Thursday, February 17, 2011

Soarin'... The Scratch and Sniff Version

Soarin' is AMAZING! Found in Epcot's pavilion known as "The Land," this attraction consistently and constantly draws crowds of people, contributing to it's generally long wait times. According to the Disney World website...



"Soarin' is a multi-sensory attraction for big kids, teens and adults in Epcot theme park that simulates a peaceful hang-gliding flight over the Golden State of California.
Fasten your seat belt on the multi-passenger glider and be lifted 40 feet into the air. Swoop up and soar towards the clouds and spectacular California panoramas. An IMAX projection dome wraps 180 degrees around you, so you're engulfed by the impressive scenery.
Special cameras on airplanes and helicopters captured many of the shots and the glider moves the same way the aircraft did, so you really feel like you're flying as you glide over such awe-inspiring vistas and landmarks as :
  • San Francisco
  • Golden Gate Bridge
  • Redwood Creek
  • Napa Valley
  • Monterey
  • Lake Tahoe
  • Yosemite National Park
  • Camarillo
  • Anaza-Borrego Desert State Park
  • San Diego
  • Malibu
  • Los Angeles
Get a bird's-eye view over a PGA West golf tournament, a skiing and snowboarding exhibition, and float above cowboys on horseback as they race through the wilderness.
Feel the wind in your hair. The air fills with the scent of orange groves, evergreens and the sea breeze. Your feet dangle free. Dip down so close to the crashing waves of the Pacific Ocean, you think your toes will get wet. Then return to the sky and continue on Soarin' to a fantastic finale where fireworks burst into sensational colors around you."
In other words, Soarin' is AMAZING! 
Soarin' entrance

It was designed by Mark Sumner, who figured out how to make the ride system work wile playing with an old erector set over Thanksgiving. Riders board one of several "hang gliders" each with three rows. (I think the first row is the best... No feet hanging above you.)
the often coveted Soarin' fastpass

Soarin' fastpass distribution
When the attraction starts, you're gently lifted into the air over a projection screen. Before you know it you're floating along over California, enjoying the view from up above. 
Though the video itself is really cool, the smells are one of the details that really make this attraction. While you fly over the forest you can smell the pine trees! My absolute favorite smell is the orange groves, and don't forget the ocean breeze! It's too bad they don't sell the scents as air fresheners; I bet they'd sell like crazy!
I was excited today when I stopped over to ride Soarin' and saw these...


... Soarin' scratch and sniff t-shirts! Woah! I could actually smell them too as I took the pictures... Possibly the next perfume replacement? Apparently, they come in orange and pine tree versions. I'm not sure how well the printing lasts if they're "scratch and sniff," but I thought they were pretty creative. 
If you're interested in some Soarin' trivia check out this link... WDWRadio: Soarin'

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