News Soarin' Over California returning to EPCOT for a limited time

[Consumer]

With all the new drone technology, a new Soarin' film is called for.

I’ve never seen drone footage that looked good.

 

[Smiley/OCD]

I’ve never seen drone footage that looked good.

This groups use of drone footage is incredible…you can check out some of their other videos…

 

[YouMakeTheWorldGoRound]

Maybe they can play the Captain EO movie on soaring and EO will float up to the riders

I don’t think I could sit up in the air like that for 17 minutes…even for Captain EO

 

[JenniferS]

Awwww….I am going to miss the bendy Eiffel Tower.

Said no one ever.

 

[YouMakeTheWorldGoRound]

Until Soarin around the world came around, I didn’t actually know the attraction at Epcot was Soarin over California. And imagine a lot of other people felt the same, that Soarin was just a great attraction and not a great Californian attraction.

 

[celluloid]

The music score and timing was honestly so superior. That is what I missed the most.

 

[Twirlnhurl]

Around the World is much better, it actually has some (half arsed) transitions rather than lazy jump cuts.

Before I saw Soarin Around the World and Europe in the Air (Busch Gardens Williamsburg 2010-2016), I thought Soarin Over California needed better transitions.

But when I look at two similar rides that did try to do a more linear transition, I think the results are more underwhelming. The file cut edit is better and less distracting than anything less than a perfect linear transition.

We watch movies with cuts all the time and do not find them distracting in those contexts. I think in a Soarin theater, using the editing language of film is usually the best way to do what needs to be done.

If you want linear edits, I think the scope of what you present needs to be perfectly planned out (and almost certainly all-CG animation) like Flight of Passage.

 

[doctornick]

Until Soarin around the world came around, I didn’t actually know the attraction at Epcot was Soarin over California. And imagine a lot of other people felt the same, that Soarin was just a great attraction and not a great Californian attraction.

I’m with you there. Pretty much everything in SOC is generic scenes that don’t immediately or exclusively relate to California. I don’t think the first time I rode it I even realized it was all taking place in that state.

 

[JohnD]

I’m with you there. Pretty much everything in SOC is generic scenes that don’t immediately or exclusively relate to California. I don’t think the first time I rode it I even realized it was all taking place in that state.

People forget that the original was only known as Soarin until SATW was introduced. Then the original got rebranded to suit DCA.

To me, it will always be Soarin and fits perfectly with The Land.

 

[celluloid]

People forget that the original was only known as Soarin until SATW was introduced. Then the original got rebranded to suit DCA.

To me, it will always be Soarin and fits perfectly with The Land.

Kind of. Just to clarify. In California it was always Soarin': Over California as it's fullmtitle before the change

 

[WondersOfLife]

Why? The World theme fits EPCOT better.

True... But luckily, it's not in World Showcase... It's in "The Land." So it still works with EPCOT's theme for that particular pavilion...

...Besides... When did Disney or its park guests start caring about EPCOT's central theme recently anyways?

 

[RobbinsDad]

Orange grove smell-o-vision is back!

 

[Cmdr_Crimson]

Ah yes Jumpcut: The Ride..Always a good time.

 

[JohnD]

Kind of. Just to clarify. In California it was always Soarin': Over California as it's fullmtitle before the change

Fair enough.

 

[ppete1975]

This is exactly what I want them to do while California is playing. Take the time to make a new film that's just as good or better than the California version.

I think another Around the World would be the best fit for EPCOT, but one just around the US would work pretty well too -- it should also focus more on natural landforms/settings than man-made landmarks, IMO.

I don't think Soarin' over Florida would work very well. It would basically just be beaches and swamps.

Better than soarin over kansaa. Florida also has nasa and orange groves so we can keep the scent. And they have…. Ummmm yeah youre right

 

[christine7257]

Fantastic news! I'm curious, has anyone associated with Imagineering ever formally or informally addressed the distortions in the World film if you're not sitting in the center? Did they decide it wasn't a big deal? Did it catch them by surprise and it was too late to change?

 

[Smiley/OCD]

Fantastic news! I'm curious, has anyone associated with Imagineering ever formally or informally addressed the distortions in the World film if you're not sitting in the center? Did they decide it wasn't a big deal? Did it catch them by surprise and it was too late to change?

The story I heard was that the new cameras, process, HD they now use does not bode well with the shape of the screens and it appears distorted. I’m sure I don’t have it 100% accurate, but it’s along those lines…

 

[LittleMerman]

Very cool! I'm going on Oct 12, do you think it'll still be playing?

 

[Horizonsfan]

Very cool! I'm going on Oct 12, do you think it'll still be playing?

They announced this as a feature of the 100 celebration. Seeing as that celebration goes through the end of the year, I would think you should be able to see it.

 

[osian]

Fantastic news! I'm curious, has anyone associated with Imagineering ever formally or informally addressed the distortions in the World film if you're not sitting in the center? Did they decide it wasn't a big deal? Did it catch them by surprise and it was too late to change?

There are similar distortions in Over California too (you can see on YT vids) and also in Flight of Passage. I think possibly it's the choice of material that seems to make it worse in Around The World. With Flight of Passage, it's less noticeable because there are only two vertical rows, not three, so the extreme right and left seats aren't as far to the side as with Soarin. Also, it's all CGI of vegetation in a fantasy land and, the action is very fast. There isn't as much of a cue as to what is meant to be vertical. But nothing screams vertical more than the Eiffel Tower!