TheRealSkull
Well-Known Member
- In the Parks
- No
Unless Across America is worse
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News Disney California Adventure Park 25th Anniversary Offerings
- Thread starter DCBaker
- Start date
mickEblu
Well-Known Member
I’m not sure why I’m cautiously optimistic for it but I have a feeling they might have learned some lessons from Soarin Around the World. So between the timing and content I think it may turn out pretty nice.
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PiratesMansion
Well-Known Member
Maybe I would agree with you, but maybe not. That'd be like me saying something like "I know you miss tower a lot since it was one of your all time favorite rides, but I thought by now you'd agree with me that Guardians is better." Is it possible that someday you will? Yes. Is it truly likely? Probably not.
And I actually disagree with this example, that SOC still exists and TOT does not. You can still ride Tower of Terror 365 days a year (barring refurbs) in Orlando, Tokyo, or Paris. Whereas Soarin' over California is most of the time only available in California for maybe two months a year, and if the USA version is a hit, who knows if SOC will be back for awhile. So I suppose it's technically true, particularly if we're only looking at California, but there's still a huge difference in reliable accessibility in the big picture. It's considerably easier for the average Disney Park visitor to experience Tower of Terror than Soarin over California, even in 2026.
IMO people are not sufficiently considering this possibility. The logic seems to be "YAY Murrica!!111" and stop there for at least a few people. No denying that there's a lot of potential there, but there was for World too, yet they found a way to muck it up.
It's unreal to me that they've had so many examples lately of taking something beloved and mucking it up, yet people are treating Soarin over America as this can't lose, can't fail proposition. As though there couldn't possibly be a situation where the general public is entranced by it and keeps the lines long forever while the "true fans" see all the flaws immediately and have to wait for the public to tire of it before the older films return or a new one is made again for something better.
Again, flying theaters are a cottage industry and I've seen many versions of "Soarin' over Insert Nation/Place Here," done by the exact same people that did Soarin' over California. I've seen many that are beautiful, many that are transporting, pretty much all of which are longer than either Soarin' iteration, but none of them that affected me the same way as the original version. Perhaps it's a "nothing like your first" individual problem, but nonetheless, if they haven't wowed me by now, I don't imagine it's coming.
Just as with any project, the America version is a roll of the dice until proven otherwise.
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waltography
Well-Known Member
California was lightning in a bottle; perfectly paced, perfectly orchestrated, and with a level of handmade charm that was lost in the big picture of the “world wonders” mindset of World. I hope America better captures that kind of ebb and flow, but something tells me nothing will beat California in my eyes.
Finally! We've got a walkaround version of Humphrey The Bear!
First you stick a rag, put it in the bag, bump-bump,
Then you bend your back, put it in the sack, bump-bump,
That's the way it's done - it's a lot of fun, bump-bump,
Cuttin' capers, puttin' papers in the bag.
First you stick a rag, put it in the bag, bump-bump,
Then you bend your back, put it in the sack, bump-bump,
That's the way it's done - it's a lot of fun, bump-bump,
Cuttin' capers, puttin' papers in the bag.
CaptinEO
Well-Known Member
The ride was originally shown on 70mm imax film, the highest picture quality possible (and still is).
Just before Soarin Around the World opened they switched from Imax film projectors to 4k digital projectors, and digitally scanned Soarin Over California.
Imax film is considered the equivalent of 18k resolution. So basically the picture quality is now 1/4th of what it used to be from 2001-2016.
Don't get me wrong, sometimes the prints would be worn out and have discoloration.
However it was a cheap out move for Disney as they dont have to keep striking film prints as they wear out, but a massive downgrade for the audience.
mickEblu
Well-Known Member
That’s right. I remember that drop off in quality when they first switched over but I don’t remember the image looking quite as poor as the last time I rode Soarin Over California. Very dim and grainy.
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coffeefan
Well-Known Member
I wasn't familiar with the character either. He would be a nice addition to GP to add some classic charm.
mickEblu
Well-Known Member
Ummm except for the fact that I’ve been on Guardians numerous times? Not getting the comparison at all. With Soarin Across America I’m making a prediction based off what we know and comparing to the current condition of Soarin Over California and the fact that it’s most likely much different than the film you remember and love. As great as SOC is, it’s kind of hard to separate the content from the poor picture quality on a screen focused flying theatre attraction.
So you think that the extremely small number of Disney parks globe trotting super fans are more affected by only having 2 months a year to ride Soarin over California than the millions of locals and passholders who grew up riding and loving TOT here in Southern California who now have no option of riding it all unless they travel at least 3,000 miles? Yeahhh, no.
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mickEblu
Well-Known Member
Who are these people? You do this once in a while where it feels like you greatly embellish something to create a platform to make a point that I’m not even sure you believe in. Soarin Across America had a whole two hours of buzz on Social Media when it was first announced so I don’t think you’re talking about that. So People here? Who here said that Soarin Across America can’t fail? People are excited about the possibilities. It feels like it could be a spiritual successor to SOC. It’s 2026 - at the very least the picture quality should be much better. I’m hopeful that they learned from some of their mistakes with Soarin Around the World. The timing could very well be in this new versions favor. And of course it could also suck based on Disney’s recent track record.
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PiratesMansion
Well-Known Member
Point being that the implied message of "trust me bro, I'm right and you'll know I'm right when you see this thing yourself" is seldom persuasive to other people. People have different opinions, and that's ok.
If the picture quality is as bad as you say, perhaps I'll come around to your point of view should I get to see it again in person (who knows when that will be though)-as said, I haven't seen the film in more than ten years! But I'm not going to just take people's word for it. I'm going to assume that SOC will be just as meaningful to me as it was then until proven otherwise.
Much in the way that if I was to say to you "Nah Guardians is obviously much better that TOT and you know it," your reaction (as seen in the quoted post below) would clearly not be "oh ok you're completely right." You have your opinion, I have mine, it's fine. And true, it's not quite 1:1 because as you've said, you've experienced Guardians and I haven't experienced SOC in 10 years. But point being, if it's less good than it once was, let me find that out on my own, please, and let me keep the memories of SOC as I have them intact! That's all I ask.
Simple matter of statistics. Statistically, more people visiting a Disney theme park are going to have the opportunity to ride Tower of Terror on any given day than Soarin' over California. I think simple math would agree with me here.
The fact, for example, that it's extremely easy for YOU to ride Alice in Wonderland does not negate the fact that it is extremely difficult for most Disney parks visitors worldwide to do so, seeing as it exists at only one of the twelve Disney theme parks around the world.
I view these parks in a global way, always have and always will. That's not new information, nor is it a secret. If that means you and I have slightly different takes on some things, then that can't be helped.
Nobody specific in mind, just some people (don't have the time to comb through the multiple threads that have discussed Soarin' over America in any capacity and point fingers at specific people, sorry) have been effusive in their praise; including what seemed to be some people who rarely get excited about anything modern Disney is doing.
As I've assured you in the past, I simply do not have time to make up...a point I don't believe in? What?
Different opinions are simply that.
There was a decent amount of discussion here-not this thread, of course, which is newly created, but it comes up from time to time and there's been a lot of hype and little to know acknowledgement that it could be a failure or not live up to SOC-which for me, at least, is a very real possibility.
mickEblu
Well-Known Member
No not just ME. Millions of people who grew up riding TOT in DCA now have to travel 3,000 miles to ride it. Your math aint mathing. We're talking about the people who give a damn. Aka DLR pass holders / locals and globe trotting super fans. Lol you're throwing in all the people worldwide who visit Disney parks who don't care either way? And even if not all the people who grew up with or enjoyed TOT at DCA care about the retheme, the # still greatly outweighs the globe trotting super fans who care about SOC so much that they didn't bother to plan their trip around it. It's pretty simple really. Something got taken away from a large group of people who now have the onus on them to travel across the country to experience what they once had in their backyard. The other much smaller group always had to travel anyway but now just have to plan accordingly. The group comprised of any warm body visiting a Disney park you were trying to throw in the equation don't matter as they don't care either way.
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PiratesMansion
Well-Known Member
ANYWAY I've booked a weekend trip to make sure I can experience Good Soarin' before it goes away for however long Soarin' over America is around. Very excited.
mickEblu
Well-Known Member
Great, looking forward to your HONEST review!
PiratesMansion
Well-Known Member
Me too!
mickEblu
Well-Known Member
Crazy that with an already lackluster line up of offerings for DCA’s 25th they re paywalling Humphrey the Bear behind a $55 buffet. Lol.
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MarvelCharacterNerd
Well-Known Member
Yeah I'm sad I won't get to meet him because I'm not doing the meal. But eventually he'll hopefully show up again sometime.
Figments Friend
Well-Known Member
I would like to think Humphrey will eventually show up in the Park.
Character offerings change every so often at Storytellers, so it’s possible.
Seems he would be the perfect fit for the Grizzly Recreation area….
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Character offerings change every so often at Storytellers, so it’s possible.
Seems he would be the perfect fit for the Grizzly Recreation area….
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