tinkerhon
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- May 1, 2012
Beyond amazing, all my fears to rest. We rode twice, could have gone more but wanted to make sure we saw as much of the land as we could. We kept telling him "Soarin' on a motorcycle". He grew to love Soarin' (I can't stand the height part). The queue is super long with lots of different "sets" so there was so much to see and look at. The first time we rode we asked for bottom level just in case. He really enjoyed the preshow rooms because you kinda show on screen and they ask everyone to move and dance ... he giggled and thought that was fun and watching the others in our group dance. Everyone was having fun with it.
We get into our ride room, put our stuff up and sit down, DS2 and I on either side of him. I pushed on his back to get him all the way forward and said the back in coming so he was ready. He loves the motorcycle rides at arcades so the seat was fine with him. I had to get him to push his legs inside as the natural position is for you to have them back at an angle. None of us had any issues with the leg restraints and both DS2 and I actually had a gap of space since we didn't have our knees bumped on the bumper. I looked and saw his back and front were pretty tight so he was in there quite firm ... and he has a "belly" so I felt good about that. The fronts of the motorcycles (for lack of better term) are tight together so you can't see the floor ... my major concern because then you would also see drop off.
He was quite interested in the screen down on your motorcycle dash because you see your face, Navi face, skeletal and it kind morphing together. So he was engaged. When they take up the "garage door" in front of you, to trick your brain not to see it there are about five led lights in your dashboard that flash much like a strobe. That close to face, I think they need a warning. Someone could still be affected even if they just don't like bright lights. It's an easy go around, just lay your hands flat on top of your dash covering it and you won't get hit with the lights. Once the door is up (and you don't see it moving due to the lights) you are seeing stars and eyes trying to focus. Then there you go ...
You are flying. The floor does move, 2 feet vertical breaks occur in back of your room from the main wall where cubbies are. This is what probably keeps it so smooth. I have vertigo and get nauseous on some rides/car rides. I was turning my head constantly to the back of room, the other levels I could see with lean and look, looking at DS etc ... at no time did I feel dizzy. Even Soarin' can make me queasy. The height issue would only kick in due to the movie as you can not see the floor even looking down. The way you appear to be flying is the screen is wrapped above and below you and likely not very far out there. I looked around SO much that the second time we rode I thought there were new scenes because I missed so much.
DS1 ............... WOW ............... we go to Disney so much because he loves it (as do we), but he lives for it, the characters are his real friends (Mary Poppins remembered him this trip and talked about how often we visit her) and we see a smile there that we see no where else. It's natural, spontaneous and pure joy smile. Well, this was even beyond that, it was like he was free. He laughed, he smiled, he looked at us both with such joy. First time his glasses were loose and moved and he reached up to fix, laughing (not holding on, rare). While the ride is awesome, I almost cried just seeing him have that few minutes of pure happiness. All my fears were gone. Next ride we went up a floor. PS He loves to get wet so the few splashes of water were icing on the cake.
All rides have names to him, not necessarily the right ones ... Halloween Mansion, Halloween Hotel, Three Caballeros Boat ............ this one is now Flying Dragon.
For me, hating Soarin', loved this. What an amazing job they did. The banshee breathing (at your knee points so bring legs in as if riding a horse) was so cool. There were also vibrations in the back restraint that I wish I could bring home. They truly created a movement that felt legit, even a barrel roll. But I watched closely the other floors and our "tipping forward" is nothing. The chairs do work independently because I had my hand on DS hand first ride and could feel our seats lean left and right different. It really is much like the motorcycles at the arcade but much more smooth and controlled. I think because the floor does some of the pitch the motorcycle does not have to.
Suggestions:
- Have no fear. We are both very height fearful, I have vertigo, slight claustrophic. No problems.
- Flat foot (with thick skecher bottom shoes) to top of leg space was about 25-26"
- Trick if you are bothered by restraints ... put legs slightly back and sit up straight. I did this second time to test. Everything locked. But then I had ample space to not feel the restraints.
- You are not going to fall or anything, this is simply to keep you in your seat. The floor movement and break in back would make it dangerous if you got out.
- Move your head where you want to see, trying to look down through glasses (like bifocals) creates blur.
- Both rides, multiple times we were told "NO PHOTOGRAPHY, NO VIDEO, NO GO PROS".
Seriously I think everyone should try it. This is my scribble of the theaters, the black is the screen best I can figure. While I could see where it ended on sides against our rooms, you could see no end on floor or ceiling so you really felt you were out there flying.
Hopper --- you rock !! No other way to say it !! Booked a trip for 7/10-20 with the kiddies --- first time without DW ( she is training for a new job). My ds6 and dd11 were so worried about this ride ! (They both love ST and Soarin) -- I got a FP , (btw, I have vertigo, panic attacks, etc--- you name it --- I start each day off with Xanax and can't do roller coasters---but you have put my mind at ease now --- thanks so much !!
I don't have trouble on SDMT but I've often thought "gee, if I were an inch taller I'm not sure how how I'd fit in this thing without really angling my legs." Haha! But after being on the ride and reading comments around here, I think you have to be of materially larger size before FOP becomes a question mark. 
Sadly it's once and done for him. I LOVED the ride myself, but I don't generally have motion sickness. Just my 2 cents.
