2012 Best Attraction Tournament: Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular vs. Soarin' Over California

March 22, 2012, 8:16 AM · We've arrived at the semifinal round of the 2012 Theme Park Insider Tournament, which starts today in the Best Theme Park Show bracket.

Two Disney shows have upset their way into the top four for this year's tournament: Soarin' Over California and the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular. Today, you'll vote on of these shows into the finals. But which one?

Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular - at Disney's Hollywood Studios

Soarin' Over California - at Disney California Adventure and Epcot

Voting is open for 24 hours. Please tell us in the comments why you voted the way you did, and if you'd like to drum up some more votes for your favorite, feel free to link to this post on Facebook and Twitter.

Friday: We've got 2. Incredible Hulk Coaster vs. 3. Manta in the semifinals for Best Roller Coaster.

Replies (21)

Skipper Adam

March 22, 2012 at 8:29 AM · I both hate and appreciate the choices between odd matching. It's easy comparing like rides, but being forced to look at things another way in this tournament is refreshing...and frustrating.

Rob P

March 22, 2012 at 8:42 AM · I know what you mean Skipper. It's tough making those comparisons. But if you put it this way : What do prefer in your sandwich ? Ham or cheese ? It gets easier.
Here we have two entirely different products but you have to make a choice even though you probably like to eat both.
I went with cheese, er sorry, Soarin'. Just because it has something a little different to offer and the huge screen and dangling legs makes it a bit more immersive.
On another day I may have voted for Indy but not today.

Mark Fairleigh

March 22, 2012 at 8:56 AM · Not a fair vote from me since I've never experienced Indy. I really do enjoy a good show so I'm sure this could have been tougher, but Soarin' is a fave. Showing some wear and tear these days, but it's still a great experience overall...well, after you get through the long line.

Mike Gallagher

March 22, 2012 at 9:03 AM · I'm not sure if I saw Indy on my two visits to the Studios. But I'm not a fan of the first Raiders flick, and I enjoy Soarin'-type rides, so I voted Soarin'.

Dominick D

March 22, 2012 at 9:05 AM · Indy has gone too far in this tournament, so Soarin got my vote.

141.117.162.37

March 22, 2012 at 9:13 AM · My daughter says Soarin' is borin' and she calls it Snorin' but I figure it's pleasant and relaxing if it doesn't cost me any queue-time to do it. The Indy show was not bad, but I wouldn't seek it out again.

David Brown

March 22, 2012 at 10:24 AM · This is a hard one as I can't really build up any enthusiasm for either. Both left me kind of thinking 'well that was nice' rather than 'wow that was fantastic' so it's a shame they have both got this far in the tournament.
On the basis that Soarin' is at the very least unremittingly pleasant whereas Indy has waaaay too many breaks between the action I'll reluctantly plump for Soarin'. But I kind of resent it. :)

Alex Gamso

March 22, 2012 at 11:11 AM · I'm a fan of both, but had to go with Indy. Soaring I don't feel is actually that fun. You raise up watch, hear, and smell a movie, and return to the ground. And even with a Fastpass in hand it takes a while.
Indy packs more of a punch (no pun intended). I'll take live action over projectors any day.

Perhaps Disney should broaden the horizon for Soarin' and allow you to pick from say "Soarin' Over France" or "Soarin' over Africa." I think the choice would be interesting and increase the likelihood of people riding again.

Amanda Jenkins

March 22, 2012 at 11:33 AM · I really didn't think about this vote in terms of "best show". I voted for Soarin because I love the feel of moving with the different scenes, cool breeze blowing, and other smell effects. But if I subtract the "ride" effect, then Indiana Jones would be a better show. It has live action going from start to finish. If you were given just the scenes from Soarin without the ride element, would you think it was a better show? It would just be a random mix of (granted, beautiful) scenes in a theater without any story. I wonder then if the rest of us really looked at this as an actual show vote instead of ride verses show vote.

James Rao

March 22, 2012 at 11:49 AM · Soarin'. 'Nuff said.

David Kirby

March 22, 2012 at 12:08 PM · Another around of 2 overrated Disney attractions. This one's even worse though than Soarin' vs. Philharmagic.

AJ Hummel

March 22, 2012 at 12:11 PM · I voted for the ride. In all honesty, while I haven't seen the Indiana Jones stunt show, I have not been impressed with any stunt show other than Waterworld. At the same time, Soarin' is one of my all-time favorite rides, and is my favorite non-coaster ride at DCA (yes, I prefer it to Tower of Terror and Toy Story Midway Mania). I voted for that.

Tyler Stover

March 22, 2012 at 12:17 PM · I voted for Soaring because it is the better of the two, but I hesitated to give it the nod here because I feel it is more of a ride than a show. Also the lack of transitions between scenes always bothers me. I still prefer it over the kinda cheesy, dated Indy show. There are better stunt shows out there and Indy doesn't deserve to go any further.

Kevin G

March 22, 2012 at 12:33 PM · Wow- Worse vs worse... almost didn't vote.

James Rao

March 22, 2012 at 12:51 PM · Huge disconnect between the comments and the real world. Soarin' is arguably the most popular attraction in Florida, yet the comments here would lead one to believe it is little more than a grocery store spinner. I guess the TPI faithful do indeed represent a niche crowd of enthusiasts, rather than the opinion of the masses.

Skipper Adam

March 22, 2012 at 1:51 PM · I think its a niche crowd within a niche crowd. Those who frequent this site usually are critical theme park goers versus the general population of Disney. Within that, there are the people who visit enough to vote, and within that, a smaller niche of people willing to comment, and thus the bizarre and uncorrelated comments that truthfully reflect a small group of people. Within that, there are people who troll the site. I would never assume that any comments or surveys taken outside the gates of Universal or Disney truly reflect the unachievable truth of a real general feeling towards anything within the parks.

Brandon Mendoza

March 22, 2012 at 4:27 PM · I would choose Soarin a million times over the Indy show. And this is coming from a guy who collects Indy prop replicas! Soarin's relaxing and can be breath taking... I just wish they would keep up on DCA's screen! You can see dirt and scratches on some sections of the dome. Indy is just a boring paced stunt show.

186.221.99.149

March 22, 2012 at 7:35 PM · Both are average attractions. Do not reserve to be in the finals

Joshua Counsil

March 22, 2012 at 9:37 PM · Mobile seats facing inanimate visuals, or inanimate seats facing mobile visuals?

It seems that no matter how brilliantly Robert organizes these annual tournaments, the results are largely the same.

Mark Kausch

March 22, 2012 at 11:25 PM · I voted for Soarin'. It's indoors, while Indy is outdoors. Can make a whole lot of difference.

OK, not the only reason. Soarin' is also a lot closer to me on the Left Coast.

Mike Shirley Jr

March 23, 2012 at 3:27 AM · Indiana Jones starts with an I
Soarin starts with an S
I comes before S in the alphabet

That's why I voted for Indiana Jones.

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2012 Best Attraction Tournament: Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular vs. Soarin' Over California

Replies (21)

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