I was lucky enough to book the Soarin' tour at Epcot for last Wednesday and I attended it. Spoilers ahead.
So what to expect? Not much.
I know that having said that it looks I din't like it, on the contrary I liked it a lot but it was different from what I was expecting.
The tour is talked a lot. Our guide was very knowledgeable and told us a lot of Disney history. At the beginning that looked out of context but then all somehow fit in. The parts I liked the most were about the immagineers decisions about landscaping and architecture of the Land pavilion.
We then went a bit backstage, but we just went out of a door and had a look at one of the theater buildings, he shown us a canister used to diffuse the smells during the ride and we went back in.
And that's it, we then entered the FP+ queue and waited out turn to ride Soarin'. So it's true that one can use his tier 1 FP+ for something else, but doing the tour one looses the opportunity to rope drop efficently the park: the tour started late, around 8:30 and finished at 9:40.
So that's it, I liked the tour but because I enjoy to know more about Disney history and the little untold stories behind the immagineers work. But there was no look at the ride behind the scene, we didn't see any secret control room or had access to anything interesting backstage. When we arrived at the ride the park was already open and we just rode it like everyone else. If you're expecting a bit of "action" you're going to be disappointed. I think they are not allowing children on the tour? That's because they would be bored to death.
So what to expect? Not much.
I know that having said that it looks I din't like it, on the contrary I liked it a lot but it was different from what I was expecting.
The tour is talked a lot. Our guide was very knowledgeable and told us a lot of Disney history. At the beginning that looked out of context but then all somehow fit in. The parts I liked the most were about the immagineers decisions about landscaping and architecture of the Land pavilion.
We then went a bit backstage, but we just went out of a door and had a look at one of the theater buildings, he shown us a canister used to diffuse the smells during the ride and we went back in.
And that's it, we then entered the FP+ queue and waited out turn to ride Soarin'. So it's true that one can use his tier 1 FP+ for something else, but doing the tour one looses the opportunity to rope drop efficently the park: the tour started late, around 8:30 and finished at 9:40.
So that's it, I liked the tour but because I enjoy to know more about Disney history and the little untold stories behind the immagineers work. But there was no look at the ride behind the scene, we didn't see any secret control room or had access to anything interesting backstage. When we arrived at the ride the park was already open and we just rode it like everyone else. If you're expecting a bit of "action" you're going to be disappointed. I think they are not allowing children on the tour? That's because they would be bored to death.
