Soarin' - Top Row Center (No Hanging Feet) Full Ride GoPro POV - Epcot - Walt Disney World, Florida

Soarin' Over California is a simulator attraction at Disney California Adventure and Walt Disney World's Epcot park. The ride employs a mechanical lift system, a film presentation on a large concave projection screen, and at certain points artificial scents to simulate flight via a hang glider ride over several California landmarks. The ride's soundtrack was written by Jerry Goldsmith.
The original Soarin' Over California was an opening day attraction at Disney California Adventure on February 8, 2001. In addition to the main ride and film presentation, the attraction features a pre-show tribute to the history of California's aviation industry. Soarin' Over California has consistently been a popular attraction at the park despite its low attendance in its early years, and the ride was duplicated at Epcot under the name Soarin '​ in 2005.
The attraction, which lasts about four minutes and 51 seconds, takes 87 guests at a time on a simulated hang glider tour of California, flying over the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, Redwood Creek in Humboldt County, Napa Valley, Monterey, Lake Tahoe, Yosemite National Park (including Yosemite Falls and Half Dome), the PGA West Palmer Course in La Quinta (credited in the queue video presentation as Palm Springs), Camarillo, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, San Diego, Malibu, Los Angeles, and Disneyland itself during the Christmas season. The last few scenes transition from daytime to dusk and then to night, culminating in Disneyland's Holiday fireworks surrounding the riders in the nighttime sky. In addition to the state's various landscapes, the ride also highlights its diverse recreation, including snow skiing, river rafting, kayaking, golf, horseback riding, hot air ballooning and of course, hang gliding. The USAF Thunderbirds and aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74) at Naval Base San Diego are also featured. An original score by film composer Jerry Goldsmith accompanies the imagery, and appropriate scents (citrus, pine, sagebrush, ocean mist) fill the air as the ride vehicles themselves move gently to simulate the sensations of flight.
Soarin' Over California was first conceptualized in 1996 as "Ultra Flight," a name which can still be seen on the tower consoles of the California Adventure attraction. It was to feature an OMNIMAX screen with an inverted track allowing guests to fly over California's landmarks. The attraction would have three load levels and the system would operate on a horizontal cable, much like a dry cleaner's rack. This plan was abandoned, however, when it was determined that the construction and labor costs for that design would be prohibitive. It seemed that Soarin' wouldn't become a reality until engineer Mark Sumner developed a different idea for the ride vehicles, using an Erector Set and string to create a working model. This design would allow Disney to efficiently load guests on one level instead of three, thus cutting construction and labor costs greatly.
The scenes were shot with an IMAX HD frame rate - 48 frames per second, twice the conventional output for regular films. use the same orchestral score by composer Jerry Goldsmith, who is said to have come down from his first ride in tears. In addition to finding the ride visually beautiful and magical, he said that his father was a pilot who loved all things Californian. "I'd do anything to be part of this project," Goldsmith said. "I'd even score the film for free." The soundtrack he wrote plays throughout the entire attraction, starting with a crescendo in the low strings while the screen is still dark. Numerous variations of a serene theme for horn and strings can be heard, as well as several statements of a fanfare that accompanies the film's grandest vistas. The entire ride score can be found on recent Walt Disney World official albums, and the exit music is also played as part of a loop in the Disneyland Resort Esplanade and Epcot's entrance plaza.
Inspirational music from a variety of films, many of them war- or flight-themed, is played outside the ride building at the California Adventure version and in the queue hallways in both versions. Some film scores featured include Patton, MacArthur, Air Force One, The Blue Max, Explorers (all by Jerry Goldsmith), The American President (by Marc Shaiman), DragonHeart, Main Title (by Randy Edelman), The Last Starfighter (by Craig Safan), Apollo 13 and The Rocketeer (both by James Horner), Always (by John Williams) and the HBO miniseries Band of Brothers (by Michael Kamen). The Air Force Song and "Jupiter" from Gustav Holst's orchestral suite The Planets are also included, based on their use in The Right Stuff. In the California Adventure version of the attraction, the "History of Aviation in California" hallway of the queue uses the scores to many different films.

[@vanessapaigee7866]

I love that ride SO MUCHHHH

[@MikeKarschti]

+VplProductions TM Me too! It's great!!

[@hilaryannbrady]

Still my favourite ride at Walt Disney world, but its surprising how many people pick their feet up whenever they fly over trees, mountains and water. it must be a natural reaction.

[@MikeKarschti]

+Hilary Brady It's a great attraction! It's more fun when you lift your feet :)

[@804YUUUUP]

The best ride EVER!!!

[@MikeKarschti]

+804YUUUUP It's a really great attraction

[@jenk371]

you know when a ride is good when you feel the need to lift your feet up thinking you're gonna hit something even though there's nothing there. i haven't been on this ride myself (hoping to this year) but I've been on the Harry Potter one and it does the same thing. it's a wonderful feeling

[@MikeKarschti]

+Jen K It's more fun when you lift your feet up. lol. I hope you get to experience it. It's a great attraction. It's closed at the moment but there is going to be a brand new film when it reopens this summer.

[@lisakent5682]

Great video, enjoyed it! Love this ride! Thanks for sharing! :)

[@MikeKarschti]

Lisa Kent I love this ride too. So chill and relaxing. I love the queue music too.

[@gsdcool4321]

Mike Karschti From the scale of 1 to 10, how scary is the top row?

[@MikeKarschti]

0. Not scary at all. It's fun, exhilarating and even a bit relaxing. I highly recommend it :)

[@JoeTeavee]

It's been awhile since we've been on Soarin' as we seem to be using our Tier 1 FP+ on Test Track but this makes me want to go back on it!

[@MikeKarschti]

Joe Teavee It's such a chill ride. I got lucky back when Maelstrom was open. I had it pick for my B tier then it got switched to an A tier. I was able to switch it for another A tier allowing me to have Fastpasses for both Test Track and Soarin' in the same day. Hehehe

[@peanutismint]

Nice video! What GoPro mount did you use and did you have any problems taking it on the ride or did you hide it? Also, does it bug anyone else that all the Soarin' videos just jump-cut from one scene to the next? Kinda kills the immersion for me... They could've at least hidden the transitions with some CGI clouds etc....!

[@MikeKarschti]

Jon Turner Thanks, dude. I had the chest mount on. The cast members have no problem with it. I don't really have a problem with the jump cuts. They flow pretty well.

[@peanutismint]

Mike Karschti Re. the chesty - good to know! Might try that next time.

[@MikeKarschti]

Go for it! :)

[@MKM_2002]

No hanging feet (from others) - Correct No hanging feet (from us) = INCORRECT

[@MikeKarschti]

True

[@JTC2227]

Look To The Right

[@JTC2227]

Soarin' Row 1

[@brockdrozeski741]

I miss this version of soarin

[@MikeKarschti]

+Brock Drozeski me too!

[@JTC2227]

@@MikeKarschti Same

[@JTC2227]

Concourse 2, Row 1

[@GrandpasGirlKimWillbee326]

are you sure you titled this video correctly?

[@MikeKarschti]

I think so