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Disney Is Revamping This Beloved Ride to Celebrate America’s 250th—And We Couldn’t Be More Excited

We’re all counting down to America’s 250th birthday in 2026, and Disney is getting in on the fun. One of its first-announced celebrations is a patriotic makeover of a much-loved ride at Disneyland and Walt Disney World.

“At its heart, America’s story is one of imagination, ambition and possibility—the same ideals that have guided Disney since the beginning,” Robert Iger, CEO of the Walt Disney Co., said in a press release announcing the changes at the parks.

Personally, the updated ride is one of my favorite attractions at the Disney parks, and if you’re a Disney lover like myself, you’ll want to make a trip in 2026 just to experience it for yourself. Read on to learn all about the changes.

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What ride is Disney revamping for America’s 250th?

For 2026, Disney is revamping its much-loved Soarin’ attraction, transforming it into “Soarin’ Across America.”

Soarin’, for the uninitiated, is a simulated hang-glider experience that creates the sensation of dipping and, yes, soaring through the sky, though it doesn’t actually fly (in fact, the entire ride takes place in a nearly six-story projection dome, in lovely air-conditioned comfort). It has some fun 4D “surprise” elements too, which run the gamut from scent to sensation. Expert tip: Ask to be seated in the top row of seats for the best experience.

How is Disney updating Soarin’?

When first introduced at Disneyland, Soarin’ “flew” over California, floating over orange groves where you could smell the citrus in the air and flying low over the Golden Gate Bridge with a subtle touch of spray making you feel like you were really over water.

About a decade ago, California was joined by “Soarin’ Around the World,” with swooping views over iconic global sights, such as the Great Pyramids of Giza and a jasmine-scented Taj Mahal.

And now, Disney is back with an all-USA version to highlight our great nation in time for its 250th birthday: Soarin’ Across America.

“When production wrapped almost a decade ago on Soarin’ Around the World, we started thinking about where we might go next with the format,” Tom Fitzgerald, the portfolio executive creative director and chief storytelling executive with Walt Disney Imagineering, said. “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.'”

What can guests expect?

“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,” Fitzgerald said.

According to a press release, the new ride will “take guests on a journey from ocean to ocean, highlighting some of the country’s natural beauty and iconic cityscapes.” We’re expecting gorgeous mountain peaks in the West, rolling fields and buffalo in the heartlands, iconic sites including the Statue of Liberty and the Washington monument and definitely some splashy coastline views.

When can guests expect to see the new version of Soarin’?

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While we don’t have an exact date for the attraction’s launch, Disney dropped more than few hints in a preview video starring Patrick Warburton, the actor better known as David Puddy from Seinfeld, who has appeared as the pilot for Soarin’ in the ride’s intro throughout its history. (We’re hoping this means we’ll see Warburton in Soarin’ Across America too!)

In the video, Warburton mentions that this will be a “limited-time offering” before a “summer 2026” banner appears.

How else is Disney celebrating America’s 250th?

For the 250th, Disney will also feature special programming, storytelling and experiences to “celebrate the nation’s remarkable journey, spotlight the people and places that make this country so unique and inspire patriotism in every generation.” Disney recently announced that Disney Celebrates America, a company-wide celebration commemorating the 250th anniversary of the United States, will begin on Veterans Day 2025 and culminate on the July 4, 2026, weekend, so we know the ride will launch prior to the Fourth of July.

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Sources:

  • Disney Parks Blog: “Disney Celebrates America: Festivities Announced for America’s 250th Anniversary”
  • Disney Parks Blog: “New Soarin’ Across America to Debut at Disneyland and Disney World”

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The post Disney Is Revamping This Beloved Ride to Celebrate America’s 250th—And We Couldn’t Be More Excited appeared first on Reader's Digest.



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