EPCOT is preparing for one of its biggest attraction changes of the summer, and Disney cast members are now the first people getting to experience it. Ahead of the official debut of Soarin’ Across America later this month, preview rides have officially started inside The Land Pavilion.
For longtime Disney fans, this is a pretty major moment.
Soarin’ has always been one of those attractions that people feel personally attached to. Even after Disney replaced the original California version with Soarin’ Around the World back in 2016, plenty of guests still talked about missing the older film. Some loved the international version, but others felt it lost some of the emotional charm and natural beauty that made the original ride stand out.
Now Disney is taking the attraction in a completely new direction again.
Cast members are currently testing Soarin’ Across America before Annual Passholders get their chance to ride on May 19 and May 20. The attraction officially opens to all guests on May 26, just as Walt Disney World heads into one of its busiest summer seasons in years.
Even before riding, guests can already tell something has changed.
Inside EPCOT’s Land Pavilion, Disney has started decorating the Soarin’ area with patriotic theming. Red, white, and blue decorations now surround parts of the attraction entrance, giving the pavilion a noticeably different atmosphere than it had just weeks ago.
The new film itself will focus entirely on locations around the United States. Disney has already teased scenes featuring coastlines, major cities, wilderness areas, plains, bayous, and iconic landmarks spread across the country. The attraction appears heavily tied to the broader America-focused celebration Disney is preparing ahead of the United States’ 250th anniversary.
And honestly, the timing works well for EPCOT.
Summer crowds are about to surge across Walt Disney World, and EPCOT has quietly built a strong lineup for guests this year. Between new entertainment offerings, refreshed experiences, and the return of a reimagined Soarin’, the park suddenly feels much busier than it did a year ago.
The biggest question right now is how guests will react once previews expand beyond cast members.
Soarin’ Around the World always received mixed reactions because of the visual distortion that sometimes appeared during scenes with buildings or landmarks. Guests constantly joked about curved structures and warped visuals, especially during the Eiffel Tower sequence.
That criticism never fully disappeared.
Some Disney fans are now hopeful that Soarin’ Across America could solve some of those issues simply because the attraction seems to focus more heavily on natural landscapes instead of large architectural scenes. Others are already hoping Disney restores classic effects from older versions of the attraction, including some of the memorable scents guests still talk about years later.
That nostalgia factor could become a huge advantage for Disney.
Unlike intense thrill rides that appeal to a smaller audience, Soarin’ works for almost everybody. Families ride together. Older guests love it. Kids see it as exciting without being overwhelming. During the summer, it also offers one of the best breaks from the Florida heat inside EPCOT.
If Disney delivers the right emotional tone with this new version, Soarin’ Across America could easily become one of EPCOT’s biggest crowd magnets this summer.
And judging by how quickly Disney moved into cast member previews, the company clearly feels confident enough to start preparing for large crowds very soon.
