A hang-gliding simulator that lifts you in front of an 80-foot dome screen and flies you over the Matterhorn, the Pyramids, the Sydney Opera House, the Great Wall, and a finale over EPCOT itself.
Soarin' opened at Disney California Adventure in 2001 and was added to EPCOT's Land Pavilion in 2005, originally with footage of California landmarks. In 2016, it was reimagined as Soarin' Around the World — a global tour of natural and human-made wonders. The ride structure is unchanged: rows of seated guests are lifted in front of an 80-foot domed IMAX screen and flown through a 5-minute aerial sequence with synchronized motion, wind, and scents.
You must be at least 40″ (102cm) to ride Soarin' Around the World.
Rider Switch (child swap) is available for parties with kids under the height requirement. If your child is close to the line, the cast member at the queue entrance will measure them against the post.
You sit in a hang-glider-style row of seats. The row lifts about 12 feet off the ground and tilts you forward in front of the dome screen. As the film begins, your feet dangle, and the screen wraps around your peripheral vision so completely that the sensation of flight is convincing.
The footage takes you over the Matterhorn, Greenland's iceberg fjords, the Sydney Harbour, the Eiffel Tower, the Great Wall of China, the Taj Mahal, the African savanna, Iguazu Falls, the Pyramids, Fiji, and a finale over EPCOT itself with fireworks. Synchronized scent effects add grass, ocean, and gunpowder smells.
Mild and family-friendly. No drops, no surprises. The only mild discomfort is for guests with strong fear of heights — your feet are dangling and the dome creates the illusion of altitude.
Soarin' is a comfortable Lightning Lane Multi Pass pick. Standby waits average 30-60 minutes — significantly less than Test Track or Frozen Ever After. If you have multiple LL slots, Soarin' makes a good Pick 2 or Pick 3.
If you're skipping LL: rope drop is excellent here. Soarin' is in The Land pavilion at the back of EPCOT, so most rope-drop traffic goes to Test Track or Guardians first. Walking back to The Land at park open often gets you on with under a 20-minute wait.
Average standby wait by season (observed over 2024-2025 data):
| Season | Morning | Midday | Evening |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low season | 20 min | 40 min | 30 min |
| Moderate | 35 min | 60 min | 45 min |
| High season | 50 min | 80 min | 60 min |
| Holiday peaks | 65 min | 100 min | 70 min |
First 45 minutes after park open (rope drop, but walking back to The Land — most guests run to Test Track first), or the last 90 minutes of park operation. The mid-day window (11am-4pm) is consistently the longest.
Land Pavilion food court (Sunshine Seasons) is excellent and right next to the ride. Combine your Soarin' visit with a meal here.
Mild, beautiful, non-threatening. Enjoyable across generations.
The illusion of hang-gliding is among Disney's best examples of the genre.
The Land pavilion is air-conditioned and the queue moves through the building. Excellent summer break.
The sensation of altitude is convincing. Guests with strong fear of heights may find it uncomfortable.
Ask for Theater B if possible. Theater B is reportedly the best vantage — best screen geometry, least edge distortion. Cast members can sometimes accommodate.
Sit in the front row of your bench if possible. Front row of each row gets the cleanest view; back rows see the feet of the front row dangling in their peripheral vision.
Look for the synchronized scents. Grass over the Serengeti, ocean spray over Fiji, gunpowder during the fireworks finale. They're subtle but real.
If you wear glasses, secure them. The motion is gentle but the lift and tilt are real. Sliding glasses can fall.
The 60-Day ADR Countdown calculates your Lightning Lane booking window — so you know exactly when to wake up and tap.
Calculate My Booking Dates →