San Francisco Flyer: Is the 7D Experience Ride Worth Your Time?

So, you’re thinking of checking out the San Francisco Flyer 7D Experience, are you? Very cool! Located at Pier 39, it looks like a cool little break from the usual touristy stuff. Is that so? You’re likely asking yourself if it’s seriously something worth adding to your day. Absolutely, it’s one of many, many options there, that is. I’m here to give you a breakdown of my time trying this ride, talking about the good stuff, the not-so-good, and generally if it gives you the kind of fun experience you probably are hoping for, so it does not seem like just another thing to do.

What’s the San Francisco Flyer All About?

The San Francisco Flyer is, arguably, a motion simulator ride that promises a bit of excitement. Basically, you sit in front of a huge screen and your seats move around. So, it’s meant to kinda feel like you’re, say, flying over San Francisco, very neat, is that right? There are a couple of different “experiences,” but they all basically use the same tech. Just a bit to note. In my experience, the most eye catching is the “Flyer” tour which is designed to mimic an aerial tour. So, this kind of experience sounds pretty cool for anyone hoping to see San Francisco from, like, a bird’s eye view, right?

The “Flying” Experience: A Bird’s-Eye View?

Okay, so the ride itself. The seats feel pretty comfortable, anyway. Once you’re strapped in, things get moving pretty quickly. In some respects the screen is big and the visuals do try to show some nice views of San Francisco’s landmarks. But in the way the motion syncing and overall image quality might leave you just a bit disappointed, to be honest. Is that something you imagined? It’s not terrible. So, just temper those expectations. I would say. I think younger kids may seriously like this, yet adults might find it just slightly cheesy.

Is it Really a “7D” Experience, Really?

Now, about the “7D” thing: is that just a little exaggerated? It’s not just 3D. Very slightly there’s some motion, and some wind effects. The “7D” label might just set the bar too high, and you know that is a problem. Still, you can probably appreciate they’re at least trying, actually. It might just not fully deliver on whatever you had pictured.

What You Need to Know Before You Go

Planning to go? So, a few things will come in handy. Is that so? Here’s the lowdown on what you should keep in mind:

• Location: Pier 39, a busy spot, is that not cool? Just expect crowds, specially during tourist season, anyway.
• Tickets: Getting tickets could be simpler, of course. The pricing looks different, yet it isn’t the cheapest, right? Look for possible deals, so you might save some bucks.
• Motion Sickness: You might just get a bit queasy. Arguably, if you are often sick on rides, think twice about this one, you know.
• Time: Each “experience” lasts maybe 15 minutes, actually. Just consider possible wait times when figuring out your day, very key.
• Age and Height Restrictions: Verify these, of course. This one’s important if you’re bringing children, that is.

The Good, The Bad, and The In-Between

Alright, so lets make some clear things:

• What’s Cool: Is it really immersive enough? In a way the big screen can be cool, yet, if the picture was more sharp. Kids can probably enjoy it, actually.
• The Drawbacks: “7D” feels kinda extra. This is kind of old school, you know. It seems a little pricey for just the actual time you’re in there. The seats could be so much more smooth, so, more to think about.
• Stuff to Note: If you do everything else on Pier 39, so why not check it out? Just don’t expect it to change everything, right? It really fills a hole, in a way.

Other Options to Check Out

So, there is plenty around there at Pier 39, that’s not wrong. Should you decide that the Flyer seems not a great fit, just remember what all else is around:

• Aquarium of the Bay: See all the sea animals.
• Sea Lions: Those beasts on the pier can seriously be watched for free.
• Bay Cruises: Go out on a cruise if you can afford that.
• Shops and food: Pick your flavor of what you want and see what’s for sale, pretty awesome.