Soarin'

Future World, Epcot

When Soarin' Launched in 2005, everyone knew immediately that it was going to be a smash hit. It opened first in Disneyland Anaheim back in 2001 and had been immensely popular. 

Soarin' isn't your usual motion simulator ride. Guests board one of three large ride vehicles, each with three rows of seats. When the ride begins, the 'roof' of the ride vehicle lowers slightly, and then all the ride vehicles lift up into the air to create a stacked mid air theater above each other. The idea is that nobody blocks your view, because they are either above or below you.

The ride cars move into position in front of a large dome shaped screen, which then projects the Soarin' movie. You fly through different scenes around California's beautiful landscape, such as the Golden Gate Bridge, Redwood Creek, Nama Valley, Yosemite National Park and the PGA West golf course in La Quinta.

In one scene you fly over a pine trees, and can smell the strong pine odeur. Then over an orange grove, and sure enough, you can smell the oranges. The final scene takes you down Main Street U.S.A. at Disneyland Anaheim during christmas, the ride vehicles bank upwards to show the Christmas Fireworks before retuning you back to earth.

The technology used to create Soarin' is simply stunning, each of the ride vehicles can tip up, down, left and right to give the impression that you are actually "Soaring over California".

This ride has to be on your to do list, and like most people you will want to ride it at least twice.

The biggest problem with the ride is that its so popular that the stand by queue is at least 50 minutes within about an hour of the park opening. The fastpass system also usually closes around 2PM as all fastpasses are taken by then. If you plan on riding Soarin' you need to head directly to the ride at opening time and grab a fast pass. While you wait for your turn, head over to Mission: SPACE and Test Track, the parks other two highly popular attractions.