Riders on Soarin-Character development practice

For Mason, Soarin' was the best ride in all of Disneyland. Mostly, this was because he always has wanted to fly, or "soar". But it was also the fact that he had grown up in San Francisco and woke up every morning gazing at the Golden Gate bridge, which just so happened to be the first destination on the ride. Once he got married and had kids, his rapidly growing family moved to Redwood Creek, the second stop on Soarin'. Because of this coincidence, he always felt a special connection with the ride, so flying it with his amazing wife and their three kids made the ride feel extra magical.

Olivia thought Disney was for babies. Being a fifteen year old girl visiting Disneyland was much different than being a seven year old at Disneyland, but as she soared over Napa Valley with her flip flops resting on the ground below her, it was too much. Seeing as her third (and longest lasting) boyfriend, Jaden, had just broken up with her due to him moving to Napa Valley from their hometown in Oregon, this all made her feel so depressed and full with despair. She squeezed her eyes shut and did everything she could to resist tears from leaking out of her already soaked eyes. She would never be able to feel the same while riding Soarin' again.

Sea otters. Those were Noah's spirit animal, thanks to a well needed visit to Monterey Bay sanctuary with his mom and sister. It had been a week after his dad had died of cancer, and the three of them decided to go to what used to be his favorite place in the world: the sanctuary. They packed up their bags and locked the doors behind them with solemn tear streaked faces. Noah jumped bravely in the rushing waves, swimming as he fought against the flowing water giving him the sensation of strength. The next thing he knew, he had swam right into a furry, wet sea otter. Ever since that life changing day, he always thinks of that sea otter as a gift, message, or omen of some sort from his father at the Monterey Bay sanctuary.

Sofia clenched her fists in anger as she flew over Lake Tahoe. This was where she had grown up with her biological family for the first 16 years of her life. On her 16th birthday, she came out to her dad, a church minister, as openly gay. After being called sick and attending multiple therapy and counseling sessions, they disowned her and left her to navigate life on her own. Sofia, now married with three beautiful kids and living close to Yosemite where their family spent most of their days, Sofia’s Lake tahoe days were behind her.

William cringed as he soared over the PGA West Palmer golf course. Considering himself a dreamer, much like Walt Disney, he had always imagined himself playing in the PGA. And three years ago he finally got that chance when he was accepted to try out for the PGA tour at West Palmer. While he was there, however, he tripped over the strap on his club bag and shattered both his wrists, causing him to never play the same again.

Jaden, a highschool tourist from northern China, was discovering California and the USA for the first time ever, along with his many new companions he met in the exchange student program he had been accepted to. Ever since the huge winter storms in his area that had been going on for years, the town he lived in was poor and falling apart. His family could not at all afford to send him to a good college, much less send him to tour the US and go to Disneyland. As he flew over Camarillo, where his aunt migrated to a decade ago, he thought of how much he would love to live in a free country like the US. Moving here would be a life changing opportunity, one that for him would be nearly impossible. After this ride, he thought to himself, I am going to make a change in my life and where I’m living.

Emma was only four when she first rode on Soarin’. Her birthday was the next day, and she couldn’t wait. Her mom had promised her a pink and blue birthday cake, the blue for her and the pink for her twin sister, whose birthday was also the next day. Her legs flailed around in mid-air as she swiftly glided over Anza Borrego Desert State Park, which to her looked like mounds of sweet chocolate and chocolate milk scattered beneath her tiny feet. “Mommy, LOOK!!!” she shouted out loud, startling her mom who put a finger to her lips. “SO MUCH CHOCOLATE!! CAN I HAVE THAT ON MY BIRTHDAY CAKE TOO?!” she cried out, causing chuckles from the other riders. Her mother just chuckled.

Unlike all of the previous audience members mentioned, Jacob had no relation at all to anything directly related to the ride. Little did he know that his great grandfather was the leading engineer of the USS John C. Stennis Naval Air Station in San Diego. He was a humble man who worked behind the scenes and when asked, replied by saying, “I didn’t do no work on this ship. It was all god's work.” This of course, wasn’t true. Even if god DID have some part in it, his great grandfather worked his hardest at making this ship a success, even if he liked to act as if he was invisible.

Ava was a surfer. She only knew this because of her one trip to her cousin's beach house in Miami two years ago. She spent every day cruising the waves and has wished every day to go back. Despite her wishes, however, her family hasn’t traveled since then. And living on a farm in Maine with no beaches within 1,000 miles, and add the daily chores she can’t escape, she never gets the chance. Her dream was to surf on Malibu beach, but she figured riding over it on Soarin’ was as close as she’ll ever get.

20 year old Abby had just moved to Downtown LA four months ago from Chicago. Pursuing her acting career, she had three open auditions coming up within the next week. Growing up a Disney fan, she figured a little time at the happiest place on earth may relieve stress. In five years, Abby will move to NYC after failing in hollywood. She will get into theatre and will tour with a broadway production of Cats for more than a few years.

These 10 riders all soared together on this adventurous ride, along with 77 other passengers. None of them know each other, and everyone questions what their future holds. Yet all of them hold some special connection as they all stare at the marvelous fireworks surrounding them at Disneyland, California.