Soarin' Over California - California Adventure

Pros: Fun IMAX movie that adds additional sensory experiences; FASTPASS ride
Cons: Queue can be long; little real shade in queue line.

I am not a big fan of Disney theme parks, but since I am a dutiful parent I have taken my children to Disneyland down in Southern California several times. On our most recent visit in June my kids decided they wanted to check out the California ...

Pros: Beautiful scenery, scents and wind
Cons: You can see all the feet dangling in front of you

Soarin' Over California consistently gets among the highest ratings for rides in Disney's California Adventure. So, the first time I got on this ride, I had high expectations. The "ride" was pretty good but I would classify it similar to an IMAX movie ...

Pros: A great simulator.
Cons: No in-line entertainment.

This is one of the most unique rides I have been on since Star Tours. I had heard how good it was when California Adventure first opened by a co-worker but I wasn’t able to ride it until about a year later. When I first rode it I was very ...

Pros: it's fun with a pretty film
Cons: somewhat long lines, can see feet of people seated above you, film could be improved

Just about everyone I know has at one time or another wanted to fly. Not in an airplane, but to truly soar with the birds, catching gusts of wind to swoop across breathtaking scenery. It's a fantasy, and not one that will ever come true. I'll never be ...

Pros: The thrill of gliding with none of the danger
Cons: Very long line

As big a Disney fan as I am, I will quickly admit that California Adventure, the second park at the Disneyland Resort, could use some improvement.  The one ride that was a huge hit from day one is Soarin' Over California.  It's so ...

Pros: Amazingly Realistic, See sights of California, FASTPASS
Cons: VERY long lines, Not very long ride.

WHAT IS SOARIN" OVER CALIFORNIA? Soarin' Over California is one of California Adventures most popular rides. It gives riders an aerial view of everything great about California. You start out sitting in one of the several modules of 10 seats that ...

Pros: Unique, fun for the entire family of all ages
Cons: Bad lines (even for Disney), terrible scene changes

I was lucky enough to go on this attraction before it was completly copied at Disney World. If you are going to Disney World, don't worry, this review would be almost exactly the same. Anyway, back to the attraction on hand, Soarin' Over California ...

Pros: Breathtaking. The inclusion of female aviators on display in the waiting area was refreshing.
Cons: No safety monitors during the ride. The scene transitions were choppy.

We rode Soarin' on October 6th, 2005.
Just after we were lifted into the air, 10 seconds into the ride THE VISUALS SHUT OFF!! The sounds and smells continued, so in essence, we were suspended 40 feet in the air inside a PITCH BLACK giant ViewMaster subjected to screeching sounds of birds and booming fighter planes. Talk about freaked out!
What really disturbed me was the fact that there was no one monitoring the fact that we were all suspended for what seemed like an eternity in the dark. The attendants had no idea! Once the ride was over, we all waited in our seats, refusing to leave without an explanation. Eventually, the attendants entered the theatre to usher us out and discovered all of us still seated and very upset. They gave out Fast Passes to ride once the attraction was fixed. I must admit, I took them up on the offer and rode a second time once it was fixed, but the abject fear of the first experience overshadowed what would have otherwise been an exhilarating ride.