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Disclaimer: if you’re already afraid of heights, this story might unlock a new fear.
Ride breakdowns happen. While they can put a damper on a highly-anticipated Genie+ reservation and slow down the queues for other Guests, even well-oiled machines need tune-ups. But certain rides are better than others regarding spots to get stuck.
A Big Thunder Mountain Railroad stop to smell the sulfur isn’t the worst-case scenario, and a Jungle Cruise cut short with a view of some adorable hippos is harmless. But when you’re suspended 50 feet above the ground on one of Walt Disney’s most popular attractions, you might wish you never asked for the front row.
Credit: jimj0will ., Flickr
Suspended while Soaring
In 2001, Disney California Adventure got a sky-high addition to its attractions when Walt Disney Imagineering dreamed up a scenic aerial tour of the globe on a simulated hang-glider adventure. With an 80-foot IMAX screen, three concourses to depart from, and three rows for Guests to board, the attraction took off without a hitch, cementing its place as a Park staple.
Soarin’ Around The World’s popularity prompted a twin attraction’s arrival at Walt Disney World in 2005 called Soarin’. While intended to be a smooth swoop through simulated skies, the beloved ride has been known to trigger fears for those who aren’t too fond of heights. The ride vehicle moves with the IMAX presentation without much to hold onto, which could get you a little queasy in the air.
Credit: Disney
Each of the three rows has variation in its height once the ride begins, with Row 1 being the highest at 50 feet and Row 3 being the lowest at 30 feet. While some Disney Guests suggest requesting Row 1 to soar above the rest of the riders and unlock the most immersive experience, the 50-foot height unlocks fears for certain Guests. And that fear became a reality for a couple of Guests at Disneyland.
On the happiest subreddit on earth, Disney Guest u/zer01201 shared a warning with fellow Park goers titled, “Stuck on the top row of Soarin.”
Eastern hanger is down. Been up here for 26 minutes now. Just a heads up for those in the parks.
The Wait Continued
Disney Guests like u/Sk8rToon immediately flooded the comments to commiserate with the riders:
Yikes. I know some people that can barely get on that ride due to height. I can’t imagined them stuck for a half hour on the top row. They’d be freaking the f out.
Another Redditor, u/MaesterInTraining, shared in the second-hand fear:
Nope. Rode it once and was unlucky enough to be front row on the most middle seat. Never again.
Those commenters didn’t know the original poster was suspended 50 feet above ground for an hour. In an update to the post, u/zer01201 said:
UPDATE Home now, but we were up there for 50+ minutes. Almost missed our dinner res and all we got was a lousy fast pass. Our server at the Craftsman was very sympathetic and provided us with an array of desserts for our ordeal <3
While a dessert tray is typically a welcome offering, some Guests would’ve lost their appetites after being airlocked on Soarin’ for an hour. Remember that these mechanical issues are few and far between, but if you have reservations about escalating to the top row, you might want to request Row 3 for your next departure on Disney’s Soarin’.
