Soarin' with Goldsmith

Soarin' Over California is a new attraction opening next month at Disney's California Adventure in Southern California. Karl Scott has been able to preview the ride and has this to say:

Not rated.

Good for all ages but has a height requirement.

Requires admission to Disney's California Adventure.

Not recommended if you have a fear of heights.

Opens to the Public 2/8/2001

Inside the new Disney's California Adventure, which occupies 55 acres across from Disneyland (which is 85 acres) on what use to be the DL parking lot, is an area called Condor Flats. It consists of a restaurant called The Taste Pilot's Grill, a souvenir shop and an attraction called Soarin' Over California. All the entrance music is movie related. You will hear strains of Bill Conti's "The Right Stuff" and Jerry Goldsmith's soaring themes from "The Blue Max" as well as "Patton" and "MacArthur."

The attraction is in a hugh, domed hangar style building. As you enter, you pass down a hall filled with the pictures of great aviators and aircraft of the 20th century. At the end of the main corridor you will split off right or left in order to enter one of the two theaters showing "Soarin' Over California." Inside each theater are nine hang glider-like loaders. Like long porch swings, each holds 10 or 11 people. You will be required to wear a seat belt. At the time you launch a roof is swung into place above you simulating a hang glider wing. You are then lifted up and forward into the screen area. The screen is 80 feet high and concave so that as you move up and forward it covers your entire field of vision. The glider you sit in floats free and fully simulates a feeling of flying.

The trip starts as you come out of a fog bank and glide past the Golden Gate Bridge from the North West side. From there you will visit a river flowing past the California Redwoods, a snowy ski resort in the Sierras, Yosemite Falls, a golf course in the Anzo-Borrega Desert, Southern California Orange Groves, the spectacular California coast line, San Diego, L.A. at night and right up Main Street in DL for a fireworks spectacular finale.

The attraction runs just short of 5 minutes so each place you visit is never for more than 35 to 45 seconds. As it turns out that is the right amount of time to let you oooh and aaaah before starting again at a new location. Most of the places you soar over such as the Redwoods and Orange Groves allow you to smell the scent of the trees and the smell of the oranges. There is no narration for the film as the images speak for themselves.

The only attendant sounds are from film composer Jerry Goldsmith who has provided a theme that is beautiful and majestic for the attraction. Much like his sweeping landmark music for "The Trees" segment of "Medicine Man" his material here fits the images like the Stars and Stripes on the 4th of July. Goldsmith has also added ethnic touches and flourishes which enhance the theme as you soar over the Southern California locations. It is equal to anything he has written in his 43 years of composing for films; we can only hope there is some release of this theme or re-recording for our enjoyment outside the Soarin' theater.

I have visited a lot of theme parks and experienced most of today's high tech attractions. I can say that this one is truly my favorite. It is awesome and inspiring. Thanks to the designers at Walt Disney Imagineering and Mr. Goldsmith for providing us all a chance to Soar.

Rated 4+ out of 4 reasons to fasten you seat belts. Insider hint: Don't jockey for a good seat. All the seats are excellent as all the gliders have a clear field of vision. The concave screen allows all view points an equal experience.

Special Bonus Review!

Shortly after Karl submitted the above he also had a chance to check out a second attraction at Disney's California Adventure, this one with music by Bruce Broughton:

California Dreams

Not rated.

Inside Disney's California Adventure next to Disneyland.

Requires admission to the park

Inside the San Francisco area of DCA is a small movie theater (seating capacity is 341 patrons with 8 wheelchair accessible spots) showing California Dreams. This sometimes not so flattering look at the Golden State features Whoopie Goldberg as Queen Califa (Queen of California -- no word on who the King is) and a good size cast of extras. The film runs 22 minutes and is informative if not exactly entertaining.

The most stunning part of the presentation is the animation of the two statues, which stand at each side of the screen. They appear Egyptian but turn out to be none other than the previously mentioned Queen Califa. Prior to the start of the show the face of the Queen (Whoopi) is brought to life using high tech laser techniques. And I do mean brought to life -- the effect is nothing short of amazing.

Whoopi's dialogue is witty if not exactly humerous. The film itself is an overview of parts of California's history. Starting with early Indians living on the beach we see scenes including the Spanish experiencing an earthquake, Chinese laborers being blown to smithereens while building California RRs, water being brought to Southern California via engineering, etc. There is not a lot to give away but we want to leave some surprises. Whoopi, aka Queen C, appears in most of the scenes passing along wisdom and inspiration to the struggling citizens.

Composer Bruce Broughton is one of the masters of thematic material in film composing. From his touching "Boy Who Could Fly" to the heroic themes for "Silverado," BB has proved to be one of the best of today's film composers. He has added a score, which while not as rich or memorable as those listed above certainly adds support to the featurette. Unfortunately many of the effects of the film such as the earthquake tend to overpower the score to the point of erasing it from the soundtrack. It certainly and hopefully warrants a life outside the theater.

The film concludes with a montage not unlike the one created for the "American Pavillion" at Walt Disney World's Epcot Center. A tear-jerking song with figures from California's past and present float out of the mist to show what great people we have produced. This somewhat flies in the face of the negative parts of the film we have just seen and the villainous behavior exhibited by many of California's previous citizens and leaders.

While I found the film worth the quarter of an hour it's not a repeater. My three-year old grandson, who was awake and excited all day, found this a perfect place for a nap. Rated 2 out of 4.

Inside tip: Seating loads side to side. If you are close to the door as you enter and follow directions you will be sitting on the far side of the theater. At least you will be close to the exit. Stay to the very end to catch Whoopi aka Queen C's last parting joke. Let the people in a hurry step over you. Watch your feet.

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