A group of Disneyland visitors got an unexpected extended flight experience this week when Soarin’ Over California encountered a technical issue, leaving them suspended in the air for about 10 minutes after the ride had ended.
One guest shared their experience on social media, describing how the attraction had completed its usual journey through California’s breathtaking landscapes, only for an announcement to come over the intercom, informing riders that there was a technical difficulty preventing them from being lowered back to the ground.
“We finished the ride then they came on the intercom and said there were technical difficulties and couldn’t get us down. We were up for like 10 minutes and it was a fun experience lol.”
An Unexpected Extra Flight Time
While ride malfunctions at Disneyland are relatively rare, minor technical delays do happen. In this case, the guests aboard Soarin’ Over California were safely suspended in the air while Disney Cast Members worked to resolve the issue.
Unlike high-speed thrill rides, Soarin’ is a gentle, flight-simulation attraction, making the delay less dramatic than being stuck on a looping roller coaster or a high-speed drop ride. However, being held in the air for an extended period—especially after thinking the ride was over—certainly made for an unexpected memory for those on board.
Fortunately, the guest who reported the experience seemed to take the situation in stride, calling it a “fun experience.” Others online joked that getting a few extra minutes of breathtaking aerial views wasn’t the worst way to be stuck on a Disneyland ride. Others find this ordeal to be more terrifying, saying, “This is my nightmare.” Another says:
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Why Do Technical Delays Happen on Soarin’?
Soarin’ Over California (which is currently running at Disney California Adventure for a limited time) is an elaborate motion-simulator ride that lifts guests into the air and moves them in sync with breathtaking IMAX-style visuals. The attraction relies on a complex hydraulic system to smoothly lift, tilt, and lower guests.
Occasionally, these systems experience minor issues, requiring a brief pause while Cast Members diagnose and reset the ride mechanisms. In most cases, these issues are resolved quickly and safely, as they were in this instance.
Guests Safely Brought Back Down
After approximately 10 minutes, the system was restored, and riders were safely lowered back to the ground. There have been no reports of injuries, and Disneyland has not commented publicly on the delay.
For most guests, ride breakdowns can be an inconvenience, but for this lucky group, it seems they got an extra-long flight experience—a rare and amusing Disneyland memory they won’t forget anytime soon.
And this is why I always make sure I’ve used the restroom FIRST before getting on a ride.