Soarin’ Across America was scheduled to open at EPCOT on May 26. Disney opened it on May 22. The reimagined version of the beloved Soarin attraction in The Land Pavilion soft opened four days ahead of its official debut, and guests who were at EPCOT yesterday were among the first to experience the new version before opening day crowds arrived.
As of noon on May 22, the wait time for Soarin’ Across America was 25 minutes. For a brand-new version of one of EPCOT’s most popular attractions, that number reflected how early in the soft-opening window guests were discovering it.
What Changed at Disney World
Soarin’ Across America replaced Soarin’ Around the World as a limited-time experience tied to America’s 250th anniversary celebration. The ride itself remained the same. The hanging theater seats, the sensation of flight, and the physical experience of the attraction were unchanged. Everything guests saw and smelled during the ride was completely new.
The new film took guests on an airborne journey across the United States, featuring some of the country’s most iconic landmarks and landscapes, including the Grand Canyon, Mount Rushmore, and the New England coast. The scents that longtime Soarin’ fans associate closely with the attraction returned in an updated form matched to the new American scenery. Disney described the experience as honoring the heart and spirit of the nation as it soared into its 250th birthday celebration.
Lightning Lane was not available for the attraction during the soft opening period and was not expected to be available until the official May 26 opening date.
Why the Timing Mattered
Guests who rode Soarin’ Across America during the May 22 soft opening window received something that will become significantly harder to replicate after the official opening day. A 25-minute wait on a brand new version of one of EPCOT’s most beloved rides, before the crowds who had been anticipating it for weeks arrived, before Lightning Lane availability became competitive, and before the limited-time status fully registered across the Disney planning community, was a genuinely rare window.
Soarin has always had broad appeal across all age groups and experience levels. No height restrictions. No intense thrill component. An experience that works equally well for a first-time visitor and a guest who has ridden it dozens of times. Adding a new film and a 250th anniversary context gave the attraction a reason for even the most experienced EPCOT regulars to prioritize it, and that kind of demand tends to push wait times upward quickly once it builds momentum.
What to Expect on May 26 at Disney World
The official opening day is May 26, the same day as a wave of other Walt Disney World debuts, including Rock’ n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets at Hollywood Studios and the opening of Bluey’s Wild World at Animal Kingdom. EPCOT’s rope drop patterns were already expected to shift significantly on and after May 26, with Soarin’ Across America pulling guests toward The Land Pavilion, who would typically sprint toward Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind or Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure at park opening.
Guests heading to EPCOT this week should check the My Disney Experience app for current wait times and operating status before heading to The Land Pavilion. The soft opening window gave early visitors a head start. For anyone who missed it, May 26 is the official opening, and the full crowd surge that comes with it is expected to reshape EPCOT mornings for weeks.
