Hey Disney Vacationers! If you’ve ever walked out of Soarin’ Around the World with that joyful goofy grin still plastered on your face, good news — you’ll be smiling even wider soon. Disney just confirmed that Soarin’ Across America is taking flight in Summer 2026 to celebrate the 250th birthday of the United States, and it’s coming to both EPCOT and Disney California Adventure.
This announcement has serious goosebump potential. Let’s unpack what we know, what’s changing, and why fans (like me) are excited about it.
Editor’s Note: Updated October 22, 2025: Added new behind-the-scenes details from Walt Disney Imagineering and production insights for Soarin’ Across America.
Quick Reference Summary
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Attraction Name | Soarin’ Across America |
| Locations | EPCOT (Walt Disney World) and Disney California Adventure |
| Opening | Summer 2026 |
| Occasion | America’s 250th Birthday Celebration |
| Replaces | Soarin’ Around the World |
| Original EPCOT Opening | 2005 (Soarin’ Over California) |
| Features | U.S. landmarks, iconic cities, patriotic soundtrack, signature scents |
| Potential Rotation | Could return seasonally for holidays like July 4th |
What Is Soarin’ Across America?
Simply put, Soarin’ Across America is a brand-new film and sensory experience replacing the current Soarin’ Around the World attraction at both parks.
Imagine gliding over America’s most iconic sights — from the Grand Canyon to the New York City skyline, from Yosemite’s granite peaks to the Florida Keys’ turquoise waters — all synced to the attraction’s famous musical score and signature scents.
Disney Imagineering says the new version will include more than a dozen U.S. locations, showcasing “the heart and spirit of the nation” from sea to shining sea. It’s a full-on tribute to America’s 250-year journey, wrapped in the unforgettable Soarin’ experience fans already love.
Why Disney’s Bringing It Back Home
This isn’t the first time Soarin’ has changed its flight path.
Let’s do a quick flyover of its history:
| Version | Debut | Location | Theme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Soarin’ Over California | 2001 | Disney California Adventure | Classic California landmarks |
| Soarin’ Over California (EPCOT debut) | 2005 | EPCOT, Walt Disney World | Expanded version of the original California adventure |
| Soarin’ Around the World | 2016 | EPCOT & DCA | Global wonders like the Eiffel Tower & Great Wall |
| Soarin’ Across America | 2026 | EPCOT & DCA | American landscapes & cities |
Each version has had its own fanbase. Soarin’ Over California fans love the nostalgia (and the orange grove scent). Around the World fans enjoy seeing bucket-list destinations without the jet lag.
Across America feels like a homecoming. It ties perfectly into the country’s Semiquincentennial — that’s the fancy term for the 250th birthday of the United States in 2026 — and gives Disney a patriotic hook to refresh a beloved E-ticket attraction without closing it for years.
Confirmed Details
Disney’s official statement confirms the following:
- Debuting Summer 2026 at both EPCOT and Disney California Adventure
- More than a dozen American landmarks featured
- Classic Soarin’ elements — the flight sensation, sweeping score, and realistic scents — will remain
- Filming led by Walt Disney Imagineering, capturing all-new aerial footage across the U.S.
This will be the third version of Soarin’ since it first opened in 2001.
Behind-the-Scenes Look at Soarin’ Across America
Walt Disney Imagineering recently offered a rare look behind the curtain, giving fans insight into how Soarin’ Across America came to life.
Tom Fitzgerald, Portfolio Executive Creative Director and Chief Storytelling Executive for Walt Disney Imagineering, shared how the idea took flight:
“When production wrapped almost a decade ago on Soarin’ Around the World, we started thinking about where we might go next with the format,” Fitzgerald explained. “A trip across the United States felt like a natural next flight for Soarin’ to take, and the 250th anniversary of our nation provided the perfect opportunity to ‘book the flight.’”
For Fitzgerald and the creative team, one of the biggest challenges was narrowing down which destinations would best capture the heart of the nation:
“As always with Soarin’ films, the biggest challenge is choosing where to go, and what locations would work best in this unique film format,” he said. “Now with the 250th celebration, we’ll immerse our guests in a celebratory flight that spans from sea to shining sea!”
That phrase — “sea to shining sea” — is more than patriotic language. It’s the creative vision driving the entire film.
New Locales, New Technology
While the attraction’s structure will remain the same, Soarin’ Across America will feature groundbreaking filming technology and entirely new aerial footage.
Bernice Howes, Executive Creative Media Producer for Walt Disney Imagineering, led the charge in bringing this new version to life. Her team worked closely with Principal Visual Effects Designer Scott Sohan to plan and capture the perfect footage.
“We sought out satellite maps to display a realistic visual of the locations,” Howes said. “Then we set up aerial paths to understand our filming location needs and how one location transitions into the next to tell the story.”
Once the locations were locked, Imagineering’s production crew conducted extensive tests with helicopters, drones, camera rigs, and custom lenses to achieve Soarin’s signature smooth transitions.
Howes recalled that the team packed 33 cases of camera and aerial gear to ensure they had everything they needed — including backups — while filming in remote locations.
This precision planning allowed the film to be shot with a unified equipment setup, ensuring consistency in every frame, from Monument Valley to Manhattan.
A Tribute to America
Fitzgerald summed up the project’s emotional goal perfectly:
“Our goal was to offer guests a sampling of the diversity of America’s beauty and urban wonders with the hope it would paint an emotional portrait for the nation’s Semiquincentennial celebration.”
Howes elaborated on how that vision guided the editing and composition process:
“Contrasting shots of different American locales — scenic wonders, amazing cities, and the beauty of the coasts. The use of the physical landscape of the United States as a unifying element,” she explained. “Then, using continuous camera movement to smoothly transition between these scenes, linking them together to show the geographical ‘whole’ of the nation.”
That seamless movement — from mountain peaks to city skylines — is what makes Soarin’ feel less like a movie and more like a journey.
As Howes put it, the film was “designed to embody America’s spirit for today’s guests and future generations.”
Soarin’ Across America isn’t just another update — it’s a tribute to the country’s past, present, and future, and a showcase of how Disney storytelling continues to evolve through emotion and innovation.
Speculation: Will Soarin’ Rotate Versions in the Future?
Here’s where it gets interesting. Disney has occasionally brought back Soarin’ Over California for limited-time runs, usually around summer or patriotic holidays — and fans love it.
Because the attraction’s digital film system allows for relatively easy swapping, Soarin’ Across America could become a recurring seasonal offering, returning around the Fourth of July in future years.
If Disney goes that route, it would be a clever way to keep the attraction “fresh” without needing major refurbishments. Think of it like changing movie reels — same seats, same screen, new adventure.
How This Impacts Your Trip Plans
If you’re planning a visit in 2025, you’ll still experience Soarin’ Around the World.
If you’re eyeing 2026, especially around the Semiquincentennial celebrations, expect higher demand and longer wait times once Soarin’ Across America launches.
Pro Tips:
- Use Lightning Lane Multi Pass to secure your Soarin’ time early — this will be one of EPCOT’s hottest reservations and currently a great second tier Lightning Lane Multi Pass option.
- Plan for evening flights — traditionally, the lines for Soarin’ get shorter after dark as most people head to World Showcase for the evening.
- Keep an eye on Disney’s event calendar — special July 4th offerings may align with the new film’s debut.
Why Fans Are Hyped
This isn’t just nostalgia; it’s storytelling. Disney’s blending the emotional weight of America’s 250-year legacy with Imagineering’s cinematic precision.
Every scent, swell of music, and swooping camera movement will remind guests why Soarin’ remains one of Disney’s most beloved rides — it makes you feel something real.
Whether you grew up reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, or you just love the feeling of your feet dangling above the clouds, Soarin’ Across America promises a ride that celebrates unity, wonder, and flight — literally and figuratively.
Final Thoughts
If you’ve been waiting for Disney to bring back that spark of patriotic magic, Soarin’ Across America might just deliver it. It’s nostalgic for long-time fans, exciting for first-timers, and perfectly timed to honor America’s 250th birthday in 2026.
So, next time you’re walking into EPCOT’s Land Pavilion or Disney California Adventure, take a deep breath. That faint scent of orange blossoms and ocean breeze? It’s the smell of something new — and something very familiar — taking flight once again.
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Meet the Author: Nate Bishop
I’m a die-hard Disney fan with 38 years of visits under my belt, having stepped into Disney World 120+ times. Proud to be a Disney Annual Passholder, a Vacation Club member since ’92, a Castaway Club Member, and a runDisney enthusiast. Oh, and I’ve graduated from the Disney College of Knowledge. Need Disney insights or planning tips? I’m your guy!
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