Soarin' Has Been Three Different Rides. Here's the Story

Soarin' opened at EPCOT in 2005, and the ride system underneath the screen has never changed. The film has changed three times.

Version one: Soarin' Over California (2005–2016)

The original version, Soarin' Over California, opened at Disney California Adventure on February 8, 2001, as an opening-day attraction (Undercover Tourist). It came to EPCOT's Land pavilion on May 5, 2005, replacing Kitchen Kabaret and, later, Food Rocks in that theater space (Wikipedia). Riders sat in suspended gondolas facing a giant projection dome, feet dangling, while a film simulated a hang-glider flight over California landmarks — Yosemite, the Napa Valley, Malibu, a golf course, and Disneyland's own fireworks at the finale. The EPCOT version added an airport-themed framing device, with pre-show announcements referencing "Flight 5505," a nod to the Florida opening date.

Version two: Soarin' Around the World (2016–2026)

EPCOT closed the attraction in January 2016 to build a third theater and add capacity, then reopened it on June 17, 2016, as "Soarin' Around the World" — the same day Disney California Adventure's version switched over (WDW Magazine). The new film swapped the California-only itinerary for a global one: the Great Wall of China, the Pyramids of Giza, the Eiffel Tower, the Sydney Opera House, and other landmarks, using laser-projected high-definition footage with CGI transitions between scenes. This was the version that ran at EPCOT for a decade, and the one most longtime visitors think of when they picture Soarin' today. It kept the same hang-glider seating and lift hardware — only the projected film and score changed.

Version three: Soarin' Across America (2026–present)

According to the Park Autopilot news brief, Soarin' Across America launched at EPCOT on May 26, 2026, as the third reimagining of the ride, themed to the United States' 250th anniversary. The physical ride vehicle and lift system are unchanged from 2005; what's new again is the film.

What's stayed constant across all three versions

The suspended, feet-dangling seating position facing a projection dome
The synchronized scent effects timed to specific film moments
The runtime and general flight-path pacing of the film
The location: the Land pavilion in EPCOT's World Nature neighborhood

Where it sits in EPCOT today

Soarin' Around the World was still the name showing in our wait-time data before the Across America switch fully reflected in park systems. Our data shows Soarin' averaging 24.9 minutes, with a peak hourly average of 47 minutes and a best hour around 9am at 6.9 minutes. That places it well below EPCOT's two busiest attractions, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind (69.5 minutes average) and Test Track (64.5 minutes average). For a fuller hour-by-hour breakdown of EPCOT waits, see the EPCOT wait times page.

Why they keep changing the film, not the ride

Rebuilding a projection-based dark ride's hardware is enormously expensive. Swapping the film and score is comparatively cheap and lets Disney refresh a 20-year-old attraction for a new anniversary or era without touching the mechanical system that riders never see. Soarin' is a case study in that strategy: three names, three storylines, one lift system.

If you're building a day around EPCOT's biggest rides, read our EPCOT touring plan, see how EPCOT's current wait data compares to Hollywood Studios in our EPCOT vs. Hollywood Studios wait comparison, or dig into the park's busiest attraction in Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind wait data. For more EPCOT background, see our World Showcase history piece.