Soarin' Around the World
Soarin' (also known as Soarin' Over California) is an attraction located within The Land pavilion in Epcot.
| Soarin' Around the World | |
| |
| Guests flying over the Golden Gate Bridge. | |
| Epcot | |
| Land | Future World |
|---|---|
| Theme | Flight |
| Opening date | May 5, 2005 |
| Ride duration | 5:00 minutes |
| Type | Motion simulator |
| FastPass + | Yes (Group A) |
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| |
Contents
Attraction History
Construction in Disneyland
The concept of Soarin' began in 1996, when Disney Imagineers began work on an attraction for the unbuilt Disney’s California Adventure park. The attraction was a motion simulator type attraction known as Ultraflight [1], which was to hoist vehicles over a large OMNIMAX screen, giving them the sensation that they were hang-gliding over California [2]. Development on the attraction hit a snag however, when Imagineers could not figure out a ride mechanism that would achieve the sensation they were trying to create. Originally, they had wanted to use the "dry cleaning idea", which would have consisted of a series of little hang gliders on a conveyor that moved around [3]. This ride mechanism (as well as others) however, proved unsuccessful and the attraction was eventually stalled [3]. It was not until Imagineer Mark Sumner came up with a system that would allow guests to board at the same place, and then be raised forward into the screen that the attraction became a reality [3].. The idea for the new ride mechanism came to Sumner when he was working at his home over the weekend, and he built a model in his attic using an erector set [3].
Although the ride vehicle issue was solved, it still took Imagineers two years of preparation and filming before the attraction was actually built. Disney filmed the video for ride, from a helicopter using a 48 frames per second IMAX camera. The filming itself took a good deal of time, as Disney had to receive special permission and permits to film many of the locations [3]. Despite the setbacks, the attraction opened in Disney's California Adventure as Soarin’ Over California on opening day, February 8, 2001 [1].
Construction in Walt Disney World
Due to the overwhelming success of Soarin' in Disney’s California adventure, Disney executives decided to make a copy of the attraction in Walt Disney World [1]. Initially, Soarin was to be housed in one of the World Showcase pavilions in Epcot, however when a suitable pavilion could not be agreed upon, the attraction was moved the The Land pavilion [2]. With the location now determined, Disney announced the creation of Soarin’ on October 10, 2003 (although construction had quietly started in August) [3].
In order to fit Soarin' into The Land pavilion a new show building was created [1]. The old Food Rocks Theater was walled off to create a hallway connecting the show building to the rest of the pavilion[1]. The show building was designed to blend in with the nearby Imagination! pavilion so that it would not take away from the pavilion architecture[1]. On January 3, 2004, Food Rocks closed and later in the year the programming and testing of Soarin' began[1]. In January of 2005 the entire Land pavilion closed in order to facilitate the integration of Soarin’[1]. During the closure, changes were also made to Living with the Land and the pavilion’s food court and atrium [1]. Finally on May 5, 2005 Soarin' opened to the public [4]. In March of 2015, Disney announced that Soarin' would receive a third theater and an upgraded projection system in 2016 [5].
Soarin' Around the World
on August 16, 2015 Disney announced that the attraction would be receiving a new film called Soarin' Around the World [6]. According to Disney:
"Soarin’ Around the World will take guests on a journey to far-flung lands, over some of the world’s most unique natural landscapes and man-made wonders. It will use the same technology that will make the Shanghai attraction, Soaring Over the Horizon, so spectacular, ensuring that the very best Disney has to offer can be experienced at Disney Parks around the world."
Attraction Plot
Soarin' is a motion simulator attraction which allows guests to take a trip to California on flight 5505 (a reference to the attractions opening date). Cast members wear airline costumes to help set the theme of the attraction.
Queue
The queue for Soarin' was the first Disney queue to become interactive. While in line for the attraction, guests can play video games which include a bird racing game, and "Pop the Blob". Guests move through the queue after playing each game, making the movements less frequent but more drastic. When guests reach the loading area, they watch as safety video before being led to their terminal.
The Ride
Soarin’ begins with guests boarding the ride vehicles and being lifted into the air. The vehicles then "travel" to various locations in California including:
- San Francisco- Where guests fly over the Golden Gate Bridge.
- The Redwood Creek- Where guests see various boaters and wildlife.
- The Napa Valley- Were guests see various hot air balloons.
- The Monterey Coast- Where guests can feel the ocean breeze and see boaters. Guests can also smell the sea breeze here.
- Yosemite National Park- Where guests fly over a giant waterfall, and also see another hang glider.
- Lake Tahoe- Where guests fly over various skiers.
- Palm Springs- Where guests fly over the La Quinta Golf Course, as they smell sagebrush in the air.
- Camarillo- Where guests fly over orange groves, even smelling the oranges themselves.
- San Diego- Where guests fly over the USS Stennis aircraft carrier.
- The Anza Borrego Desert State Park- Where guests see the Thunderbirds and fly over horseback riders. In this scene they once again smelling sagebrush.
- Malibu- Where guests can see various surfers, as the smell of the sea breeze permeates the air.
- Los Angeles- Where guests swoop down over a freeway, as they see the city lit up at night.
- Disneyland- Where guests see and aerial view of the park, as fireworks go off and Tinkerbell flies by.
After seeing Disneyland, guests land back on the ground and exit.
Attraction Score
The score for Soarin' was written by Jerry Goldsmith who was reportedly in tears after riding the attraction for the first time [7]. Goldsmith's father was a pilot who loved California, and the composer was quoted as saying, “I'd do anything to be part of this project...I'd even score the film for free" [7]. The official Disney website states that Goldsmith was "Inspired by the optimistic spirit of California" [8].
See the Film
Click play below to see the movie shown in Soarin':
Fun Facts and Trivia
- If you look closely on the golf ball in the Palm Springs scene, you can see a Hidden Mickey [9].
- Because Monterey is considered a marine sanctuary, it took a year to obtain all of the necessary permits to film that scene [3].
- Disney negotiated a four hour window to film Yosemite National Park with the Department of the Interior [3].
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 http://www.martinsvids.net/?s=Soarin
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Pedersen, R.A. The EPCOT Explorer's Encyclopedia:. United States: Epcyclopedia, 2011. Print.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 http://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions/soarin/news/03oct2004-disney-soarin-press-release.htm
- ↑ http://thisdayindisneyhistory.homestead.com/may05.html
- ↑ http://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions/soarin/news/05mar2015-disney-confirms-soarin'-expansion-and-theater-upgrades.htm
- ↑ http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2015/08/soarin-around-the-world-coming-to-walt-disney-world-and-disneyland-resorts/
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 http://www.jerrygoldsmithonline.com/disney_california_adventure_review.htm
- ↑ https://disneyland.disney.go.com/au/disney-california-adventure/soarin/
- ↑ http://disneydaddy.blogspot.com/2009/01/tip-tuesday-making-soarin-magical-for.html
