Soarin’ Around the World is now closed at EPCOT as Disney prepares to install the Soarin’ Across America film. The new film will showcase more than a dozen locations from sea to shining sea as Disney celebrates the 250th Anniversary of the United States of America. In this article, we’ll take a look back at the previous version of the ride and look forward to why we have high hopes for the Across America film.
Soarin’ Around the World Closed at EPCOT
Starting May 26th, guests will be taken on a journey from sea to shining sea as the Soarin’ Across America film debuts at EPCOT. To prepare for the new film, the current version of the attraction, Soarin’ Around the World, is now closed.
When it opens May 26th, Soarin’ Across America will highlight some of the country’s natural beauty and iconic cityscapes. This will be brought to life with the iconic elements that make Soarin’ unforgettable: the flight, the sights and score, even the scents! In total, there will be more than a dozen breathtaking locations for the new flight, including the Grand Canyon.
Here’s how Walt Disney World describes the new Soarin’ Across America film:
Buckle up and get ready for takeoff! The fan-favorite attraction Soarin’ is taking an all-new airborne adventure across the United States. Be part of this limited-time journey that honors the heart and spirit of the nation as it soars into its 250th birthday celebration. Experience the iconic elements that make Soarin’ unforgettable: the flight, the sights, the score, even the scents! The 180-degree, 80-foot IMAX digital projection dome, spectacular aerial footage, pleasant scents and graceful motion raise the soothing sensation of flight to incredible new heights.
It’s worth underlining here that the Soarin’ Across America version of the film is not currently planned to be a permanent replacement for Soarin’ Around the World. Instead, it is going to be a “limited-time journey”. Walt Disney World did not return a request for comment on when the Across America version of the ride will end, and the Around the World version will return.
As part of early promotion for the new version of the ride, Disney offered a sort of mini deep dive into the work that the teams were going through to create a beautiful film, captured on the latest technology, including a series of camera, lens, helicopter, and heavy-lift drone equipment tests to figure out the exact specifications needed to use a unified setup for filming all the new scenes.
To that end, I wouldn’t be surprised if Soarin’ Across America debuted to great reviews, especially when contrasted with the Soarin’ Around the World film that utilized quite a bit of CGI. If I’m right, I think that the Across America version of the film will stick around a while, and that Disney would be wise to not commit to an end date at this time.
I would imagine that the Across America version will be around until at least the end of this year, if not longer. My prediction is that it will be visually stunning and well-received. If that’s the case, I wouldn’t be surprised at all to return to this article a year from today with still no end date in sight for Across America.
I also think that we’ll continue to see different films be presented for limited-time engagements, as was the case for the return of the Soarin’ Over California film during the Disney100 celebration.
While Soarin’ Across America will debut to the public on May 26th, there will be previews for Cast Members, Annual Passholders, and Disney Vacation Club Members. There may even be soft openings. For more on the timing of all those previews, check out our article below!
As always, keep checking back with us here at BlogMickey.com as we continue to bring you the latest news, photos, and info from around the Disney Parks!