Epcot - Soarin' Around the World
World Nature Attractions
- Awesome Planet
- Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana
- Living with the Land
- Soarin'
- The Seas with Nemo & Friends
- Turtle Talk with Crush
Soarin' Around the World
Opened: February 8, 2001, film updated June 17, 2016
Ride length: 4 minutes, 51 seconds
Lightning Lane: Yes
Handicapped Accessibility: Guests in wheelchairs and ECVs must be able to transfer.
Overview/History:
As those who have ridden this unique attraction can attest, this is not your typical motion simulator type ride.
The ride is in The Land pavilion in the World Nature neighborhood. The building itself is shaped like a huge, truncated hangar, simillar to what you might find at a medium sized municipal airfield. The interior is also reminiscent of a municipal airfield, with chain link fencing in places. There is no separate pre-show to speak of. However, when you are ready to load up into your moving theater, you are treated to a short safety spiel video on an overhead monitor.
Inside the theater, you will be guided to one of three large ride vehicles. Each has three rows of seating, with the most desirable being the front row, closest to the screen. When the ride begins, the front row winds up being the highest in the air, and none of the other rows are visible, as they go below and slightly to the rear of the row in front. I rode in the middle row, which still offers a fairly immersive experience.
The theater seats are quite honestly are the most comfortable ride vehicle seats in any attraction. They are very similar to slightly reclined lawn chairs, with a mesh seat and back, and are perfect for this attraction. They are also somewhat wider and larger than ride seating in most amusement park attractions. Safety is provided by a simple lap belt restraint, leaving you with a comfortable, free feeling as the ride begins.
At the start, your ride vehicle is lifted swiftly and smoothly forward and up, with each row stacking vertically above the other, right in front of a massive theater screen. You then begin to "fly" through stunning scenes filmed over landmarks all across the world. You are swept over Fiji, the Egyptian pyramids, the Eiffel Tower, Monument Valley and more. The whole experience culminates with an evening fireworks display over EPCOT's Spaceship Earth.
As the camera banks and turns through the scenery, your moving theater also banks and turns...In fact, each individual seat moves, banking you left and right, and angling up and down, in perfect synchronization with the camera angle on the screen. It truly does leave you feeling as though you were hang gliding over the world's most breathtaking vistas.
The overall ride experience of Soarin' is certainly not to be missed. However, it is worth noting...guests who use wheelchairs and cannot transfer to a ride vehicle seat will not be able to experience this attraction, as there is no way to accommodate a wheelchair on the ride vehicles. Disabled access to the attraction, however, is good, with wide, gently sloping ramps throughout the queue area, and ample room to maneuver a wheelchair inside the ride theater. You just have to be able to get into the theater seats once you're inside.
There is very little not to like about Soarin' Around the World at EPCOT, and a lot of reasons to make sure that this is one ride you don't want to miss on your next trip to the World.
Soarin' Queue:
Soarin' is infamous for its lengthy standby wait times.
DIS Tip: Standby lines get very long very quickly, so you'll want to utilize Lightning Lane if you've purchased Disney Genie+ for your EPCOT day.
Disney uses interactive technology to make the wait in the standby line enjoyable. There are large overhead screens with interactive 'video games.' Similar to the Nintendo Wii, the players' physical movements dictate the direction of the game. At times the group becomes so engrossed that they don't realize the line has moved.
Games can be play by visiting www.soarinchallenge.com. You must be within range to play.
Descriptions of the games:
Pre-Flight Fun with Soarin’ Challenge - As you wait to board Soarin’, test your global knowledge by playing the brand-new game, Soarin’ Challenge! Exclusive to EPCOT, this travel-related trivia game gives guests like you the chance to put your international skills on the line against hundreds of other players. It’s so easy, and fun too—here’s how it works:
- Get Your
Mind on the Globe
Team up with family and friends to answer questions on culture, cuisine, history, landmarks and more. With dozens of countries to visit, you’ll find a wide world of challenges!
- Use a Mobile Device to Play
Easily access the Soarin’ Challenge website using your mobile device and jump right into the action. As you play, you’ll earn points and help bring your team to victory!
- Check Your Personal Progress
Keep track of your progress by unlocking achievements and digital passport stamps. Score enough points and you’ll soon find yourself on leaderboards with other top players! - Are you a geography genius? A culinary connoisseur? A master of many languages? Then prove it as you make your way to the gate—only with Soarin’ Challenge!
