Disney World guests have watched an incredible amount of change happen across the parks lately. Construction crews are reshaping entire areas, major attractions are disappearing, and new experiences continue replacing older ones at a rapid pace. This month alone has brought a steady stream of updates across Walt Disney World, especially for longtime fans who have been visiting the same attractions for years.
Now EPCOT is preparing for another major transition.
A popular 21-year-old attraction will temporarily close starting May 14 as Disney gets ready to introduce a completely different version later this month. The closure will only last a couple of weeks, but guests who love the current experience are quickly running out of time.
Disney World Is in the Middle of a Massive Transformation
It feels like no Disney park has stayed untouched recently.
Magic Kingdom continues moving forward with its huge Frontierland overhaul after the closures of Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island. Disney’s Hollywood Studios still has Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster closed while Imagineering works on the attraction’s Muppets transformation. Meanwhile, Animal Kingdom keeps pushing ahead with the demolition of DinoLand U.S.A. as Tropical Americas slowly takes shape.
Disney is not only permanently replacing attractions, though. The company has also leaned heavily into temporary overlays, refreshed experiences, and limited-time updates.
That brings the focus directly to Soarin’ at EPCOT.
The attraction is not disappearing forever, but Disney fans have only a short time left to experience the current version before the park temporarily closes it this week.
Soarin’ Has Become One of EPCOT’s Biggest Attractions
Since arriving at EPCOT in 2005, Soarin’ has remained one of the park’s biggest crowd-pleasers.
Located inside The Land Pavilion, the attraction simulates hang gliding over famous destinations using a massive projection screen, motion systems, scents, and environmental effects.
Disney updated the ride in 2016 with Soarin’ Around the World, replacing the original California-focused version with a global journey. Guests now soar past landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower, Sydney Harbour, the Great Wall of China, and sweeping landscapes across multiple continents.
The attraction continues drawing large crowds nearly every day.
Standby waits can climb quickly during festivals and peak vacation periods, while Lightning Lane reservations regularly disappear early during busy seasons.
A huge part of Soarin’s success comes from how approachable it feels. Unlike more intense EPCOT attractions like Mission: SPACE or Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, Soarin’ works for a wide range of guests. Families, grandparents, and even nervous riders can usually enjoy it comfortably together.
Disney clearly recognizes that broad appeal, which is why the attraction frequently becomes part of seasonal celebrations and special offerings.
Why the Attraction Is Closing
Disney will temporarily shut down Soarin’ Around the World beginning May 14.
The closure allows Disney to prepare for Soarin’ Across America, a temporary overlay tied to the country’s upcoming 250th anniversary celebration. When the attraction returns on May 26, guests will experience an American-focused version instead of the current international journey.
Disney plans to feature famous landmarks and landscapes from across the United States as part of the experience.
The company has not yet shared every scene in the attraction. Still, the updated version is expected to celebrate American destinations, history, and scenery as Disney continues rolling out America 250 experiences across the resort.
The short downtime also arrives during an unusually busy period for Walt Disney World operations.
Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster’s Muppets-themed reimagining is scheduled to debut May 26 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, while Big Thunder Mountain Railroad recently reopened at Magic Kingdom after refurbishment work. EPCOT’s Soarin’ overlay joins a growing list of major ride updates happening across the parks all at once.
The Countdown Is Officially On
Because the attraction closes May 14, guests visiting EPCOT effectively only have today and tomorrow left to ride Soarin’ Around the World before the temporary closure begins.
Thankfully, Disney will only keep the attraction closed for about two weeks before reopening it on May 26.
Still, fans should expect a very different experience when the attraction returns later this month.
For guests who specifically love the worldwide travel theme of Soarin’ Around the World, this is the final opportunity to experience the attraction before Disney shifts the focus entirely toward the United States for the summer celebration.
Honestly, though, this feels like one of Disney’s more enjoyable temporary updates in recent years.
Instead of permanently erasing a classic attraction, Disney is simply giving guests a new way to experience it for a limited time. EPCOT has always blended culture, technology, and large-scale storytelling, and a patriotic overlay tied to America’s 250th anniversary fits naturally into that formula.
And for fans who still miss earlier versions of Soarin’, this temporary experience may end up being a surprisingly fun change of pace.
