As Walt Disney World endures as a family vacation destination from generation to generation, Disney makes a conscious effort to update theme park attractions to meet modern standards. These changes can include anything from minor technology upgrades to major overhauls of the entire ride experience.
One of the most popular attractions at EPCOT is about to introduce a completely new version of itself, and Disney just announced the timeline for when to expect these changes. At Mickey Visit, we cover the latest Disney news, like new discounts and resort perks for Disney World guests and new attraction openings at Disney World in 2026.
Soarin’ Around the World Closing for New Version
Soarin’ has been a fan-favorite ride at EPCOT since it opened in 2005. The simulator attraction imagines riders hang-gliding over scenic destinations by means of a gentle but giant ride mechanism moving in front of a huge screen.
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The ride’s first version, duplicated at EPCOT from Disney California Adventure at Disneyland Resort, was a trip above California. In 2016, both coasts debuted Soarin’ Around the World, trading the Golden State for a global itinerary. Since then, the California version has occasionally returned, but mostly on the west coast such as right now for a limited engagement.
Walt Disney Imagineering is now gearing up to introduce its third Soarin’ film, Soarin’ Across America. As revealed in fall 2025, this new version of the attraction will take riders for an elevated trip through the United States.
In sharing information about Soarin’ Across America, Disney has emphasized behind-the-scenes photos of the camera crew operating helicopters and drones in real places. We suspect this is an overcorrection to make sure longtime fans know Soarin’ Across America might not rely on much computer-generated imagery, a common criticism of Soarin’ Around the World.
Today, Disney revealed Soarin’ Around the World at EPCOT will close on May 14, 2026, to prepare for Soarin’ Across America. The final day to ride Soarin’ Around the World is May 13.
From there, Soarin’ will be unavailable for almost two weeks, reopening on May 26, 2026, as Soarin’ Across America for a limited time.
The timeline for the changeover is curious, and it could mean there’s more planned for the new version of Soarin’ than Disney is letting on.
READ MORE – These 10 Disney Rides Are Far Better Than The Ones They Replaced
EPCOT’s Changeover is Longer Than Expected
At first glance, the closure of Soarin’ Around the World on May 14, 2026, and the opening of Soarin’ Across America on May 26 seems relatively standard. However, one starts to wonder if other small changes to EPCOT’s attraction may be in play when considering the timeline for this same changeover on the west coast.
Soarin’ Across America will also open at Disney California Adventure. At that park, the new version of the ride will make its debut on July 2, 2026.
Unlike EPCOT’s version, though, Soarin’ at Disney California Adventure won’t have any downtime at all in its transition. Soarin’ Over California will continue to operate through July 1 at Disney California Adventure, and then Soarin’ Across America will open the very next day.
Since Soarin’ Across America is assumedly the same film debuting at both EPCOT and Disney California Adventure, the 12-day closure for EPCOT’s ride stands out. It could mean Disney is taking this opportunity to provide some refurbishment to the attraction’s non-film components such as the ride vehicles or queue areas.
Walt Disney World is also known to roll out lengthy periods of previews for cast members, annual passholders, and Disney Vacation Club members prior to opening new attractions. Maybe such previews could happen during that period of closure to the general public.
In any case, Disney has not shared why the 12-day downtime is needed for EPCOT’s version of Soarin’.
New Overlay is Limited-Time Offering, Not Permanent Replacement
Disney has not specified how long Soarin’ Across America will be operating at EPCOT and Disney California Adventure, but the attraction is a temporary engagement rather than a permanent replacement.
The new Soarin’ Across America is part of Disney Celebrates America, a campaign throughout the entire Walt Disney Company honoring the nation’s 250th anniversary.
Ordinarily with attractions that debut as part of multi-month campaigns, we could simply assume it would run for the duration of that event. In this case, though, Soarin’ Across America is not debuting at the start of the campaign it’s part of. Disney Celebrates America kicked off on Veterans Day 2025 and continues through Independence Day 2026. With Disney having promoted Soarin’ Across America since fall 2025, the new version of the ride isn’t going to disappear on July 4.
With such a long runway between the announcement in October 2025 and the opening in May 2026, we’d expect Soarin’ Across America to stick around for at least several months, though Disney has not officially revealed any timeframe.
Disney has also not mentioned what version of the Soarin’ film will be in place once Soarin’ Across America completes its limited-run engagement.
Disney World Changing Many Classic Rides
Soarin’ Across America is one of many new versions and updates to long-running Walt Disney World attractions in 2026.
Over at Magic Kingdom, Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin reopens on April 8 after being closed since August 2025 and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad reopens in early May after being closed for over a year. Both classic attractions will sport dramatically different ride experiences since guests last enjoyed them.
Meanwhile at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith is in the process of transforming into Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets. For its part, Disney’s Animal Kingdom is converting Conservation Station into Bluey’s Wild World, opening May 26.
Disney shared new details on many of these upcoming experiences today, and we recapped the most important points of all the news here.
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