Soarin’ Across America: Locations, scents, music, and details about Disney’s newest flight
It’s been a few weeks since guests first stepped aboard ‘Soarin’ Across America,’ the new limited-time version of the iconic flight simulator debuting at Epcot and Disney California Adventure for America’s 250th anniversary celebration.
Disney announced the attraction’s patriotic revamp on Oct. 20, 2025, along with a slate of other programming for America’s 250th birthday. Now, guests have experienced all of the locations that are featured in ‘Soarin’ Across America.’
Still, Disney has not announced how long the attraction will operate in this version. The attraction’s counterparts at Tokyo DisneySea and Shanghai Disneyland will not receive the “Across America” overlay.
Locations featured in Soarin’ Across America
We don’t want to give away all of the locations, so let’s stick with the highlights. Disney shared a preview of several scenes guests will fly over during the attraction, including:
- Mount Rushmore
- New York Harbor
- Grand Canyon West
- the New England coastline
- bayous of the American South
- northern wilderness landscapes
- tropical island shores in Hawaii
Image courtesy of Disney
Now that the attraction is open, we have rounded up a summary of the first reactions to the new attraction.
Editor’s note: After experiencing ‘Soarin’ Across America’ with my son, I noticed two details I have not seen many others point out. The first is a trio of bald eagle scultures that hang overhead immediately upon entering the ride’s queue.
Photo by Dani Meyering
The second is more subtle. There are new atmospheric sound effects as you board, awaiting to take off, as well as when you descend back down. At the start of the experience keep your ears open for nature sounds of Florida’s wildlife as our journey begins here with a moment that “launches” us into the first scene. Then at the end of the journey you can hear fireworks sounds long after the visuals have ended.
I used the oversized bags storage area, and that gave me some extra time and a clear head to hone in on these auditory details.
Photo by Dani Meyering
Patrick Warburton returns
As part of the original announcement, Disney shared a new video starring actor Patrick Warburton reprising his role as chief flight attendant from the original Soarin’ pre-show.
Epcot queue features new National Geographic trivia
While waiting to board at EPCOT, guests are able to participate in the new “Soarin’ Challenge Across America,” an interactive trivia experience created with National Geographic.
The queue experience will include facts and photography inspired by National Geographic titles such as “50 States” and “5,000 Ideas,” with categories highlighting unusual state superlatives and discoveries.
Imagineering reveals how Soarin’ Across America was created
“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,” said Tom Fitzgerald, portfolio executive creative director and chief storytelling executive at Walt Disney Imagineering.
The filming of Soarin’ Across America involved helicopters and drones, and was led by Bernice Howes, executive creative media producer for Imagineering, and Scott Sohan, principal visual effects designer for Imagineering. 28,000 miles were traveled across the nation to film this new film for the attraction.
It has been confirmed that some computer-generated touch-ups were used in the creation of Soarin’ Across America, but not to the extreme as seen in Soarin’ Around the World.
Although the films for both Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resort are primarily the same, the endings are different. In Walt Disney World’s version, you will fly over Epcot, and in Disneyland Resort’s version you will fly over Disneyland.
You can watch the full experience of Disney’s California Adventure version in our YouTube video below.
Disney also confirmed a new musical arrangement by Bruce Broughton built around Jerry Goldsmith’s classic Soarin’ themes.
History of Soarin’
‘Soarin’ Across America’ is a limited-time presentation for both Epcot (in Walt Disney World near Orlando, Fla.) and Disney California Adventure (in Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, Calif.).
Disney did not specify how long the limited-time attraction will operate in its new iteration. But the Soarin’ Across America overlay will start on May 26, 2026 at Epcot and July 2, 2026 at Disney California Adventure in Disneyland Resort.
Soarin’ first opened in California in 2001 and in Florida in 2005. Both venues currently host Soarin’ Around the World (which debuted in 2016), and previously screened (occasionally seasonally bring back) the original Soarin’ Over California. All are different versions of a simulator ride mimicking a hang-gliding experience over various locales.
Soarin’ isn’t the only Epcot attraction getting an update. In November 2025, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure will convert all of its 3D media to 2D, no longer requiring 3D glasses. Earlier this year, Frozen Ever After updated its animatronics with new technology. Last summer, the park introduced a new version of the Test Track thrill ride.
New ‘Disney Celebrates America’ campaign
“Disney Celebrates America,” a new company-wide campaign, is taking place Nov. 11, 2025 – July 4, 2026, in honor of the 250th anniversary of the U.S. It will culminate with a 24-hour broadcast on the Fourth of July, featuring fireworks from Disney World and Disneyland. The broadcast will be hosted by David Muir of ABC News’ “World News Tonight with David Muir.”
The fireworks presented on-air will be “Disney’s Celebrate America! – A Fourth of July Concert in the Sky,” which guests can watch in person at Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World in Florida or Disneyland Park in California nightly July 3-5, 2026.
Disney will also donate $2.5 million to Blue Star Families, an organization supporting military families.
Soarin’ Across America” opens May 26, 2026, at EPCOT and July 2, 2026, at Disney California Adventure as part of Disney’s larger America 250 celebration.
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