Soarin’ Across America Full Flight Path and New Queue Details Revealed

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Disney has finally pulled back the curtain on Soarin’ Across America, and the details are exactly what fans have been hoping for. Ahead of its May 26 opening at EPCOT, Disney revealed the full flight path of the new film plus a brand-new interactive queue experience built in partnership with National Geographic.

Quick Summary

• Soarin’ Across America opens May 26 at EPCOT
• The new film uses a seasons and regions approach across the United States
• Confirmed stops include the Grand Canyon, New York Harbor, Hawaii, Mount Rushmore, and more
• Bruce Broughton returns to arrange a new version of Jerry Goldsmith’s iconic score
• New queue: Soarin’ Challenge Across America — an interactive trivia game with National Geographic
• Wind effects, ride programming, and scents remain part of the experience

The Full Soarin’ Across America Flight Path

Disney took a seasons and regions approach with the new film, meaning each scene reflects a different time of year and a different corner of the country. The result is a sweeping portrait of America that covers both coasts, iconic landmarks, and natural wonders.

Confirmed locations on the flight path:

• The rugged New England coastline
• New York Harbor
• Grand Canyon West
• The autumn colors of the heartland
• The bayous
• The great plains of the west
• The northern wilderness
• Sunlit island shores
• Hawaii
• Mount Rushmore

Tom Fitzgerald, creative director and chief storytelling executive at Walt Disney Imagineering, put it best: each scene is designed to create a portrait of what makes America special.

The Music: Jerry Goldsmith’s Score Returns

Bruce Broughton is back to arrange a fresh take on Jerry Goldsmith’s original Soarin’ score. That music is one of the most beloved pieces of theme park audio ever composed, and having Broughton return to shape its new form feels like real care for the ride’s legacy.

Ride programming, wind effects, and scents all remain part of the experience. This is an evolution of a classic, not a replacement.

New Queue Experience: Soarin’ Challenge Across America

Waiting in line at EPCOT gets a big upgrade. Disney partnered with National Geographic to create Soarin’ Challenge Across America, an interactive trivia experience built directly into the queue. Instead of static queue walls, guests will engage with facts and challenges tied to the destinations in the film. It’s a smart way to build anticipation while making the wait feel shorter — and the National Geographic stamp gives it real credibility.

Tips for Your EPCOT Visit

• Book Lightning Lane as early as possible — demand will be high in those first weeks
• Plan a weekday visit if you can to avoid peak crowds
• Give the new queue trivia some time — it’s genuinely worth experiencing
• If you know the old Soarin’ Over the World film by heart, prepare to update your mental map

Soarin’ Across America opens May 26 at EPCOT. Based on everything Disney has shared, Imagineering put serious thought into making this one of the best versions of the ride yet. A meaningful flight path, the return of the original score arranger, and an interactive National Geographic queue — it checks every box. Will you be there on opening day?

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