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Today is the Last Flight for Soarin' Around the World at EPCOT Before Soarin' Across America Opens May 26: Last Takeoff is Tonight, Passholder Previews Land May 19-20
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Today is the Last Flight for Soarin' Around the World at EPCOT Before Soarin' Across America Opens May 26: Last Takeoff is Tonight, Passholder Previews Land May 19-20

Michael Travels
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If you wanted one more flight around the world from EPCOT, your last takeoff is tonight. Soarin' Around the World takes its final passengers today, Wednesday May 13, 2026, before the attraction closes for the changeover to Soarin' Across America, the bi-coastal version of the ride celebrating the United States 250th anniversary that opens to the general public on Tuesday, May 26.

Soarin' Across America key art for the new United States 250th anniversary version of the EPCOT attraction opening May 26, 2026.
Soarin' Across America. Image: Disney Parks Blog.

The headlines:

  • Today is the last day to ride Soarin' Around the World at EPCOT. The attraction operates through tonight's 9 p.m. close, then goes dark May 14-25.
  • Annual Passholder previews land Tuesday May 19 and Wednesday May 20, via standby queue only during regular park hours. No pre-registration, no virtual queue.
  • Public opening is Tuesday, May 26, 2026 at EPCOT. Disneyland's version follows July 2.
  • The new film is timed to the U.S. semiquincentennial (the country's 250th birthday) and features Walt Disney Imagineering capturing "more than a dozen breathtaking locations" including the Grand Canyon. Disney is preserving the score per the Disney Parks Blog ("the flight, the sights and score, even the scents!"), with Disney Tourist Blog reporting it will feature a new orchestration of the classic Soarin' musical theme.

What you're actually saying goodbye to today

Soarin' Around the World has been the international take on the ride since it debuted at EPCOT on June 17, 2016, replacing the original Soarin' Over California film that had run at The Land pavilion since the attraction opened on May 5, 2005. The around-the-world version swept over the Swiss Alps, Sydney Harbour, the Great Wall of China, the Great Pyramids of Egypt, the Taj Mahal, Monument Valley, Iguazu Falls, and the Eiffel Tower in Paris, before finishing back home over EPCOT itself with Spaceship Earth lit as a Beacon of Magic and fireworks overhead, with scents released to complement the scenes.

It's been a near-decade run for the international film, and one of those rare cases where the "decade-old" attraction film genuinely still felt fresh by the time it retired. If you have kids who first rode it during the early years and never knew the original California version, today is the bittersweet day.

What's coming back May 26

Soarin' Across America is Disney's framing of the changeover. Per Disney Parks Blog, the new film will "showcase the United States, from sea to shining sea, highlighting some of the country's natural beauty and iconic cityscapes" and will, per Disney, be a journey that "honors the heart and spirit of the nation as it soars into its 250th birthday celebration." The team has been filming with specialized helicopter rigs across the U.S., and the film will retain "the flight, the sights and score, even the scents!" that made the original work.

Soarin' Across America attraction poster celebrating the United States 250th anniversary, opening May 26, 2026 at EPCOT.
Soarin' Across America attraction poster. Image: Disney Parks Blog.

The signpost outside the attraction has already been repainted blue with white stars for the changeover, which is the kind of soft-launch tell that Disney is committed to the new version sticking around.

The preview schedule

  • Tuesday, May 19, 2026: Annual Passholder previews open at EPCOT, standby queue only during regular park hours. No pre-registration required.
  • Wednesday, May 20, 2026: Annual Passholder previews continue, same format.
  • Thursday, May 21, 2026: DVC Member previews per Disney Tourist Blog reporting.
  • Tuesday, May 26, 2026: Public opens at EPCOT. Disneyland version follows Thursday, July 2, 2026.

Cast Member preview registration opened May 6, and Disney typically rolls out cast previews in the final week before a public opening, so expect a Cast-Member-only window May 21-25 in addition to the AP and DVC slots.

Behind the scenes

A specialized helicopter rig used for filming aerial sequences for Soarin' Across America at EPCOT and Disneyland.
Filming Soarin' Across America. Image: Disney Parks Blog.

The new film was shot with custom helicopter rigs and high-resolution cameras to match the 180-degree wraparound screen format. Disney has not previewed the full lineup of locations beyond "more than a dozen" and the Grand Canyon mention, so the rest is going to be a Tuesday-morning surprise on May 26.

Quick planner notes

  • If you're at EPCOT tonight: Soarin' standby has been wrapping outside the building this morning per on-the-ground reports. Lightning Lane Multi Pass is the safest bet if you want a guaranteed final ride, since Soarin' sits on Multi Pass at EPCOT (only Cosmic Rewind is on Single Pass).
  • Park hours today: 8:30 a.m. Early Theme Park Entry for resort guests, 9 a.m. general open, 9 p.m. close. Soarin' rides to the wire.
  • Annual Passholders: Mark May 19-20. Standby queue only, no pre-registration, get there at rope drop.
  • DVC Members: Plan around the May 21 preview window. Disney typically announces these details by email 1-2 weeks in advance.
  • Day-trippers visiting May 14-25: Soarin' is dark for the entire 12-day window. Plan EPCOT around World Showcase, Cosmic Rewind, Test Track, and Frozen Ever After (which returned from its own refurb back in February).

Sources

Image credits: Disney Parks Blog.

Mentioned in this story

EPCOT

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