Soarin’ Across America at EPCOT: Complete Guide (2026)

Soarin’ Across America replaced Soarin’ Around the World at EPCOT on 26 May 2026. The ride system is the same. The film is entirely new and focuses on the United States from coast to coast.

If you’re planning an EPCOT visit and trying to figure out whether the new version is worth a Lightning Lane slot, here’s what it is, what’s changed, and whether it’s still worth the queue.

What the new film covers

The new ride flies you across the United States. Disney revealed the full sequence of locations ahead of the opening:

• Rugged New England coastline
• New York Harbor
• Autumn colours of the American heartland
• Louisiana bayous
• Great Plains of the west
• Northern wilderness
• Hawaiian islands
• Mount Rushmore
• Grand Canyon West

Twelve to fifteen distinct destinations in total, all shot on location with no CGI. The previous Soarin’ Around the World had blended live footage with computer-generated elements in several scenes. This version commits to real photography throughout.

What’s the same

• The ride system. Hang-glider seats, lifted in front of the dome screen.
• Wind effects through your hair.
• Scent effects in selected scenes (citrus over orange groves, pine over forests).
• The synchronised lift mechanism that moves all three rows of riders.
• Height requirement: 40 inches (102cm). Unchanged.
• Flight programming and seat positioning.

What’s new

• The film itself. All-new footage shot specifically for this version.
• The musical score. Bruce Broughton has arranged a new piece that builds on Jerry Goldsmith’s original Soarin’ themes. Recognisable but expanded.
• The queue. A new “Soarin’ Challenge Across America” interactive trivia game built with National Geographic. You play it on screens while waiting, with facts about each US state.

What’s gone

The Eiffel Tower, the Pyramids, the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Great Wall of China, the Matterhorn, the Taj Mahal. All scenes from Soarin’ Around the World are out. If those were your favourite parts of the old ride, this one will feel like a different attraction.

Is it worth the wait?

For most visitors, yes. Soarin’ is consistently one of the best-rated rides at EPCOT and the new film is more visually coherent than the world tour version it replaces.

Lightning Lane Multi Pass includes Soarin’ Across America. Standby waits in the first month have been hitting 60 to 90 minutes through the middle of the day. If you arrive at rope drop, you can usually do Soarin’ standby in under 25 minutes.

Practical tips

• Sit in row 1 if you can. The view is unobstructed and you’ll feel the wind effects most clearly.
• Avoid the front row if you’re worried about heights. The seats are about 40 feet up at the highest point.
• Don’t eat heavily before riding. The motion is smooth but combined with the screen size it can feel disorienting on a full stomach.
• Take young children. There are no scary moments and the height requirement covers most kids age 4+.

How it compares to Disneyland’s version

Disneyland is getting the same Soarin’ Across America film. Both parks run identical content from the 26 May launch onward. Before this update, Disneyland had been running a slightly modified version of Soarin’ Around the World, which is also gone now.

When to ride

• Rope drop (immediately after park opening): standby usually under 25 minutes for the first hour.
• Right before park close: standby often drops to 30 minutes in the last hour.
• Lightning Lane Multi Pass slot: book it for early afternoon when standby peaks.
• Avoid: 11am to 3pm, when standby commonly hits 70+ minutes.

Soarin’ sits in EPCOT. See the rest of the park in our EPCOT guide and EPCOT rides round-up, and check whether Lightning Lane Multi Pass is worth paying for.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources

• Walt Disney World, Soarin’ Around the World. Height requirement and ride details, checked against Disney’s own listing. Retrieved 22 August 2026.

We check every date and price against Disney’s own listings before publishing, and say so plainly when Disney has not announced something. How we work is set out in our editorial standards.