"Soarin' Over America" to Debut at Walt Disney World as Part of Cool Kids' Summer

Soarin' to Tower, we're ready for takeoff as part of Cool Kids' Summer at Walt Disney World.

What's Happening:

As part of the Cool Kids' Summer event at Walt Disney World, guests will be able to experience the new Soarin' Across America at EPCOT and its brand new flight starting on May 26.
UPDATE: To prepare for the arrival of this new film, Soarin' Around the World will close at EPCOT on May 14 (meaning May 13 will be the last chance to experience this version for at least a while).
The new ride film celebrates the 250th anniversary of the United States, including natural beauty like the Grand Canyon, as well as iconic city skylines.
Further specifics are still kept vague at this time, especially regarding each location that we will fly across during our journey. However, we can expect some of the same fun featured in the original attraction (Soarin' Over California) and its follow up (Soarin' Around The World) - including those famous scents.
Might I suggest flying over an iconic baseball park and smelling a fresh chili dog. Oh wait... we've done that before?
New music, along with the iconic Soarin' theme, will also be featured in the new iteration of the attraction.
Check out our Chief Flight Attendant, Patrick, as he announced the new version of the classic attraction below.

This new date applies to Walt Disney World, and the date previously announced for Disney California Adventure reveals that iteration will open on July 2, 2026, mere hours ahead of the 250th anniversary of the United States.
To experience the new journey for yourself, or any of the fun of Cool Kids' Summer at Walt Disney World, be sure to reach out to our friends at Mouse Fan Travel.

Off The Shelf:

Soarin' Across America - in a strange way - is a full circle moment for this attraction.
Jump with us back to the early 90s, when a theme park was announced that the world would never see: Disney's America. While yes, very controversial, it was also very ambitious. And all of it celebrated the history of the United States. Just before it was cancelled, it was even renamed "Disney's American Celebration."
One of the themed lands that guests would walk through was an area called "Victory Field" which was home to flight hangars and an airstrip (yes, hold that thought you just had) which would be home to an innovative flight simulator that - in this instance - would be set during World War II and would feature guests in training flights, using massive domed screens and innovative ride system.

Well, the park was ultimately cancelled, but a lot of those rides and attractions lived on. If Victory Field sounded at all familiar to you - it was largely recycled and became Condor Flats at Disney's California Adventure in 2001, home to the park's signature attraction - Soarin' Over California.
Though now, instead of a training flight in the middle of World War II, we're now gliding peacefully over the landscapes of California.
The attraction was so popular, it was built at different Disney Parks around the globe, including EPCOT at Walt Disney World. Though we got a later evolution in 2016 with "Soarin' Around The World," this upcoming 2026 edition at the stateside parks is a fun little "IYKYK" wink since we'll be flying over the States in a celebration of America.

Summer Fun:

This morning, it was announced that Bluey's Wild World would open at Disney's Animal Kingdom in May.
Also arriving in May is the new show at Disney's Hollywood Studios, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live!,
Just ahead of the Cool Kids' Summer fun, guests will once again be able to jump aboard an XP-37 Starcruiser and experience a newly revamped Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin.
And while we don't have an exact return date for Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at Magic Kingdom, it is expected to reopen in "early May."

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