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Soarin’ Around the World

Take a breathtaking and magical flight around the globe, with stops in Africa, Asia, and even the frozen Arctic!
Location:Epcot
Future World
Type of Attraction:Gentle flight simulation
Height Restrictions:None
Typical Wait Time:20-90 minutes
Is It Scary?Not so scary!

Quick Links:

Magical Moments
Hidden Mickeys & Other Secrets
Did You Know…?
Touring Tips
Photo Gallery

Your journey around the globe begins with a visit to the mighty Matterhorn on the Swiss-Italian border, and moving on to the ice floes of the frozen Arctic (keep an eye out for those playful polar bears!). Next up is Sydney Harbour in Australia, with its beautiful Opera House, then it’s back to Europe, where French horn fanfares welcome you to Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria, Germany.

Then it’s over to Africa and a herd of elephants in Tanzania, followed by a stop at the Great Wall of China before returning to Africa for an up-close-and-personal view of the pyramids of Giza, located just outside of Cairo, Egypt. It’s then on to the magnificent Taj Mahal, complete with the traditional sound of the sitar; across the ocean to the majestic red rock formations of Utah’s Monument Valley, then back to join outrigger boats along the coast of Fiji in the south Pacific.

You’ll then fly over Iguazu Falls, which flow on the border of Argentina and Brazil, and then scale the mighty Eiffel Tower in Paris. Finally, Tinker Bell appears to welcome you back to Epcot with a magnificent view of Spaceship Earth at night.

Soarin’ Around the World is an attraction that’s simply not to be missed, and it’s a journey that you’ll never forget! Oh, and did we mention the memorable musical score by Bruce Broughton ? It will make your heart (pardon the pun) soar!

Magical Moments

  • The sensation of hang gliding is one you’ll never forget! Far from being scary, Soarin’ Around the World is a nice, relaxing attraction. Think of it as more of a theater show with some gentle breezes thrown in!
  • Soarin’ was always known for its wonderful aromas. Who can ever forget the scents of pine trees and oranges in the original version? Today you can catch a whiff of the sweet smell of roses at the Taj Mahal, as well as that memorable “earthy grass” aroma as you fly above the elephants in Tanzania.
  • Be sure to watch for the amazing transitions between the different scenes. In particular, notice how the majestic dome of the Taj Mahal magically transforms into a giant hot air balloon!
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Hidden Mickeys & Other Secrets

  • In the hot air balloon scene, pay attention the upper right corner of the vista. You’ll see three balloons pass by each other, briefly forming a Hidden Mickey.
  • As you fly over Spaceship Earth in the finale, keep an eye out for a pair of fireworks exploding behind the geodesic sphere, forming the ears of a magical Hidden Mickey!
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Did You Know...?

  • When the original idea of Soarin’ came about, Imagineers struggled to come up with a way to lift an entire theater into the air. Every idea they came up with, including literally suspending it from cables and having it glide over a giant screen, proved to be far too impractical and expensive. All seemed lost until Mark Sumner, senior technical director and project/ride engineer at Walt Disney Imagineering, came up with the idea of a new type of ride vehicle while he was home one weekend. Sumner made a simple prototype out of an old Erector Set to demonstrate the sophisticated mechanism that would simulate a high-flying adventure, and the rest is history!
  • The entire ride mechanism consists of one million pounds of steel and is able to lift 37 tons.
  • The original version of Soarin’ was the source of one of the most frequent question posed to Epcot’s Guest Relations. Guests frequently inquired as to why Cinderella Castle had been replaced with a smaller version. The answer was that it wasn’t. The castle guests saw at the end of the film was actually Sleeping Beauty Castle in Disneyland (since the attraction took you an a virtual tour of California).
  • Today, the final destination is determined by which park you’re in: Walt Disney World Guests are returned to Epcot and Spaceship Earth, while those in Anaheim see Disneyland (which means their trip is bookended by views of the Matterhorn!). At the Shanghai Disney Resort, where Soarin’ Around the World debuted a day previous to its American openings, Guests see a view of the city’s sky at night.
  • A new high-resolution camera system was created for Soarin’ Around the World, with the cameras either being dangled from or attached to the front of aircraft, in order to get as close as possible to each setting. These vivid images are displayed on the 80-foot screens by laser-powered projection in the attraction theaters, drastically improving the quality of the visual image.
  • If the Neuschwanstein Castle seems oddly familiar, it’s because this imposing structure, visited by Walt and Lillian Disney, served as the inspiration for Sleeping Beauty Castle in Disneyland.
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Touring Tips

  • This is a FastPass+ attraction, and you’ll find that FastPass is a virtual necessity due to the popularity of this incredible attraction (it’s worth it!).
  • Despite the premise of the attraction (a hang gliding tour across the globe), you actually don’t move much, so don’t think of it as a thrill ride. It’s actually more of a theater presentation (but unlike any you’ve ever seen!).
  • If you are prone to motion sickness, be aware that Soarin’ creates a very convincing sensation of flight (though your actual “flight” consists of a gentle lift off the ground of a few feet and some gentle swaying). Most of the effect comes from the large screen that envelopes you, if you feel woozy just close your eyes and the sensation should pass.
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Photo Gallery

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