Soarin’ Over California

While the premise of flying over a giant screen of different views of California doesn’t sound all that exciting, there’s a reason why this attraction is so popular. After you strap on your seatbelt, you’re brought up floating before a ginormous, curved screen that plays recordings of panned views of the Golden State. Starting with soaring over the Golden Gate Bridge (YEAH, Bay Area pride!), it really does make you feel like you are flying over different parts of California. There’s also Yosemite National Park, the USS Hornet in Alameda, Napa Valley, Lake Tahoe, Palm Springs, San Diego harbor, and Malibu, before soaring over downtown Los Angeles and ending before the Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland, an evening sky of fireworks, and a flying Tinkerbell.
The music is epic and uplifting. No surprise there, since it was written by the late composer Jerry Goldsmith, who also wrote the score for «Mulan» and «Star Trek.»
The one flaw were the row of feet dangling above our heads, which were visually distracting. But this is definitely a must-​ride here in California Adventure.

I’ve been meaning to go on this ride as I missed it in Disney World. I regretted it deeply, but should I have?
There really isn’t much going on. You sit in your seat and then you’re lifted in the air and you get to see multiple views from locations all over California. From SF, to L.A. you get to see a bit of everything. At first I was getting a bit dizzy, but that was done within a minute.
A fun ride, but it did meet the unrealistic expectation I set for it.

California has everything. .The Golden Gate Bridge, the Pacific Ocean, mountains, dessert, orchards, waterfalls, snow, golfing, surfing, river rafting, hot air balloon riding, hang gliding, skiing, snow boarding, Mickey Mouse, California Adventure, Disneyland, and everything else that is in the film that plays as you sit in an air conditioned theater.
You feel as if you truly are flying and then dipping so low that your feet will skim the top of the river! The acceleration, the brisk breeze, and the citrus fragrance combine to create a unique experience!
Hurry and take a ride before this attraction closes and changes its theme! This is a MUST DO at California Adventure Park! !! Fast Passes are available, but they run out during peak times.. so… chop chop! Get going!

This is one of the coolest rides. If you haven’t been on it, go today! Be sure you have FAST PASS or you’ll be waiting for at least an hour, OMG! We have fastest passes and so I rode this one twice! I just love CA and I am sure CA loves me too… lol. This ride takes you to see the coolest places CA has to offer… which is everything! go go!

I love California and love this ride. I really like the sensation of flying with the air in your face and the various aromas across different scenes. It gets a little cheesy at times but never disappoints. I also like sitting down on a ride after a lot of walking and standing. The A/​C is always welcomed on a warm day and the perfect place to cool off with this easy going thrill ride.
If you time it right you may not need a Fast Pass. Lines are usually about 25 minutes long or less if you don’t see anyone waiting outside. If you see a lot of people outside, you may want to get a pass, go ride Buzz Lightyear a couple of times and come back.

Omg I’m so proud to be a Californian!
This about sums it up, not to mention I’m dating a guy with two california tattoos (pretty boy I know) the first time we got on the ride we got stuck in mid air, super scary but they gave us fast pass tickets for other rides and this ride too! I couldn’t smell anything so I’m not sure if it was me or the ride that day… (I have an amazing sense of smell) what a proud moment for us Cali avocado tan health conscious Hollywood athletic snowboarding surfing rock climbing sexy cali babes … amazing ride … Love california!!!

Soarin’ Over California is an exciting ride. Just like the name of the ride you are soaring over different cities in California. Strap into the seats and let the ride begin! Throughout the whole ride you are actually sitting down but the row of seats move so it feels like you are flying. You can place your belongings under the seat where a netting is available. Your feet are free from the bottom making it feel like you are in the air. Fly over trees, bridges, water, land and other things and experience the view as a bird would see it. Highly recommend it and the good news is there is Fastpass.

It’s an enjoyable ride, however its not worth the 60min wait.
For the three days that I was there, there was always a long long line up to ride it. I did enjoy the ride, however, the wait was too long

You enter a cleverly decorated area that resembles the JPL holding area. Flashing lights, aluminum panels and concrete flooring with high ceilings. As you await your turn, enjoy the air conditioning — when I went it was similar to standing in an oven at 450 degrees Fahrenheit. The line moves quickly and is more than worth the wait.
Once you enter the main facility, you are seated in rows 1 – 3, with 1 being the best and places you up front. If you are seated in rows 2 or 3, I understand you can see everyone else feet swinging around. Be sure to belt yourself in and place all items under your seat securely — to include your sandals and flip flops, hence avoiding an unintentional shoe launching. Then hang on and enjoy the most amazing spectacle you’ll see at Disney.
I don’t want to ruin the experience, so no details specifically, but let’s just say it’s exactly like flying in a helicopter over some of the most amazing areas of Southern California and logistically you haven’t moved from your seat. It’s the ride that encompasses what SoCal is and transports you there. Do yourself a favor, take the adventure and breathe it all in. (literally, because they infuse the air with the scents and sounds of the geographical area you are experiencing).

For a bird’s eye view of California, come to Soarin’ Over California!
This is by far one of THE BEST RIDES showcasing the beauty of California and fittingly, it is in Disney California Adventure Park! This ride will take you hang gliding through some beautiful parts of CA. The views are spectacular! The experience is really well done and you get to breathe in scents pertaining to where you are.
I love the way Disney has laid out the look & feel of the interior (I mean, the inside waiting areas), the hangar look & feel with lots of aviation memorabilia, and the ride itself.
Tip: If you are in need of A/​C on a super hot day, once you are inside the building (hangar), you will be blessed with the coolness of hospital-​like A/​C!
Make sure to get a Fast Pass for this ride! For good reason, this ride generally has a very long line! Plus, if you get a Fast Pass, you get to go right on into the hangar, which means you escape the elements outside.
The only query I have is why do they load the rows of seating beginning with the third row to the first row. On average, it takes people about half a minute to get to their seats. The rows file in right behind the other and the people in the second row have to wait for the aisle to clear from the third row and same goes with the first row. A little confusing. I think it would be simple to load from the front to the back… just my opinion.
If you are able to make it to Disney California Adventure, I highly recommend that you come Soarin’ Over California to get a quick recap of what makes California wondrous, in a nutshell!

As far as unique rides go, Soarin over California wins! Nothing like it anywhere else in either park!
Enter an airplane hangar and then board your sitting hang glider to soar over classic CA landscapes! You are raised up into the air and Your feet hang down, making it feel like you are flying. In front of you is a huge movie screen and you get to fly above The Golden Gate Bridge, the Redwoods, desert, rivers, and more! My favorite is the orange groves with that perfect orange blossom smell that gets pumped in.
Line gets long, so get a fast pass. Even with the fast pass, you’ll still have a 15 minute wait. One of the longer fast pass wait times in either park.

It doesn’t matter how many times you get to ride this attraction it is the bomb diggity! There is noting like it. You actually feel like your flying. As you fly over the orange groves… you smell oranges. Flying over the ocean you smell the salt water. Fabulous! If your afraid of heights you must still go. Your buckled in and you won’t fall. This is a wonderful experience for the whole family.

This is the ride I want to go one when the park has worn me down and I don’t think I’m going to make it through the day.
This ride is so calming and relaxing and really wonderful. Its a motion theater ride of sorts but not the type to make you motion sick. It takes you soaring over a bunch of different parts of California, (and the ride is accurately named, Soarin’ Over California)
The smells and the sights are so realistic! Like when you’re soaring over the California orange groves your surrounded by a wonderful citrus tree smell! I don’t want to give away too much more but this ride is definitely something special!
I would recommend getting a fast pass because the line can get pretty long towards the afternoon!

I am so happy Disney decided to refurb this ride. Before the recent update I never really cared to go on this ride, but now it is one of my favorite attractions at California Adventure!
Before you couldn’t even see the people skiing down the mountain. Now I can see them perfectly. It has really made a world of a difference.
My favorite seat is in the front towards the middle which ends up putting you in the top row. If you have the patience it is well worth the wait.
If you are visiting here for the first time or have not gone on this ride in a while I would definitely check it out.

This is the reason why I purchased the annual Disneyland pass– to have the chance to get on this ride as much as I can. This is hands down, my favorite ride in the whole park… California Adventure of course!
Soarin Over California is a simulated ride that takes you throughout all of California. You get to see all of what this beautiful state has to offer. There is always a long wait for this ride, as it has become a favorite amongst tourists. Get the fastpass for this one… I try to get as many fastpass opportunities for this ride. You get to place your belongings n the area below your seat. I have alwsy been lucky to sit all the way in the front for this ride. It does not matter where you sit-​the ride itself lifts you up as if you are in the air. This ride lasts about 6 minutes, but wow. Those are the best 6 minutes you will experience. You will get to fly throughout Napa Valley (which has a very fresh fruity scent), the Mojave Desert, San Francisco, Redwood Forest, Tahoe, Yosemite, Los Angeles, Malibu and finally ending in Disneyland.
This is just a down to earth beautiful ride that you just have to experience. If you have not seen all of California, Soarin Over California is your closest way to have that amazing experience.

Great ride! An important tip: if you can get the middle section row 1 it’s the best place to get an unobstructed view of the entire ride without seeing feet dangling in front of you.
Love the scenes and definitely the smells. My favorite smells is the river scene and the Napa vineyard scene. Only issue with the ride is that the San Diego navy scene and LA scene give me a headache from the shakiness of the screen but the ride still is amazing and so relaxing.

*sit in row 1 if you can wait. Row 2 is not too bad. The higher you are, the less distractions you have in your peripheral view and the more real the flight will feel.
I rode this in DW several years ago too. The ride is just as thrilling today as it was then.
Soar over various scenic areas of California and feel the wind wisp through your hair as you take in the beauty of God’s creation (and some of man’s creations). Get lost in the feeling! I literally forget I’m on a ride and that someone is sitting next to me! I find the ride extremely serene. Every time it takes flight over the aircraft carrier, I feel a sense of pride and my emotions rise and I almost want to cheer!
My favorite part of this ride is the 4^th dimension added to this ride. The scents of orange should be recognizable ;however, I am wondering if something malfunctioned on my last ride because the orange scent was barely recognizable and I didn’t smell pine trees or the ocean. Nevertheless, this ride would get 6 stars if I could give it.
Lots of people applaud when this ride is over! It is worthy.
ProTip: on a crowded hot day… This is a great ride to grab a fast pass for around mid day. Head to Carsland or Bugsland (close by) and experience those mostly out door rides and then head over to Soaring for a nice cool down.
Little Kid Likability: ⁹⁄₁₀ (some may fear Heights)
My Return Factor :100%

Soarin’ Over California is such an amazing attraction. This ride offers amazing views over several locations throughout California while providing fun sensations such as the feeling of flying/​gliding and certain smells like pine trees or oranges. The wait can be pretty long as this is a popular attraction but Fast Pass and Single Rider options are available. This is a ride where you don’t interact with each other so it is not necessary to sit next to your party. Disney has recently updated this ride so the screen is in perfect condition.
Pro-​tip: First row is the best to sit in as you don’t have feet dangling in front of you and can really feel like you are flying over California.

My favorite ride in California Adventure has finally reopened since the construction update. They pretty much added a few more paintings and notes to the museum but nothing was changed to the ride itself. The lines are pretty short thanks to fast pass and the single rider option.

I was here for the 24hr 60^th celebration event, haven’t been on this ride for a long time we decided to se how long the line was it was a 50 min wait so we just went for it it actually moved fast it took about 35 mins and we got the front row which was cool. The ride was much better than i remember both picture and sound. Will go on it again and again.