11 Surprising Secrets of Soarin’ Around the World

There’s something very special about Soarin’. The attraction has been a huge success and a Guest favorite at both Disneyland and Disney World since the day that it opened.

A lot of work was put into Soarin’ by the Disney Imagineers. However, even though it took a lot to put the attraction together, that doesn’t mean that the Imagineers didn’t take the additional time to fill it with some extra magic. It’s well-known that Disney Imagineers enjoy putting hidden secrets, Easter eggs, and fun facts into the rides and attractions.

In this article, I’m going to go over 10 Soarin’ facts with you. The next time you take a flight around California or the entire world, see if you can spot these fun Soarin' facts!

1. Erector Set

When Disney Imagineers came up with the idea for Soarin’, they weren’t quite sure how they would physically bring it into existence. There didn’t seem to be a ride system that worked the way they were wanting. At least not one that existed yet.

Luckily, Disney Imagineering ride engineer Mark Sumner was able to build a prototype for the ride. However, this wasn’t your standard prototype. After continuously thinking about the attraction, Mark pulled out an old Erector Set that he had at home and got to work.

He tinkered with the set, figured out what worked and what didn’t, and eventually designed a physical example of the ride that he was able to share with the rest of the Imagineers. The Imagineers then got to work and started bringing Mark’s idea to life.

2. Soarin' Over California

Soarin’ Over California was the first version of Soarin’. During the flight, Guests would soar over Yosemite National Park, Napa Valley, Lake Tahoe, Palm Springs, San Diego harbor, Malibu, and downtown Los Angeles. Even though the attraction only displayed locations in California, it opened up in both Disneyland and Disney World. While at Disneyland, you’re meant to feel like you’re flying around California. At Disney World, it’s supposed to feel like you’re flying to California and enjoying the sights.

Soarin’ Over California ran from 2001 until 2016. It was then replaced by Soarin’ Around the World. This new version of the attraction included updated technology as well as visuals of landmarks that stretched across the globe. Guests would now take their flight over the Swiss Alps, Greenland, Australia, Mount Kilimanjaro, the Great Wall of China, Egypt, the Taj Mahal, Monument Valley, Fiji, South America, and Paris.

Soarin’ Around the World opened up in Disneyland and Disney World on June 16th, 2016. While these locations show the same film, they both have different endings. If you’re at Disneyland, your flight will end at Sleeping Beauty Castle and if you’re at Disney World, your flight will end at EPCOT.

Soarin' Over California regularly returns to Disney California Adventure for a select amount of time during the Food & Wine Festival. It also just recently took flight at EPCOT for a limited time. Even though this original version was replaced, it's nice that Guests still get the chance to experience it from time to time!

3. Soarin' Over the World Also Came to Other Parks

READ MORE – 11 Weird Things We Can’t Believe Were Once at Disneyland

Disney prepared to add Soarin' Over the World to their domestic parks and at the same time brought a version of that attraction to Shanghai Disney that there is called Soaring Over the Horizon. That version of the attraction opened on the same day as the new attraction versions at EPCOT and Disney California Adventure.

There is always some financial benefit from cloning attractions for different Disney parks around the world because they avoid the need for additional development costs. For Shanghai though it is even more beneficial because costs there are split by Disney and the Chinese Government entity that owns part of the park. That could have even been part of the reasoning to add that version of Soarin' to that park.

Soarin' Over the World was added to Tokyo DisneySea a few years later that was called Soaring: Fantastic Flight. That ride features the most elaborate queue and pre-show of any of the rides around the world.

4. Flight 5505

Since Guests at Disney World were meant to feel like they were flying to California, the queue and attraction were focused much more on making Guests feel like they’re getting on an actual flight. There’s even a flight number! All flights are Flight 5505.

The number 5505 is a nod to the date that Soarin’ opened in EPCOT – May 5th, 2005.

5. The Great Wall of China

Soarin’ Around the World isn’t the first Disney attraction that's taken us to The Great Wall of China. The first time Disney Imagineers immersed us in its beauty was during Wonders of China. This was a Circle-Vision 360 attraction that took Guests of EPCOT on a journey through China. Guests were able to see famous Chinese landmarks, see the natural beauty of China, and get a better understanding of the Chinese people and their culture.

When creating Soarin’ Around the World, the Imagineers decided to do something special. The location that they filmed The Great Wall of China in for Soarin’ was not random. They decided to film in the exact same location that they filmed in for the original 1982 version of Wonders of China.

6. The Matterhorn

A portion of Soarin’ Around the World takes you past a beautiful snow-covered mountain. Do you recognize it? If you’ve been to Disneyland before you probably do! This mountain is none other than the Matterhorn. Did you happen to see the Yeti as you soared by?

The Matterhorn was included in Soarin’ Around the World as a direct reference to the Matterhorn at Disneyland. It’s also a special mountain because Walt was very fond of it. Walt asked the Disney Imagineers to build a replica of the Matterhorn at Disneyland Park after personally seeing the tremendous mountain in person.

7. Neuschwanstein Castle

During your time flying over Bavaria, you’ll come across Germany’s Neuschwanstein Castle. While you’re taking in the sight of this beautiful castle, you may start to notice that certain aspects of it seem familiar. The reason for this is because the Neuschwanstein Castle was used as inspiration for the design of Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland!

Are you able to spot the similarities between the two?

8. Do You Smell That?

Soarin’ is designed to give Guests a full experience. With the 80 foot – 180 degree dome screen, the hang-gliding ride vehicle, wind effects, beautiful visuals, and sounds, Guests feel like they really are in each scene. However, Soarin' actually taps into another sense as well – Smell!

In Soarin’ Around the World, you’ll notice scents during the Elephant Scene, at the Taj Mahal, and in Fiji. In the Elephant Scene, you’ll smell grass. When soaring past the beautiful Taj Mahal, you’ll smell a floral rose scent. Then in Fiji, as you pass over the beaches and water, you’ll notice a sea breeze scent.

Soarin’ Over California also features scents of its own. When flying over the orange groves, you’ll smell fresh fruit – specifically oranges. As you fly over the Pacific Ocean, you’ll smell salty ocean air. Pine can be smelled on two separate occasions – once when you’re flying over the river that’s surrounded by trees and again when you fly over the snowy mountain.

Soarin’ would be an amazing attraction with or without the scents. However, they really add to the overall experience!

9. Hidden Mickeys

Did you think just because Soarin’ is a hang-gliding experience that you wouldn’t see any hidden Mickeys? Think again!

In the Hot Air Balloon Scene in Monument Valley, Utah,  three balloons pass by each other in the upper right hand corner. As they’re passing, there’s a moment when they're aligned just right and form a Mickey!

For Guests riding Soarin’ Around the World at EPCOT, your flight will finish up by soaring over EPCOT. When you come upon Spaceship Earth, two fireworks shoot off on each side. At the point of explosion, they perfectly arrange over the top of Spaceship Earth and create a not-so hidden Mickey.

10. Chief Flight Attendant

When you get to the Soarin’ pre-show, you’re greeted by Patrick, the friendly Chief Flight Attendant. Patrick goes over safety instructions with Guests to make sure everyone has the best flight possible.

If his face isn’t familiar to you, his voice may be! Patrick is played by Patrick Warburton, who has done a lot of work for Disney. However, one of his most popular roles is Kronk from The Emperor's New Groove. Recognize his voice now?

Patrick has also given his talents to other projects such as Kronk’s New Groove, Home on the Range, Sky High, Chicken Little, Buzz Lightyear of Star Command, Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., and Puppy Dog Pals, just to name a few.

In March of this year, during the Food & Wine Festival, Patrick returned to California Adventure and surprised Disney Park-goers before they enjoyed the limited return of Soarin’ Over California. Rather than relaying the safety instructions through a pre-recorded message, Patrick prepared Guests for their flight in person. It was truly magical!

11. The Filming Process

Soarin’ Over California, which opened up in 2001, was filmed with the most technologically advanced equipment of the time. When it was time to start working on Soarin’ Around the World, Disney Imagineers knew that technology had grown with the times and that the equipment used to film Soarin’ needed an update too.

When it came to the camera that was used for filming, rather than purchasing a new, higher-quality camera, one was made instead. D23 quoted Tom Fitzgerald, former Portfolio Creative Executive of Walt Disney Imagineering, saying this about the camera.

“The beauty of being Imagineering is that we have an R&D team here, and our Disney Imagineers and researchers developed a state-of-the-art digital camera, one of the highest resolution cameras in the world.”

The projection system was also updated to laser-powered digital projection. By doing this, the projections were guaranteed to look spectacular without ever showing signs of wear. Fitzgerald added,

“It will stay pristine for every guest who rides it as time marches on.” “So when you see the new projection system, you absolutely believe you’re in those scenes now”.

This is still true to this day! Soarin’ Around the World opened up in 2016. Now, in 2024, Soarin’ Around the World looks as amazing as ever!

It took over a year to film all of the shots for the attraction.