Disney World is moving at a breakneck pace right now. Guests walking through the parks this month have probably noticed construction walls popping up everywhere, longtime attractions disappearing, and multiple areas shifting into new versions of themselves almost overnight. May has become one of the busiest periods Disney has seen in years, with ride closures, refurbishments, and major operational updates.
Now EPCOT is about to lose another attraction, at least temporarily.
Beginning May 14, Disney will close a 21-year-old ride to prepare for a new limited-time experience arriving later this month. The current version will disappear for a short time, and guests have only a tiny window left before the transition officially begins.
Disney Continues Changing Familiar Attractions
Fans have watched Disney overhaul large portions of Walt Disney World recently. Magic Kingdom alone has changed dramatically with the closure of Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island as Disney prepares for the new Piston Peak National Park project. Over at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster remains closed while Disney transforms the attraction into a Muppets-themed experience.
Animal Kingdom also continues work on replacing DinoLand U.S.A. with the upcoming Tropical Americas expansion.
While some attractions are closing forever, others are simply getting refreshed or temporarily adjusted for special events and celebrations. That is exactly what Disney is preparing to do now at EPCOT.
This latest update involves one of the park’s most recognizable attractions, Soarin’.
Thankfully, Disney is not permanently removing the attraction. However, guests who love the current version do not have much time left before operations pause this week.
Why Does This EPCOT Ride Remain So Popular?
Few EPCOT attractions appeal to as many guests as Soarin’.
Inside The Land Pavilion, riders board a flight simulator that lifts them high into the air in front of a giant curved screen. The attraction combines movement, wind effects, scents, and sweeping visuals to create the feeling of flying across famous locations around the world.
The current version, Soarin’ Around the World, debuted in 2016. Disney replaced the original Soarin’ Over California with an international version that sends guests soaring past landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower, the Great Wall of China, Sydney Harbour, and the African savanna.
Nearly ten years later, the attraction still draws massive crowds.
Wait times remain consistently high during EPCOT festivals and busy holiday periods. Lightning Lane reservations also disappear quickly on crowded days.
Part of the attraction’s success comes from how accessible it feels compared to some of EPCOT’s more intense rides. Attractions like Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind and Mission: SPACE are not for everyone, but Soarin’ usually works for families, older visitors, and guests who avoid thrill rides altogether.
That wide appeal has made Soarin’ one of Disney’s easiest attractions to adapt for special overlays and temporary seasonal versions.
Why Is Disney Closing the Ride?
Disney will officially close Soarin’ Around the World beginning May 14.
The closure connects directly to America’s upcoming 250th anniversary celebration. When the attraction reopens on May 26, guests will experience Soarin’ Across America instead of the current international version.
Disney plans to shift the attraction’s focus toward famous American landmarks, landscapes, and destinations as part of the broader “America’s 250th celebration” taking place throughout Disney World.
While Disney has not revealed every scene in the updated experience, the temporary overlay is expected to celebrate locations across the United States while leaning into themes of American history and culture.
The short closure window gives Disney time to prepare the attraction for the updated experience before its reopening later this month.
The timing also aligns with several other major changes across Walt Disney World. Disney’s Hollywood Studios is preparing for the May 26 debut of the reimagined Muppets version of Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster, while Magic Kingdom recently welcomed back Big Thunder Mountain Railroad following refurbishment work.
Disney clearly has a packed summer ahead.
Guests Have Very Little Time Left
Because the attraction closes May 14, guests visiting EPCOT only have today and tomorrow left to experience Soarin’ Around the World before Disney temporarily removes it.
Thankfully, the closure will not last very long. Disney plans to reopen the attraction on May 26 with the updated patriotic overlay.
Still, fans of the current version should understand that the Soarin’ experience returning later this month will feel noticeably different from the global adventure operating today.
Honestly, though, this temporary change feels more exciting than frustrating.
Disney has spent the last several years permanently removing many classic experiences across the parks. In comparison, this feels more like a celebration than a replacement. EPCOT has always embraced large-scale storytelling and international culture, so a limited-time attraction tied to America’s 250th anniversary actually fits the park surprisingly well.
And for longtime Disney fans who still miss Soarin’ Over California, this updated experience may end up becoming one of EPCOT’s more interesting temporary offerings in quite a while.
