Soarin' Across America Replaces Soarin' Around the World
EPCOT's hang-gliding simulator got its third identity on May 26, 2026. Soarin' Across America replaced Soarin' Around the World, retiming the ride's film to the United States' 250th anniversary instead of a tour of global landmarks.
What actually changed
Soarin' Across America is the third reimagining of the attraction in the World Nature neighborhood of EPCOT. The ride vehicle, the domed screen, and the wind and scent effects are unchanged — what's new is the film itself, retooled around a coast-to-coast American theme to coincide with the country's semiquincentennial.
Disney did not attach a new price tier or a new Lightning Lane category to the change, according to the coverage we've reviewed. It remains part of EPCOT's regular Lightning Lane Multi Pass selections.
This wasn't an isolated update. EPCOT and the rest of Walt Disney World's parks went through a heavy stretch of attraction turnover this spring: Disney closed 16 rides in April 2026 and 14 more in May 2026 for refurbishment and reimagining work, and Soarin's changeover landed right in the middle of that window, alongside the May 26 debut of the Muppets-themed Rock 'n' Roller Coaster at Hollywood Studios.
What our wait data shows
Our wait-time data shows an average wait of 24.9 minutes on this attraction and a peak hourly average of 47 minutes. Its best hour was 9am, averaging just 6.9 minutes, and its worst hour was 12pm, averaging 37.3 minutes.
That puts it in the middle of EPCOT's pack — busier than most Future World meet-and-greets, but well below the park's two heaviest lines:
| Attraction | Zone | Avg wait (min) | Peak hourly avg (min) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind | World Discovery | 69.5 | 110 |
| Test Track | World Discovery | 64.5 | 99 |
| Frozen Ever After | Norway | 45.5 | 67 |
| Remy's Ratatouille Adventure | France | 44 | 76 |
| Soarin' | World Nature | 24.9 | 47 |
If you're planning around Soarin' Across America specifically, treat it like any mid-tier EPCOT attraction: it rewards an early or late visit far more than the park's two headliners do, where even the best hour still runs closer to 50 minutes.
What it means for your day
Soarin's queue behavior hasn't shifted dramatically from what long-time visitors remember. If your group wants a lower-key film theme, the change is cosmetic. If you're building a touring plan, the practical guidance is the same as before: hit it before 10am or after 8pm, and don't let it compete with Cosmic Rewind or Test Track for your best hours. See our full EPCOT touring plan for how to sequence it against the park's bigger lines, and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind wait time data if that ride is your real priority.
Sources
- Lightning Lane Strategy Changes for New & Reimagined Rides — Disney Tourist Blog
- Disney World Lightning Lane Changes, May 27, 2026 — MickeyVisit
- Which Disney World Rides Are Closed in June 2026 — WDWInfo
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