5 Things To Know About Soarin’ Around the World

Epcot is home to plenty of amazing attractions throughout Future World and World Showcase which aim to educate guests about various topics in entertaining and thrilling ways. One of the most popular attractions in the park can be found on the lower level of The Land Pavilion in Future World West. Soarin’ Around the World previously was known as just Soarin’ and opened in May of 2005. The original version of the attraction brought guests on an amazing hang gliding adventure over some of the most beautiful sights of California. Guests could enjoy gliding over the Golden Gate Bridge, busy highways of Los Angeles, and even beautiful fireworks at Disneyland. While Soarin’ was very popular with guests, the attraction was closed for a lengthy period of time leading into 2016 to make way for a brand new experience. Soarin’ Around the World opened in June of 2016 and brings guests on an amazing adventure around the entire world showcasing beautiful places like the Great Wall of China, Taj Mahal, Eiffel Tower, and Sydney Opera House. With gorgeous scenes to enjoy, there are plenty of reasons why guests will absolutely love Soarin’ Around the World. Here are five things to know about the Soarin’ Around the World attraction in Epcot.

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5. Patrick Remains —

Many guests simply loved the preshow experience of the original Soarin’ attraction. The short video featured chief flight attendant Patrick, played by Patrick Warburton. Patrick walked guests through safety measures and introduced them to the experience to come. In a particularly favorite moment, Patrick also recommended guests that they store their carry-on items in bins located beneath the seats including Mickey Ears which he classically referred to as “little beauties.” When Soarin’ Around the World was announced, many guests feared that Patrick may disappear and an entirely new preshow video would be featured. When the new version of the attraction opened in June 2016, guests were rejoiced to see that Patrick made it to the new attraction and still recites his classic line.

4. Wait Times Are Down —

Since Soarin’ was one of the most popular attractions in Epcot, the wait times were generally high, even exceeding two hours on busy days in the park. While those wait times were the norm and FastPasses were coveted for the original version of the attraction, Soarin’ Around the World seems to be handling massive crowds in a very efficient and quick way. When the new version of the attraction was introduced, a third theater was added meaning that even more guests could enjoy the experience at the same time. Thanks to this new third theater, the standby wait times for Soarin’ Around the World have been significantly lower than the old version, leaving many more guests able to enjoy the experience with reasonable wait times.

3. Scenes & Scents —

While guests may have felt that they already got the experience of hang gliding through the original version of Soarin’, they are pleased that the newer version features an entirely different experience. Instead of being limited to the beautiful sights of California, guests soar all over the world enjoying unique and gorgeous vantage points of some of the most breathtaking places on Earth. While these scenes are sure to thrill guests, some do miss the unique smells that were used in the original version. Soarin’ featured delicious smells like orange groves and beachy salt water as guests flew over corresponding areas. While those smells are no longer featured, there is a whole new set of delicious odors which match the gorgeous scenes now featured.

2. Several Surprises —

Soarin’ Around the World not only featured brand new scenes and scents, but also some surprises along the way. Some of the transitions between scenes are a little abrupt, but the surprises are part of the fun of the attraction. Guests should definitely be paying attention during the transitions for what are some memorable moments from the attraction. In addition to some fun transitional surprises, there are also several Hidden Mickeys featured throughout the film, so guests should be sure to be on the lookout!

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1. Try To Sit In The Middle —

There can be some slight distortion on the screen depending on where a guest sits for the attraction. The slight distortion occurs because the edges of the screen are curved and the projection is focused in the middle, but they do not take anything away from the overall experience. Guests who want to enjoy Soarin’ Around the World without the slight distortion should ask to be seated in carriage B as it is situated in the middle of the screen.