Walt Disney World Resort has confirmed that guests will be able to “take off” Soarin’ Across America at EPCOT on an opening date of Memorial Day 2026. Disneyland California guests will be able to take flight on the updated ride July 2nd, just in time for Independence Day.
Though the mechanics of the ride will remain the same, the footage will change from the global sights currently on display to ones featuring just the United States. The new video will celebrate the country’s diversity, both in landscape and people. The experience will feature both America’s stunning landscapes as well as iconic city skylines from more than a dozen American locations.
The update comes among several changes next year for “Disney Celebrates America,” a celebration of the United States’ 250th anniversary.
“Disney Celebrates America”
This announcement is part of a wider 2026 schedule that includes several ride updates, seasonal offerings, and new additions across the resort. The retheme is tied to Disney’s broader “Disney Celebrates America” initiative, which marks the 250th anniversary of the United States and includes multiple additions across the company’s U.S. parks.
The Hall of Presidents in Walt Disney World – Photo Credit: That Park Place
The celebration also includes expanded patriotic programming, like a 24-hour multi-platform broadcast on July 4, 2026 that will air on Disney streaming services, broadcast networks, and other media channels, culminating in evening fireworks shows from both Disneyland and Walt Disney World parks.
Disney has already announced an expansion of their normal July 4th fireworks show. Disney’s Celebrate America! — A Fourth of July Concert in the Sky will run for three consecutive nights (July 3–5, 2026) at both Magic Kingdom Park and Disneyland.
On the retail and community side, Disney plans special Americana and military-inspired merchandise across parks, online stores, and for service members.
Soarin’ Versions Across the Years
Soarin’ Over California debuted on February 8, 2001 at Disney California Adventure and later opened at EPCOT in May 2005.
The attraction presented aerial scenes of well-known California locations, including the Golden Gate Bridge, Napa Valley, and Yosemite. The experience combined panoramic projection, synchronized motion, and environmental effects such as location-specific scents to simulate a hang-glider flight across the state. Over time, this version shifted away from being the primary film and became a seasonal or limited-time offering.
Patrick Warburton in the announcement trailer for Soarin Across America – Disney Park Blog
Soarin’ Around the World launched on June 17, 2016 at both EPCOT and Disney California Adventure. This version broadened the scope of the attraction by replacing the California-specific footage with scenes filmed at international locations (and computer generated images). Footage include the snow-covered Matterhorn in the Swiss Alps, the savannas of Kilimanjaro National Park, the ocean scenery of the Fiji islands, as well as the iconic pyramids of Giza, Great Wall of China, Eiffel Tower, and more.
The poster for Soarin Across America – Disney Parks Blog
For several years, it served as the standard Soarin’ film at each park, taking the place of the original California-focused version until seasonal returns of the earlier film were introduced.
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