Disneyland and Walt Disney World are celebrating the 250th anniversary of the US in 2026 with the new Soarin' Across America attraction.
The flying theatre experience will launch at Disney California Adventure and Epcot in Florida next summer.
On Disney's Soarin' attractions, guests are lifted high into the air in front of an immersive, 80-foot projection dome for a virtual tour of aerial footage that simulates the motion of flight.
Soarin' Over America features new scenes of the US from coast to coast, filmed with advanced cameras and aerial technology.
"A trip across the United States felt like a natural next flight for Soarin’ to take, and the 250th anniversary of our nation provided the perfect opportunity to 'book the flight'," said Tom Fitzgerald, portfolio executive creative director and chief storytelling executive, Walt Disney Imagineering.
He added, “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 Semiquincentennial celebration."
Makeover for Disney's Soarin' film
Walt Disney Imagineering is currently working to capture more than a dozen locations for the new flight, Disney said in a blog post.
Bernice Howes, executive creative media producer for Walt Disney Imagineering, said the new attraction features "contrasting shots of different American locales – scenic wonders, amazing cities, and the beauty of the coasts".
She added, “The film’s creation is designed to embody America’s spirit for today’s guests and future generations.”
There are four Soarin' attractions at Disney theme parks:
Soarin' Over California at Disney California Adventure, Soarin' Around the World at Epcot, Soaring: Fantastic Flight at Tokyo DisneySea, and Soaring Over the Horizon at Shanghai Disneyland.
Shanghai's version is being expanded to increase daily capacity by around 50 percent, and will also feature a new scene at the end of the experience.
Images courtesy of Disney
