Let's set into our W.A.B.A.C. machines and travel back in time to the late 90s, when the planning Disneyland Resort's second park, Disney California Adventure, was in full swing.

A ride in which you would fly over California and its various scenic locations was proposed.

One Small Problem...

Never before had such a ride system been desgned. So, as with Tower Of Terror, Disney's Engineering Division known as WED, started from scratch.

Dozens of possible ride systems were proposed, but none came close to the vision they wanted. The project was going to be canceled. Christmas of 1997, an Imagineer on vaccation with his family found an old Erector Set and began to play around with it.

Using that Erector Set, he created the ride system for one of California Adventure's highest rated attractions.

There are nine rows of cars, each holding ten people in a 3x3 arrangement. 180 people ride at one time in one of two simulator Hangars.

This 3x3 would eventually go from horizontal (C1C2 C3), to vertical:

/C1 C2 C3 edges = screen
lC4 C5 C6 l
C7C8 C9 /

This made the ride a possibility.

The ride's technology doesn't stop there, as when on the ride, scents pretaining to the different scenes are blown onto you.

The ride's film is amazing quality IMAX.

The ride uses breathtaking panoramic footage of places like:

San Franscisco
Napa Valley
Los Angeles
Mojave Desert
Big Bear
Yosemite

And more!

The music however is the real jewel, being one of the best on-ride soundtracks ever created.

Amazing Orchestral Movements and Gentle yet fast paced, driving music turns this into one Disney's greatest ride designs of all time.

SOARIN' Over California has been rumored to be getting replaced by SOARIN' Over The World, a new film within he new few years. If you wish to ride SOARIN' I suggest visiting soon.


SOAR Onward and Upward!