In celebration of the United States’ 250th anniversary next year, Walt Disney World and Disneyland’s Soarin’ will be transformed into Soarin’ Across America in Summer 2026. This new “bi-coastal offering will showcase the United States – from sea to shining sea – highlighting some of the country’s natural beauty and iconic cityscapes.”
As detailed by Disney Parks Blog and a wonderful video that sees Patrick Warburton once again acting as our chief flight attendant for this experience, Soarin’ Across America will be the new show to see at both Disney World’s EPCOT and Disneyland’s Disney California Adventure for a limited time.
As with other versions of Soarin’, Soarin’ Across America will feature everything that makes this attraction so beloved, including “the flight, the sights and score, even the scents!” Disney also shared that Walt Disney Imagineering is currently hard at work capturing more than a “dozen breathtaking locations for the new flight.”
“Our goal was to offer guests a sampling of the diversity of America’s beauty and urban wonders with the hope it would paint an emotional portrait for the nation’s Semi-quincentennial celebration,” Tom Fitzgerald, Portfolio Executive Creative Director and Chief Storytelling Executive, Walt Disney Imagineering, said.
“Contrasting shots of different American locales — scenic wonders, amazing cities, and the beauty of the coasts. The use of the physical landscape of the United States as a unifying element,” Bernice Howes, Executive Creative Media Producer for Walt Disney Imagineering, added. “Then, using continuous camera movement to smoothly transition between these scenes, linking them together to show the geographical ‘whole’ of the nation, from natural locations to large cities to national monuments that represent America the beautiful.”
Soarin’ Across America is just one of the many ways The Walt Disney Company will be celebrating the United States’ 250th anniversary and will be part of its new initiative called “Disney Celebrates America.” This initiative will kick off on Veterans Day (November 11) and will run through the July 4, 2026, weekend.
“At its heart, America’s story is one of imagination, ambition, and possibility – the same ideals that have guided Disney since the beginning,” said Robert A. Iger, Chief Executive Officer, The Walt Disney Company. “This celebration honors both a nation and a spirit that never stops dreaming about what’s next.”
‘Disney Celebrates America’ will culminate with a 24-hour, multi-platform broadcast of the same name, “highlighting America’s 250th anniversary events nationwide across Disney’s linear networks and streaming platforms, including Disney+, Hulu, ABC, Disney Channel, ESPN, Freeform, FX and National Geographic, ending with a special evening fireworks broadcast from Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resort.”
Disney will also continue to support U.S. military service members, veterans, and their families, and it will expand its long-standing partnership with the nonprofit Blue Star Families with a $2.5 million donation to “strengthen military and veteran families across the country.”
Military families will also be offered special movie screenings of new releases on military bases and in key markets, live coverage of celebrations and activations featuring veterans and active military service members, special offers to Disney World, Disneyland, and Disney Cruise Line, and support for veterans entering the civilian workforce.
For more, check out all the biggest reveals from Destination D23, all the details on Disney World and Disneyland’s ticket price increases, and our exclusive chat with Disneyland president Thomas Mazloum on the park’s past, present, and great big beautiful DisneylandForward.
Adam Bankhurst is a writer for IGN. You can follow him on X/Twitter @AdamBankhurst, Instagram, and TikTok, and listen to his show, Talking Disney Magic.
