Soarin' Over California
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Soarin' Over California is a simulator attraction at Disney's California Adventure at Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California, and at Epcot's The Land Pavilion at Walt Disney World under the name Soarin' in Lake Buena Vista, Florida.
The attraction takes guests on a simulated hang glider tour of the Golden State. Guests "fly" over such California landmarks as Redwood Creek, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Napa Valley, San Francisco, San Diego, Lake Tahoe, Monterey, Malibu, Yosemite National Park, Palm Springs (actually shot in nearby La Quinta), Los Angeles and finally Disneyland itself.
The vehicle the guests ride in consists of three rows of seats under a wing-like canopy. After guests have been safely restrained in the vehicle, the canopy comes down and a cantilever system lifts the chairs forward and into the air with the guests' feet dangling free. The vehicle is lifted into a huge IMAX dome shaped movie screen onto which scenes of California are projected. Since the vehicle is moved forward into the dome, the effect is such that guests can only see the images projected on the screen and are given the sensation of flying.
To enhance the illusion of flight, small motions of the seats such as tipping on turns and slight up and down movements are synchronized to the film. Fans also blow breezes across the faces of riders to increase the sensation of flight. In addition, scents complimenting the various scenes are injected into the air streams blowing on riders. In the Ventura orange field scene, for example, guests are treated to the scent of orange blossoms. The Monterey and Malibu scenes have the scent of a sea breeze while the Palm Springs and Anza-Borrego scenes feature the scent of sagebrush.
Soarin' Over California is one of the most visited attractions at the Disneyland Resort and usually has wait times from 30-150 minutes. However, the attraction is tied into the park's FASTPASS system, thus preventing the long wait. The "ride" is approximately five minutes long.
"Soarin' Over California's" musical score was composed by Jerry Goldsmith.
Currently, Walt Disney World's Soarin' shows the same video footage flying over the state of California. The attraction uses the same preloading video as well, modified a tad to be "Soarin'" instead of "Soarin' Over California"
Attraction facts
- Grand Opening: February 8, 2001 (California) / May 5, 2005 (Florida)
- Height Requirement: 40"
References
Websites
- Sumner, Mark W. (2000). United State Patent - Amusement Apparatus and Method (http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?patentnumber=6354954). Retrieved June 3, 2005.