Soarin tour for members at Epcot

[MrInfinity]

Yeah, apparently I'm missing the big picture on this one. Behind the scenes on Haunted Mansion, Pirates, and others I understand. Soarin'..?? What exactly is there?? A movie projector and an electric motor to lift a chairlift??
I'm not trying to be a wise guy here. I'm completely serious. Someone who does this please report back about what I'm missing.

Trolling or is Soarin' just not enough imagineering and too much engineering for your taste?

I get his point. When you walk in and get on the ride, you can pretty much look around and see the mechanics. Besides what's in the big room w the chair lifts, there isn't much else to Soarin. As MG said, it's a projector, screen and speakers. Other rides might have more backstage stuff... like the HM, if you could walk thru the ballroom where the holograms are and see them up close that would be cool! There's something to see that you otherwise just get a distant view of. We would still do it... If you went up to anybody in line with an hour wait and offered them a 45-min tour with free ride at the end, who wouldn't accept? Stand in line or go do something you haven't done before... and ride either way. I see this getting booked solid.

 

[bobbiwoz]

There could be some background info about the taping. I pretty much go on industrial tours around the country whenever one is available, it would be foolish if I passed on this our of hand.

 

[tjkraz]

Since it's a 45 minute tour, clearly there's more to it than "here are the hydraulics...here is the control room..."

 

[wdrl]

We plan on taking the tour and there are number of things I hope to find out about the attraction:

1. What is the ride capacity?
2. How many guests are processed in an hour?
3. How high off the ground is the top row?
4. What is the weight bearing load capacity of each flight?
5. How many flights are processed in a normal day?
6. What is the percentage of FastPass riders versus Stand By riders? Has this percentage changed in the last 1-2 years?
7. Are there any Hidden Mickeys either in the ride itself or in the film?
8. How much of the new film is CGI?
9. Is there anything different between Epcot's Soarin' attraction and Disneyland's version?
10. How many Cast Members work the attraction?
11. Is there favorite/least favorite task for the Cast Members?
12. Are there rumors that back stage tours will be offered for other attractions?

I always enjoy talking to Cast Members and to hear things from their perspective. Its rare that I get to talk at length to the CMs who operate an attraction because they are focused on their tasks of getting guests on and off rides and they usually don't have time for chatting with guests. This back stage tour should give us more time to interact with the CMs.

 

[Simba's Mom]

We plan on taking the tour and there are number of things I hope to find out about the attraction:

1. What is the ride capacity?
2. How many guests are processed in an hour?
3. How high off the ground is the top row?
4. What is the weight bearing load capacity of each flight?
5. How many flights are processed in a normal day?
6. What is the percentage of FastPass riders versus Stand By riders? Has this percentage changed in the last 1-2 years?
7. Are there any Hidden Mickeys either in the ride itself or in the film?
8. How much of the new film is CGI?
9. Is there anything different between Epcot's Soarin' attraction and Disneyland's version?
10. How many Cast Members work the attraction?
11. Is there favorite/least favorite task for the Cast Members?
12. Are there rumors that back stage tours will be offered for other attractions?

I always enjoy talking to Cast Members and to hear things from their perspective. Its rare that I get to talk at length to the CMs who operate an attraction because they are focused on their tasks of getting guests on and off rides and they usually don't have time for chatting with guests. This back stage tour should give us more time to interact with the CMs.

All that trivia sounds so neat to me!

 

[zavandor]

At the very least it's an additional FP+ for a tier one attraction and an opportunity to go around the park before opening. This alone is worth it. Being able to see behind the curtain has a big attraction for me, I'm so exited about this tour.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Since it's a 45 minute tour, clearly there's more to it than "here are the hydraulics...here is the control room..."

Indeed there must be...

Just curious- This tour is free for DVC Members, but is it open to everyone for a fee?

MG

 

[PatMcDuck]

I have been on hold for 14 minutes, not even sure if I am in the correct queue. Member services? The same queue for booking an onsite DVC room? Also not sure I can book as far out as March yet. I will report back on that.

 

[sls23]

I have been on hold for 14 minutes, not even sure if I am in the correct queue. Member services? The same queue for booking an onsite DVC room? Also not sure I can book as far out as March yet. I will report back on that.

I just got through after being on hold for 20 minutes and was told that he could not see availability for December. At first he said they were not yet loaded and then said they may also have filled already which is too bad since I was on hold right at 9. He said I should keep calling back today and tonight just in case. Has anyone else had success?

 

[bobbiwoz]

I was able to book 4 for March 29! Am very happy!

 

[RachelTori]

Nothing for December 14

Edited to add: I was able to get the March 22 tour (for 3 of us).

 

[disneynutz]

Per MS fully booked through February, only 20 seats per date.

Bill

 

[kristen0147]

Ugh..still on hold..45 min and counting!
Edit...1hour 5min..still waiting

 

[PatMcDuck]

Me too, 47 minutes/ I want March 8. Getting worried.

Edit, 57 minutes. I wonder if I can book it at DCA? Going there in July. I do not expect to get my March date at this point.

 

[Anal Annie]

HORROR story trying to get thru. Took 15 min. the first time just to get thru then I had 2 other calls coming in and I accidently dropped the DVC call trying to answer the others. Took 10 min. to get thru on my other phone then a 30 min. hold then by the time I got to a CM our only Wed. date in January was already booked. NOT happy with the overall experience this morning. Only 20 per tour. NOT enough for the demand. CM said she could see there were still 125 calls in the holding queue. Now I will have to call back in January for our summer trip (she said could book at 180 days).

 

[bobbiwoz]

Anal Annie how have you done!?

 

[neitzelt]

1/25 is sold out...UGH! After 45 minutes!

 

[bobbiwoz]

HORROR story trying to get thru. Took 15 min. the first time just to get thru then I had 2 other calls coming in and I accidently dropped the DVC call trying to answer the others. Took 10 min. to get thru on my other phone then a 30 min. hold then by the time I got to a CM our only Wed. date in January was already booked. NOT happy with the overall experience this morning. Only 20 per tour. NOT enough for the demand. CM said she could see there were still 125 calls in the holding queue. Now I will have to call back in January for our summer trip (she said could book at 180 days).

I am so sorry to read this. You must've been posting as I was thinking about you.

 

[PatMcDuck]

I am worried, as I am still on hold, 1 hour 18 minutes. How did people get thru in 45? Ugh.

 

[WildernessMickey]

I got through at 9:28 am and was on hold for 22 minutes. My date of Feb 22 was fully booked. Bummer! If there are only a few slots available for one tour day each week, then not very many people will be able to take advantage of this. If it is 20 slots, then only 80 people in one month would get to participate, yet there are thousands of members. Hopefully Disney will be able to add more tours in the future. I would love to do this tour - Soarin' is our favorite ride.