The Soarin question..

[Jen95]

Ok..trying to decide if I should keep my Soarin fp. Has anyone rode it that was afraid of heights? I'm very scared of heights and afraid of falling but this ride looks so awesome! The part that scares me is that there's only a belt and nothing to hold onto? Is this correct?
I don't ride any roller coasters at all and this would be as major as I would get..lol!
Thanks for any input.
30 days!

 

[Allie B]

I am also afraid of heights and do not ride roller coasters. I rode Soarin once and will never do again! If afraid of heights this is not the ride for you.

 

[gap2368]

there is a belt and also handle on the side of you if you sit in row 3 you are closer to the ground ( I think row 3 is 15 feet off the ground, row 2 is 30 and row 1 is 45 feet.)

I am already of hight and I can do this just fine I just have to close my eyes when it starts is all.

 

[HopperFan]

Fear of heights here. I can do big coasters if moving but if they break down on hill (and happened to me last year) I begin the dying from the inside, tears and beginning of panic.

Been on it many times and I've managed. Rode the other day on the top level middle (trying to avoid the warp) and I was VERY uncomfortable, feeling panic inside and after said I don't see myself riding again. The lap belt was of no comfort to me. There are little handles on the armrests but useless.

If you want to try you could ask for bottom row so you don't go up too high. But note the seats do move so you feel you are moving, dipping etc plus the film will make you feel like you are very high.

And ... you are not permitted in the room to watch to see if you want to ride it.

The new movie is just not worth the fear, the old one maybe.

 

[eastendlights]

IMO, nothing to be afraid of. This is about as slow paced as a kiddie ride and it is one of the best in all of WDW. Not to be missed!

 

[DVC Jen]

YES! I hate heights - but I ride this every trip. The new version is AMAZING!! I sit there and white knuckle it. I did have to close my eyes a few times during the scene transitions. My husband laughed at me, but hey... ya do what ya gotta do. Right?

If you can stand on a balcony you can ride this. Just do not look down. Tell yourself it isn't that high up and do your best to ignore the height. Maybe ask the cast member if you can ride on the lowest tier.

 

[HopperFan]

IMO, nothing to be afraid of. This is about as slow paced as a kiddie ride and it is one of the best in all of WDW. Not to be missed!

Has nothing to do with pace when fear of heights is involved.

You go high with minimal restraints, the glider moves to make you feel you are free floating and the film is all shot as if you are high up.

 

[CarrieR]

It depends on "how" afraid and what "heights" bother you. My bestie is afraid of heights; she can handle the "virtual" heights of the movie no problem. She had to work her way up from the lowest row (~20ft off the ground) but now can ride anywhere.

There's only a lap belt, but there are armrests between each seat to hold on to. They are flat at the back, then go "up" to another flat section - I've found I can plant my palms there and "push" on those spaces if i need to feel more secure.

 

[Jen95]

YES! I hate heights - but I ride this every trip. The new version is AMAZING!! I sit there and white knuckle it. I did have to close my eyes a few times during the scene transitions. My husband laughed at me, but hey... ya do what ya gotta do. Right?

If you can stand on a balcony you can ride this. Just do not look down. Tell yourself it isn't that high up and do your best to ignore the height. Maybe ask the cast member if you can ride on the lowest tier.

LOL! ok thank you..I think I'll pass because I can not even do most balconies!

 

[HopperFan]

LOL! ok thank you..I think I'll pass because I can not even do most balconies!

I know the feeling. If I go out on a balcony etc it is slow and EVERYONE must stay away from me. I won't even let people near me on the subway platform (that may have to do with pushers ).

 

[Jen95]

Thank you all for your honest opinions! I truly appreciate it. I think my fear is really of falling and if I've got nothing to hold onto I'll not be comfortable. I'll skip it and be happy and not feeling like I missed out on anything. I'm at Disney right! Nothing better!

 

[Tigerlulu]

I am not a heights person at all. I've ridden once and was in the front row. Honestly it was amazing.
In the dark it's hard to tell how high up you are.
I was pretty worried about riding but it was totally fine.

 

[Jen95]

And I forgot..I was talked into Space Mountain years ago. I'm certain my nail prints are still in the plastic. I had my eyes closed and cursed the whole way down.

 

[pens4821]

I'm afraid of heights. Can do coasters because I feel secure with the restraints (although, I honestly don't know if I could walk down the hill if it stopped and I had to). Rode Soarin for the first time this year and didn't like it at all. I was in the front row, and I knew when I sat down I was in trouble. I'm also a bigger guy, so I felt like most my butt wasn't even on the seat, and that there was no way a belt was going to hold me. I tried making a joke out of it and laughing about it (which helped), but I was quite scared. I also just kept telling myself that I've never heard of anyone falling off the ride haha.

After saying that, I will try it again though, and request the last row. I'll see if that helps.

 

[Jen95]

I know the feeling. If I go out on a balcony etc it is slow and EVERYONE must stay away from me. I won't even let people near me on the subway platform (that may have to do with pushers ).

Yes! I'm the same way! I know why too...when I was 5 my brother pretended to push me over a balcony at sea world or somewhere (we were watching a seal show)...35 years later is still emblazoned in my mind. Scared me to death..

 

[NYCANC]

I do not like heights at all- my legs get all wobbly like jelly if I am at the top of a building looking down. At top of mountains, on a bridge, etc.
Last trip, we were on the bottom row- my kids did not like the dangling feet. I felt fine. I was first nervous but when it went up- I thought ok, that was a short distance.
A few weeks ago, we were on the top row. I held on tight and it was a little scarier knowing I was at the top- but honestly, the distance up did not feel so bad.
They get you up there very quickly and it is smooth.
I was happy to see the new movie.
Good Luck!

 

[christineann]

I am terrified of heights (even being on top of a ladder today painting made me jittery). But I have done Soarin several times and would do it again.

 

[Missyrose]

And I forgot..I was talked into Space Mountain years ago. I'm certain my nail prints are still in the plastic. I had my eyes closed and cursed the whole way down.

This is funny, what does closing your eyes on Space Mountain do? It's too dark to see anything but the outline of the person in front of you.

 

[Sargeant Tibbs]

Thank you all for your honest opinions! I truly appreciate it. I think my fear is really of falling and if I've got nothing to hold onto I'll not be comfortable. I'll skip it and be happy and not feeling like I missed out on anything. I'm at Disney right! Nothing better!

Just want to say that the seats are deep. It's not the same feeling as a ski lift, for example, and there are handles. You don't feel like you're going to fall out. I have a decent fear of heights, but I can do Soarin. There's a few places in the new version where I had to close my eyes, but overall it was fine for me. I can't stand at the ledges of high places, even with a railing, nor can I climb open spiral staircases, but I can handle a second storey balcony. If your fear of heights is as bad as Hopperfan's, don't do it, but if your fear is more like mine, you'll probably be able to handle it.

 

[Jen95]

This is funny, what does closing your eyes on Space Mountain do? It's too dark to see anything but the outline of the person in front of you.

I swear I saw flashing lights at some point when I opened an eye..plus while I was cursing I was praying as well.