Overview

We are here at Epcot to enter The Land Pavilion and check out the new Soarin’ Across America to provide a play by play POV review of this new attraction. Note that since it has opened times can vary greatly, from 20 minutes to over 90. If you can’t walk on it first thing in the morning, I recommend dinner time. If the queue is long, hover around the area doing other attractions until you see the time go down, and then scurry over. And scurry quickly because others are seeing the same. That means that while the new shake at Seasons “Smorin’ Across America” is tasty, you need to focus and get in the queue while the opportunity presents itself.

Two ways to enjoy!

Disney Insights Podcast

Disney Insights YouTube Video

Summary

The following is a short summary of our podcast & video:

• Queue Times
• Queue Experience
• Insights Behind the Scenes
• Soarin’ Locations
  • Our experience begins not after takeoff, but the moment your seat begins to soar. We see the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, where the Artemis II rocket is taking off. This is revealed on the screen at the same time you take off. It is a beautiful shot but it is a CGI as the actual launch happens in strong daylight, and what you witness is a daybreak shot.
  • In New York City you fly over the Statue of Liberty and take in the skyline. They show the helicopter filming this moment. But the statue and the fountains below portrayed something polished up with CGI
  • Maine, where you’ll see the Portland Head lighthouse, the first built in Maine and the first created by the US Government. Did this as a paint by number oil painting as a kid, so this brings memories.
  • Washington, D.C., including the United States Capitol, National Mall, and Washington Monument. You know this is real, but is somewhat cleaned up given the fact that some portion of the mall grass is always fenced off and being worked on. This is a more perfect shot You also see that the CGI kite was downplayed from what you saw in the development.
  • Louisiana, where you’ll see a swamp airboat on the Louisiana Bayou. Great example of the use of heavy lift drones.
  • Ozark Mountains and Branson Scenic Railway. This was shot by plane which is amazing given they have to catch that train at that moment before the hurl over it to see the beautiful falls. This seemed to have taken considerable planning.
  • Mount Rushmore, South Dakota. Great angle coming at it, though Roosevelt is a little more shadowed. But still cool.
  • Buffalo drive toward Custer State Park in South Dakota.
  • Here we get a rare view down on the bottom of the Grand Canyon as we move along the Colorado River. Imagineers engineered a lift and air pocket change on the vehicles as you jump over the little peak. Sort of misses the scale you get from the top of the canyon looking down, but still impressive.
  • Denali National Park in Alaska. It’s a beautiful shot. We assume that the moose is CGI, but it isn’t detracting or forced.
  • Waikiki, Hawaii. You get the smell of pineapple–it’s kind of a dole whip moment. Interesting as they could have included much more of Waikiki Beach with its hotels, but chose instead for focus on Diamond Head.
  • Then nighttime Los Angeles, where beyond the Griffith Observatory you see the LA skyline. , and the Hollywood sign. Coming over Griffith is amazing. Similar to the original California version that has downtown Los Angeles and the cars coming and going. And though difficult to pinpoint If my geography is correct, coming over the mountain from the Hollywood sign you would technically be seeing Walt Disney Studios in Burbank at night
  • The finale brings us to EPCOT in the Walt Disney World version, or Disneyland in the Disney California Adventure version. Epcot fireworks are a little forced, and of course, they never happen over the parking lot. But it’s still a great ending.
• My Concluding Thoughts

Disneyland Insights: Inspiration, Ideas & Magic for You and Your Organization

If you like this kind of nerdy insight on all things Disney, then check out my newest offering. For over a year I’ve been capturing and sharing stories of Disneyland, while creating a new online tool for you to explore all of them in one place. It’s called Disneyland Insights: Inspiration, Ideas & Magic for You and Your Organization and it’s an interactive, multimedia experience. This is truly designed for those who are seeking to find new ideas that will guide you to 

1. Provide Individual & Organizational Leadership Excellence
2. Create Employee Engagement & a Team Culture
3. Offer a Superior Customer Experience

Not only does the content through examples, stories and models play to these themes, but each section provides “Souvenirs for You and Your Organization”. They are reflective questions that may be used to better the work or operation you may be lead or be part of. And in that instance, it is more of a business focus. In fact, many may utilize funding set aside in their organization for training and development to purchase this volume.

Click here to order Disneyland Insights: Inspiration, Ideas & Magic for You and Your Organization. It’s also available on the show notes page of our podcast. Whether you’re on a comfy sofa at home or on Main Street, U.S.A. this experience allows you to navigate through all nine lands to explore some 100 locations where you can find Disney insights that will be inspire and guide you and your organization. 

Books From Your Host at Disney Insights

Also, if you’re looking to grab something today, go to Amazon where you will find four of my books available for purchase. Three explore Disney at length, and one explores world class businesses to include Disney. Check them out!

My newest book, A Century of Powerful Disney Insights, Volume I 1923-1973, The Walt & Roy Disney Years is available! 

Also, check out my two of my other books, The Wonderful World of Customer Service at Disney and Disney, Leadership and You. 

Also, for those examining other business benchmarks beyond Disney, check out Lead with Your Customer: Transform Culture and Brand Into World-Class Excellence.

Thanks for joining us for this podcast. Know that as in the title of my organization, Performance Journeys, it’s as much about the journey as it is about performance. Find the second star to the right, and keep going straight on till you reach it. Follow the compass of your heart, and know that with a smile and a song, a little faith, effort and pixie dust, your dreams can come true. After all, if we can dream it, we can do it. Until next time, bright suns, we’ll see you real soon!