disneyland, where it was easily one of my favorites. Many year’s later I returned to Walt Disney World after a long hiatus and was so thrilled to get the opportunity to experience one of my favorite rides from Anaheim.
Soarin’ is a really unique experience which was devised when an Imagineer dusted off his old erector set and designed the ride vehicle which sends riders on an incredible adventure flying over California. The ride itself is very calm and serene, and the excitement really comes from the incredible vistas portrayed on the screen, along with movements of the seats, scents, and so much more to really get riders in the zone.
One of the most popular rides at Disney, Soarin’ is actually in the midst of an expansion, where it will get a third theater and a more interactive line experience. This should cut down a bit on the wait.
Additionally, Disney has been putting together a new movie for Soarin’ using scenes from around the world. I don’t know too many details yet, and I’m not sure when this will be replacing the old movie, but I’m both excited and sad by this change. I absolutely love the original experience, but would love the chance to Soar over other landmarks too. I wonder if there is a way they can keep both, but I’m imagining not and perhaps I will later get to re-​experience the California movie if I ever visit Disneyland again. Time will tell!

One of EPCOT’s signature rides where you take a trip across the continent to California and experience all it has to offer. My favorite part is flying over the orange groves in California, and they pump a citrus smell in the air that makes you feel as if you are right there. The ride itself has a simple premise, as you are put in a seat that lifts you in the air in front of a huge IMAX screen, and it makes you feel like you are flying. It’s a pretty smooth and simple ride, although I do wish the restraints were a tad bit tighter as it always feels as if I’m going to fall out, but I guess that is something most thrill riders enjoy. Nevertheless, it’s a nice ride that is fun while it lasts as you soar over golf courses, waterfalls, and farms. And of course, you end up at Disney Land as the fireworks go off above Cinderella’s Castle over there.
The queue line is quite simple and can be quite long. It doesn’t become single file line till the end, because you go into the ride as a large group, so it doesn’t really matter until you get to the end. And because you go in as a huge group, there is no single rider option, so if you don’t have a fast pass to bypass everyone else, you’re stuck with the masses. Their isn’t really a huge theme to the queue, but their are these interactive games on the walls. Basically you move your body with the rest of the people in line to play the game. I’m not really sure what this has to do with the actually Soarin’ ride itself, but at least its quasi-​entertaining.
Don’t Wait Longer Than 60 Minutes: This ride is always crowded, so try to get a fast pass if you can, or find a lull in the day.
Who’s This Attraction Best For: Children & Above
Ride/​Attraction Rating (B+), Queue Line/​Area (C-​), Wait Time (D-​)

That orange smell, though…
I first rode Soarin in California not too long after its debut. Seriously, the smell of fresh oranges stuck with me for YEARS. Yes, I know the fields probably don’t really smell like that, but a girl can dream. Right?
Since then, I’ve been a huge fan of this ride and am so happy it’s a little closer to home at Epcot. Like most rides around the behemoth that is Disney World, you’re best off getting a Fast Pass. Once you scan your handy dandy wristband (these weren’t around 15 years ago), you have a bit of a hike to the main attraction so, yeah.
Once you’re strapped in, get ready for a journey that takes you all around California! Don’t do what a lot of us did and strap yourself using the child’s strap. That’s just unnecessary. Now, I’m not scared of roller coasters but this journey is definitely my ideal ride. You are literally SOARING over the beautiful landscapes of California and can briefly escape the heat, crying children, workers in costumes, and the soon to be Frozen exhibit in Norway. Ya know, just in case you’re looking for that.
All in all, just do it.

Prepare-​se para uma longa fila porém que compensa. O Soarin é INCRÍVEL. Dá vontade de ir várias vezes. Dá uma sensação de liberdade quando você está lá sentado naquela coisa parecendo que está voando sobre a Califórnia.
Bem simples, bem legal, super recomendado.
Dica: não leve crianças pequenas pois elas podem ficar com medo, principalmente da altura e da sensação de vento que vem.

I’ll start by admitting I am terrified of heights. Yet, this ride was pretty awesome. Felt safe because I knew it wasn’t «real» and I was harnessed in — yet got my heart going — because, well it felt real to me still!
It reminded me a bit of the old school Back to the Future ride at Universal. But 10 000 times better.
Basically you are soaring (great name!) through various areas, cruising through fields, mountains and even San Francisco. My favorite part was the orange field — It SMELLS LIKE ORANGES! Pretty awesome.
The ride is pretty realistic, it feels like you are actually on a glider — it moves up and down, you fill the wind in your face, it shifts side to side… great effects. That and the fact you are basically in front of a GIANT screen, it all feels pretty real.
We luckily had fast passes so we didn’t have to wait too long — the board the ride by groups. The regular line seemed a little long, but I’m not sure how long the wait was. The good thing is they load a TON of people on at once.
Remember to take off your flip flops/​loose shows before you board — your feet do dangle.

It was my first trip to Epcot (I know, I know) and first thing was first: We had to ride the rides.
I echo what everyone says about the Fast Pass. I think the wait time was around an hour and 45 mins, but we walked right on by and from there, didn’t wait too too long (maybe about 30 mins…)
Honestly, I didn’t do any research or read any of the reviews before, so I had no clue as what to expect. A friend in our group was a little nervous… and I thought, really, how scary can it be?
But it got me at first!!! I kept feeling like I was going to fall out of my seat, so I *might* have held on the entire time.
We were lucky enough to get in the front row… LOL and since we were chatting during the informational video, we all had the children’s safety part of the belts buckled. (Haha! It’s annoying, so skip that step, but I’m sure y’all were paying attention, right?)
So, boom! Off we go, legs swingin,’ cool breeze in our faces, as we all giggled and «tried» to kick the people in the video. I LOVE the different scents they pipe in, fresh evergreen, orange trees, ocean… it really entices all of your senses… very cool.
This ride is a nice little treat, and I’m sure a blessing on a hot Florida day.
I’d definitely do it again!

Since its opening, this ride continues to be a gem and a very popular attraction at Epcot. With standby lines at about 130 minutes you’ll want to get a fastpass. If you can hold off until the evening hours the wait time dwindles significantly! :-)
During the long standby times the queue becomes interactive and presents patrons with lots of group games on the big screens to the right.
This ride is a wonderful experience. If you’re afraid of heights this is not the ride for you; thougg I do suggest you suck it up because it’s such a wonderful experience!
I am mortified of heights and find that if you do not look down and I mean really DO NOT look down you’ll have a nice time. The images in the screen will make you feel as though you are closer to the ground ;-)
Take off might be a bit scary for those afraid of heights because although it’s a bit in the dark the ride smoothly and swiftly ascends you. But the descend is so nice and smooth that you can’t notice it too badly. It’s really not that bad and the ride moves smoothly and subtly throughout.
I won’t spoil the experience but there are quite a few hidden Mickey. If you are lucky to sit in section B, Row 1 you’ll have one of the best seats in the house. Actually if you’re on row 1 in any section you’ll have Feet — free views. If you are on rows 2 or 3 you’ll still enjoy the ride but you can see the row in front of you’s feet by your peripherals.
For my Unilocalers wearing flip flops, your sandals will be very sad because they won’t be able to fly with you. They get to wait on the boring runway until your flight returns. Don’t worry they won’t walk away ;-) but flying barefoot is quite nice hehehe.
Take a wiff of those oranges and sea breeze! It’s a delightful and quite relaxing experience.