Get the sensation of hang gliding and soar over some of California’s most incredible sights with a ride on Soarin’ Over California. You’ll lift off in front of an 80-foot projection dome and take a virtual tour across the Golden State, passing over landmarks like the Golden Gate Bridge, Lake Tahoe, Palm Springs, and of course, Disneyland Park.

Note: Soarin’ Over California is the original version of Soarin’, but it now only returns during certain times of the year. You can usually catch it for a limited time during the Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival.

Soarin’ Around the World Fast Facts

  • Location: Grizzly Peak
  • Height Requirement: 40 inches
  • Attraction Length: About 5 minutes
  • Lightning Lane Multi Pass: Yes
  • Ride Type: Flight motion simulator
  • Early Theme Park Entry Eligible: Yes
  • Extended Evening Hours Eligible: N/A
  • Ride Switch Available: Yes

Queue

The queue for Soarin’ Over California is both indoors and outdoors. Outdoors, guests wind through a path along the exterior of a giant airplane hangar. Inside, guests will get ready for flight by passing through a history of aviation pioneers before boarding in a smaller hangar area of their own.

Accessibility 

Guests must transfer from wheelchairs and ECVs to ride. Video captioning and audio description are available.

On-Ride Photo

There is no on-ride photo for this attraction.

Is Soarin’ Over California Kid-Friendly?

Soarin’ Over California is definitely kid-friendly, featuring awe-inspiring IMAX views and some cool ride technology that’ll put them in an open-air glider. Kids of all ages will love the feeling of the wind in their hair as they soar over California landmarks for one realistic ride.

Best For: Kids who love rides that take flight or who want to feel like they’re hang gliding.

Will Soarin’ Over California Cause Motion Sickness?

Soarin’ Over California may cause motion sickness for some guests due to the combination of flight-like motion and large concave screen. If you have issue with film-based attractions, you can expect the same here.

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Authored by
Heather Adams

Heather Adams, Disneyland Expert and Mom | A lifelong Disneyland enthusiast who's familiar with every square inch of the Anaheim theme parks, Heather has spent over 30 years becoming an expert in all things Disney. A Disney Adult turned Disney Mom, she's now quickly becoming a pro at taking her little one to the theme parks and familiarizing herself with navigating crowds with diaper bags, strollers, and plenty of baby gear. If you're planning a Disney vacation with kids under age 3, she's got all of the advice you need.