Soarin' Across America was not supposed to open until May 26. Disney opened it on May 22. Guests who showed up at EPCOT yesterday got to ride a brand-new version of one of the park's most beloved attractions four days before the official debut date, with a wait time that is almost certainly not going to exist once the opening-day crowds arrive.
As of noon on May 22, the wait time for Soarin' Across America was 25 minutes. For a reimagined version of a classic EPCOT headliner with a limited-time status attached to it, that number was a gift for anyone who happened to be in the park and paying attention to the My Disney Experience app.
This is the kind of soft opening that rewards guests who check the app before assuming nothing has changed.
What Actually Changed
The attraction replaced Soarin' Around the World in The Land Pavilion as a limited-time experience tied to America's 250th anniversary celebration. The physical ride itself did not change. The hanging theater seats, the flight sensation, and the mechanics of the attraction remained exactly the same. What changed was everything guests experienced during the ride itself.
The new film took guests on an airborne journey across the United States, showcasing American landmarks and landscapes including the Grand Canyon, Mount Rushmore, and the New England coast. The scents that longtime Soarin fans associate strongly with the original California version of the experience returned in an updated form matched to the new American scenery. Disney described the experience as honoring the heart and spirit of the nation as it soared into its 250th birthday celebration.
Lightning Lane was not available for the attraction during the soft opening and was not expected to be available until May 26. That detail actually worked in favor of guests who were there yesterday, because it meant the only way to ride was standby, and the standby line was moving so slowly that it produced a 25-minute wait at midday.
That is not going to be the Soarin' Across America experience for much longer.
What Happens on May 26 at Disney
The official opening on May 26 lands on the same day as a significant wave of Walt Disney World debuts across multiple parks. Rock ‘n' Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets opens at Hollywood Studios. Bluey's Wild World opens at Animal Kingdom. The Walt Disney Studios area debuts at Hollywood Studios alongside Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live and several other new experiences. May 26 is one of the busiest single opening days the resort has seen in years, and EPCOT is part of that wave.
Soarin' Across America, specifically, is expected to reshape EPCOT's rope drop patterns in ways not seen in years. For a long time, experienced EPCOT guests treated Soarin as a midday or late-afternoon attraction because its capacity kept standby waits manageable throughout the day. The limited-time status of the new version, combined with the nostalgia attached to the Soarin' brand and the 250th anniversary context, gave the attraction a reason for even the most experienced EPCOT regulars to prioritize it from the moment the park opened.
How EPCOT Rope Drop Is About to Change
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, Remy's Ratatouille Adventure, and Frozen Ever After have been the traditional rope drop priorities at EPCOT for several years. May 26 may permanently change that order for the duration of the summer, with The Land Pavilion attracting a significant share of early-morning guests who would previously have sprinted toward World Discovery or World Showcase.
Lightning Lane availability for Soarin' is also expected to become more competitive than the attraction has seen in a long time once full opening-day demand registers. Guests who historically ignored Soarin in their Lightning Lane planning because standby was manageable may find themselves competing for return times much earlier in the day than they anticipated.
