Description And Comments

Once you enter the main theater, you're secured in a seat not unlike the ones used on inverted roller coasters (in which the coaster is suspended from above). Once everyone is in place, the floor drops away and you are suspended with your legs dangling. Thus hung out to dry, you embark on a hang-glider tour of California with IMAX-quality images projected below you, and with the simulator moving your seat in sync with the movie. The IMAX images are well chosen and slap-dab beautiful. Special effects include wind, sound, and even olfactory stimulation. The ride itself is thrilling but perfectly smooth, exciting, and relaxing simultaneously. We think Soarin' over California is a must-see for guests of any age who meet the 40-inch minimum-height requirement. And yes, seniors we interviewed were crazy about it.

Touring Tips

Aside from being a true technological innovation, Soarin' over California also happens to be located near the entrance of the park, thus ensuring heavy traffic all day. It should be your very first attraction in the morning, or, alternatively, use FASTPASS. If you are among the first through the turnstiles at park opening, sprint to Soaring' over California as fast as your little feet can carry you. If you arrive later and elect to use FASTPASS, obtain your FASTPASS before noon. Later than noon you're likely to get a return period in the hour before the park closes, or worse, find that the day's supply of FASTPASSes is gone. If both Soaring' over California and the Tower of Terror are on your itinerary, sprint to Soarin' the moment the park opens and ride. Next, proceed to the Tower of Terror and obtain a FASTPASS (FASTPASS kiosks open the same time as the attraction). With Tower of Terror FASTPASS in hand, continue to the next attraction on your itinerary.

Soarin' Over California Wait Times

This chart shows you roughly how long you'll wait for Soarin' Over California when you visit on a day with a given Disney California Adventure Crowd Level. The blue bars represent the average "peak" wait time (that is, how long the line will at its busiest). The bottom and top black lines represent the range of peak wait times to expect (for you fellow nerds out there: it's the 5th percentile and 95th percentile of peak wait times). Please note that these are estimates, and for a better forecast for your travel dates, see Soarin' Over California Wait Times.

Special Comments

The park's best ride; may induce motion sickness; 40" minimum-height requirement; switching off available.

Special Needs

Other Attractions in Golden State

Touring Plans with Soarin' Over California

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