Soarin’ Over California is a simulator ride located at Disney CA Adventure park and EPCOT in Walt Disney World.  The attraction uses a mechanical lift system that corresponds to a large concave projection screen simulating flying over different scenic parts of California in a hang glider.  It is a very popular attraction for all ages and we have compiled some trivia and fun facts about this attraction:

• It was an opening day attraction at Disney CA Adventure on February 8, 2001.
• At EPCOT, it is simply called Soarin’ but shows the same video.
• The attraction lasts 4 minutes, 51 seconds
• 87 guests can take a tour at a time per theater.  There are six vehicles total in two theaters.
• The attraction flies over the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, Redwood Creek, Napa Valley, Monterey, Lake Tahoe, Yosemite National Park, PGA West Golf Course on La Quinta (credited as Palm Springs), Camarillo, Anzo-Borrego Desert State Park, San Diego, Malibu, Los Angeles, and Disneyland Park.
• The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds play a role in the attraction as well.
• You fly over the USS John C Stennis (CVN-74) at Naval Base San Diego
• Former Disney CEO Michael Eisner is seen as the golfer hitting the ball during the film
• If you look closely on the golf ball in the Palm Springs scene, you can see a Hidden Mickey.
• The original score was written by Jerry Goldsmith who also composed the score for Mulan among many hundreds of other movies and television shows including The Twilight Zone.
• Its original name was conceptualized at “Ultra Flight”, a name that is seen on the tower consoles at Disney CA Adventure.
• The scenes were shot with an IMAX HD frame rate – 48 frames per second, twice the conventional output for regular films
• The ride structure contains about one million pounds of steel, and 37 tons are lifted during each ride cycle.
• The Disneyland portion of the movie was filmed during the construction of Disney CA Adventure park, so the Theme Park appears dark in the movie.
• Scents complementing the various scenes are injected into the air streams blowing on riders. In the Camarillo orange field scene, for example, guests are treated to the scent of orange blossoms. The mountain scenes are accompanied by the aroma of evergreens. The Monterey and Malibu scenes have the scent of a sea breeze.
• Just before boarding, guests watch a pre-boarding video hosted by their chief flight attendant, Patrick, portrayed by actor Patrick Warburton wearing the uniform of a first officer.
• The carriages do not move horizontally. Sensations of horizontal motion are created using a combination of vertical carriage movement and then turning the projection image on the screen.
• This attraction uses FASTPASS
• It has a Single Rider Line
• The minimum height to ride this attraction is 40″ (102 cm)