On May 19, I took part in the Annual Passholder Previews of Soarin’ Across America. The ride has been updated for America’s 250th anniversary. Here are my thoughts. There are some spoilers, so if you don’t want to know anything until you ride, you might want to stop reading now.
Overall, I love the update. Soarin’ is a ride that should be changed from time to time to keep it fresh. I think that this update was overdue.
I’ll start with the first spoiler. Patrick Warburton is back in the preshow, this time as Captain Patrick. He introduces the safety video from a “handsome young devil”. The video that we’ve known and loved since Soarin’ was first introduced then continues, including the guy with “these little beauties” and the “nice work, pal” part. (The child in the video is Patrick Warburton’s son, who I would assume is no longer a smaller aviator.) The introduction video received a cheer from those of us waiting. It wouldn’t feel right to have Soarin’ without Patrick!
Onto the actual ride. We rode twice, once in the middle and once on the far left side. The bend on the sides is still there, so if you want the best view, talk to a Cast Member. It wasn’t too annoying, though. I was just happy to be on the ride. I’d rather sit on the side than have to wait.
The new film is beautiful. It’s sharp and crisp, and you still feel like you’re flying. I’ll cut back on the spoilers and not mention all of the destinations. I believe over a dozen spots are included. My personal favorite was the Grand Canyon. It’s one of the most beautiful places that my family and I have visited in our RV. I also really enjoyed the ending at Epcot. I can’t wait to see the Disneyland ending!
After my second ride, I started to think about some of the places that might have been included, since Soarin’ Across America is part of the nation’s 250th anniversary celebration. It would have been nice to see The Freedom Trail in Boston or maybe Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia. A flyover of some of the historic sites in Philadelphia could have been included. Just a thought, not a complaint.
I do have one minor complaint, though. There seemed to be a lot of CGI included with Soarin’ Across America. Maybe I’m wrong, but it could be that they were somehow able to get all those shots perfectly. I won’t give an example, because I don’t want to spoil it for anyone.
The music has been updated for Soarin’ Across America. The basic Jerry Goldsmith theme is still there, but it’s been updated by Bruce Broughton. It works. Soarin’ Across America still also utilizes scents in some of the scenes. They aren’t overpowering, and, in my opinion, fit in well.
If you’re waiting in line, you might want to play The Soarin’ Across America Challenge. There was no wait during our previews so we didn’t give it a try. I’m not even sure if it was working for the previews.
Overall, I enjoyed Soarin’ Across America. It’s a great update to a fantastic ride. It’s not perfect, but I think that it’s a nice tribute for the Semiquincentennial.