You're lifted high into a hang-glider simulation over stunning global landscapes. Gentle, beautiful, and mostly calm — with one big caveat.
Last updated: April 2026
| Height Requirement | 40 in (102 cm) |
| Ride Type | Hang-glider simulator |
| Duration | ~5 min |
| Intensity | Mild |
| Motion Sickness Risk | Moderate risk |
| Park | EPCOT |
Bottom line: YES for most children 4+. Soarin' is one of the most family-friendly rides at EPCOT — a hang-glider simulator that lifts you up in front of an enormous wraparound screen. The motion is gentle. The visuals are stunning. Most children love it. The one thing that occasionally affects children: the seats lift quite high off the ground, and children who are nervous about heights can feel anxious looking down at the people below. Sit in the bottom row if this is a concern. Also, if your child is prone to motion sickness, the simulated flying can occasionally cause queasiness.
You sit in a wide, open hang-glider-style seat in one of three rows, with your feet dangling freely. The rows are arranged in tiers. There's a simple lap bar but nothing that feels restrictive. Cast members check that everyone is seated properly. Children often notice that their feet don't touch the floor, which is either exciting or slightly unsettling depending on the child. Worth mentioning ahead of time: "Your feet will hang in the air like you're on a swing."
The seats tilt back and rise smoothly upward. Your feet dangle freely as the massive wraparound screen fills your view. This is the moment that creates height anxiety in some children — as you rise, you can briefly see the people in the rows below you, which reinforces how high you are. The lift is slow and smooth, but for children already nervous about heights, the elevation is the primary challenge of this ride. The bottom row rises the least and is the right choice for height-anxious children.
You glide over landscapes — mountains, coastlines, forests, cities, and sea. Wind fans blow gently throughout. A brief mist effect accompanies the waterfall sequence (very light — no one gets noticeably wet). The screen curves around your entire field of vision, creating a convincing sensation of flight. The motion is a gentle sway rather than sharp movement. Scent effects are used at certain moments. The overall experience is peaceful, beautiful, and almost universally well-received by children who meet the height requirement and aren't anxious about heights.
The seats lower smoothly back to ground level as the film ends. The whole experience wraps up gently and with no sudden movements. Most children exit with big smiles and immediately want to discuss everything they saw. It's a very rare child who doesn't enjoy Soarin' once they're on it — the challenge is usually getting hesitant children to try it in the first place.
Request the bottom row if heights are a concern. When you enter the boarding area, let a cast member know you'd like the bottom row. You'll be closest to the ground the entire time. The sightlines are slightly different from the top row but the experience is nearly identical.
This is a great first simulator for ride-nervous children. Soarin' is gentle enough that it works well as an introduction to simulator-style rides. If your child enjoys it, that's a useful data point for deciding about Flight of Passage or other more intense options.
Avoid riding immediately after a large meal. The gentle motion is not intense, but the visual simulation can occasionally cause queasiness in motion-sensitive riders. Waiting 30-60 minutes after eating is a sensible precaution.