The Secret History of Disney Rides: Soarin' (Incl. Soarin' Across America!)

Hop aboard a hang glider and soar around the world! Or over California. Or Across America. Yes, this ride has seen a few versions since it first took off, with the newest one arriving in summer 2026 to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States. With Disney's Soarin' ride, you can see iconic sights of the world without ever leaving Florida, California, Shanghai and Tokyo Disney Sea. On this secret history of Soarin', we're going to explore all of the ways this popular simulator ride has changed throughout the years — from the original Soarin'/Soarin' Over California to Soarin' Around the World to the upcoming Soarin' Across America! Scroll down to see some of the new locations!

The Secret History of Soarin'

This ride has changed over the years, but it never fails to draw applause from riders at the end. It's a can't-miss attraction at any park. Here are the major versions of the ride. No matter which version we see, we always pay attention to some "important safety information" from our chief flight attendant, Patrick. He's played by Patrick Warburton, and the ride would not be the same without him. "Nice work, pal!"

Soarin' Over California

Originally to be named "Ultraflight," the idea of Soarin' Over California was thought of in 1996! Disney Imagineers were constructing the attraction for Disney California Adventure Park in California. The concept of the ride was to be a simulator motion ride that lifted guests into the air over a gigantic OMNIMAX screen and gave them the sensation of hang-gliding over California. However, as excited as the Imagineers were over Ultraflight, the project quickly came to a halt because they couldn't quite figure out a ride system that would actually give guests the sensation of flying over the Golden State. It wasn't until Disney Imagineer Mark Sumner created the current ride system Soarin' now uses. He actually built a model of the attraction in his own attic, using only an old Erector Set and string!

Once the ride system was designed, Disney Imagineers had to prepare the actual film of Soarin' Over California. It took them a couple of years to soar over California in a helicopter and obtain the footage they needed. Finally, Soarin' Over California opened with Disney California Adventure Park in 2001. As you can see from the above photos, the exterior has changed over the years at Disney California Adventure, with the ride now taking on a state-park appearance that ties in the Grizzly Peak area of the park.

Like many other Disney attractions, the success of the Soarin' attraction in California led to the creation of the ride in Disney World's EPCOT in Florida. A whole new building was created for the attraction in The Land Pavilion. Soarin' opened in 2005 at EPCOT and quickly became one of the most popular attractions there.

This ride introduces iconic smells (mmmm...I can still smell the oranges, pine trees and ocean spray) and cool breezes to make you really feel like you are soaring over the landscape. It makes you really want to explore the Golden State in all its seasons.

Even though the ride was updated in 2016, you can still see Soarin' Over California every spring in Disney California Adventure. It returns annually for the Food and Wine Festival. It even made a limited-time return to EPCOT for the 100 Years of Disney celebration.

In 2026, Disney California Adventure is celebrating turning 25 years old. As part of that celebration, Soarin' Over California is back for an extended period Feb. 6 through July 1, 2026!

One thing we love about the return of Soarin' Over California to Disney California Adventure is that on opening day each year, while supplies last, there are often free Cuties mandarin oranges for park guests!

Here is where you'll visit:

• Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco & Marin County
• Redwood Creek in Humboldt County
• Napa Valley
• Monterey Bay Sanctuary
• Lake Tahoe and Heavenly Mountain Resort
• Yosemite Falls and Half Dome, Yosemite National Park
• PGA West Palmer Course in La Quinta (credited in the queue as Palm Springs)
• Valencia orange groves of Ventura County (credited in the queue as Camarillo)
• Anza-Borrego Desert State Park of Imperial County
• USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74) at Coronado's Naval Air Station North Island near San Diego
• Malibu Beach at sunset
• Downtown Los Angeles at night
• Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, featuring Tinker Bell, and ending with fireworks (at Holiday Time)

Soarin' Around the World

Today, the attraction is known as Soarin' Around the World at Disney California Adventure and EPCOT. The rides were upgraded with new projection technology in 2016. Even the cameras used to film the scenes are top-notch quality, of course!

Here is where you visit:

• Matterhorn in Switzerland and Italy
• Isfjord, Greenland
• Port Jackson in Sydney, Australia
• Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria, Germany
• Kilimanjaro National Park and Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania
• The Great Wall of China in China
• The Great Pyramids in Egypt
• Taj Mahal in Uttar Pradesh, India
• West and East Mitten Buttes in Monument Valley, Arizona, United States
• Lau Islands, Fiji
• Iguazu Falls in Brazil and Argentina
• Eiffel Tower in Paris, France (at Disney California Adventure, EPCOT and Shangahi); Tokyo Tower in Tokyo (at Tokyo DisneySea)
• Finale: The finale varies based on where you watch the show.

Disney California Adventure: The ride ends at Disneyland.

EPCOT: The ride ends at EPCOT.

Shanghai Disneyland: The ride ends at Lujiazui, Shanghai, China.

Tokyo DisneySea: The ride ends at Tokyo DisneySea, Chiba.

Here is Soarin' Around the World at EPCOT.

Soarin' Around the World (and Soaring Over the Horizon) received a new score by Bruce Broughton. It is heavily based on Goldsmith's original score. The London Studio Orchestra performs it.

This version also has amazing scents from the dust of Tanzania to the flowers of Taj Mahal and the intoxicating sea smell of Fiji.

Soarin' Across America

The newest version of the ride celebrates the United States Semiquincentennial. Riders can fly from sea to shining sea on the California and Florida locations for a limited time, as of Summer 2026 for a limited time.

The show debuts at EPCOT on May 25, 2026, and at Disney California Adventure on July 2, 2026.

Where do you think we'll visit? Well, the Disney Parks Blog dropped a few locations in advance of the ride opening, and some of the Frogs got to preview the ride at EPCOT:

• A rocket launch in Florida
• New York Harbor
• New England Coastline
• Washington DC
• The Bayou
• The Midwest
• Mount Rushmore
• The Great Plains
• Grand Canyon West
• Alaska
• Hawaiian Islands
• Los Angeles/Hollywood Sign
• Ending at EPCOT or Disneyland, depending on where you are riding it

We'll soar over quintessentially American settings in various seasons, taking in the autumn colors of the heartland, the beauty of the bayous, the great plains of the west, the northern wilderness, and sunny island shores.

While flying over purple mountain majesty across and the fruited plane, we'll be introduced to new footage, musical arrangement by Bruce Broughton (with the original Soarin' themes), wind and scents. The ride is once again hosted by Patrick Warburton as both your captain and chief flight attendant in different seasons of his life.

According to Tom Fitzgerald, creative director and chief storytelling executive, Walt Disney Imagineering, “Each scene helps to create a portrait of what we believe makes America so special. It’s a tapestry of urban wonders, natural beauty and iconic locations that celebrate the spirit of the nation and the 250th anniversary of the United States.”

Soarin' Fun Facts

• The original Soarin' at EPCOT actually replaced a show called "Food Rocks!" It featured Audio-Animatronics singing educational food songs.
• The scenes you see on Soarin' Over California were actually kind of staged! Via DisneyFanatic.com, Disney "planted" surfers, snowboarders and more in the scenes. Sometimes these people had to wait hours to get the perfect shot.
• Speaking of filming, it actually proved to be pretty difficult for Disney. They had to receive special permission to fly over certain places, such as Yosemite! Sometimes it took a full year to secure permission for certain landmarks.
• Jerry Goldsmith wrote the original soundtrack!
• Soarin' takes up around 60,000 square feet. That's a lot of feet!
• Remember those wonderful smells you experienced during the old version of Soarin' Over California? They were orange blossoms, pine forests and ocean spray!
• In Soarin' Over California Adventure, look for the Hidden Mickey on the golf ball as it flies past.
• In 2024 and 2025, the Eiffel Tower scene was updated at EPCOT and then Disney California Adventure to fix the way the tower seems to bend with the screen when viewed from side seats. Even still, the best place to view the ride is towards the middle.

Here is the original  Soarin' from Disney California Adventure.

Soarin' Overseas

Other parks also have versions of the ride.

Shanghai Disneyland 

The global version is called Soaring Over the Horizon.

Tokyo DisneySea

This park has a version called Soaring: Fantastic Flight.

Are you as excited as we are for Soarin' Across America? What places do you think we'll get to visit? Let us know what you think in the comments below! And remember to check out our Soarin' wait times, ride details and more at Disney California Adventure and EPCOT. If you are looking for Disneyland or Disney World tickets, you can save some green when you buy from Undercover Tourist. We'll have some great summer deals on both coasts!

Related: The Secret History of Disney Rides: Haunted Mansion

Related: Everything to Know About Radiator Springs Racers

Stay cool!