EPCOT is preparing to launch a patriotic new version of its popular Soarin attraction called Soarin Across America. This updated experience will honor the United States 250th birthday in July with an airborne journey across iconic American landscapes. The ride will feature scenes of the New England coastline, New York Harbor, the Grand Canyon, Mount Rushmore and other quintessentially American settings. Aviation legend Patrick Warburton will announce the overlay which opens at Disney World on May 26th. The attraction will retain Jerry Goldsmiths iconic theme with a new musical arrangement by Bruce Broughton. The queue will include a National Geographic collaboration game called The Soarin Challenge Across America that celebrates American wonder. This refurbishment is part of Disneys company-wide Disney Celebrates America campaign spanning various brands and businesses. The new experience is expected to draw large crowds to The Land pavilion at EPCOT.
Category: Disney Parks
Disney’s Hollywood Studios is undergoing a significant transformation with the introduction of The Mandalorian and Grogu to the Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run attraction. The park has also added numerous themed merchandise items and new food offerings inspired by the latest Star Wars content. Visitors arriving early at the park encountered substantial crowds, with entrance lines extending deep into the morning. The Smugglers Run ride experienced a fifteen-minute delay before opening, resulting in an initial wait time of fifty minutes for guests. New merchandise including the Grogu Jetpack Sipper and BDX Droid Bucket are available for purchase within the Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge land. Additional food items from the movie have been introduced to the park’s dining options. The author anticipates wait times will increase throughout the day as more guests arrive to experience the updates.
Disney World is preparing for significant openings on May 26th, including the public debut of Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets and the phased reopening of The Walt Disney Studios. While these attractions are nearing completion, another major project at Hollywood Studios is still under construction and will not open for some time. The new Monsters, Inc. Land is generating excitement among fans, and recent site visits reveal active construction work including visible cranes and scaffolding. Workers are actively on-site, installing more scrim around the former Muppet*Vision 3D building and clock tower, suggesting upcoming changes to the area’s appearance. The project includes Disney’s first-ever suspended coaster ride, which will require substantial construction space based on available concept art. Disney continues to keep details under wraps while promising frequent updates on the progress of this anticipated new land.
The new Soarin Across America attraction has quietly opened at EPCOT ahead of its official May 26, 2026 launch date. This patriotic airborne adventure showcases American landscapes and cityscapes as part of the America250 celebration. The attraction debuted during technical rehearsals and previews for Annual Passholders and DVC members before welcoming the general public. Wait times have already reached 25 minutes as guests experience the fresh flights aboard this new ride. The attraction will participate in Early Entry for on-site hotel guests starting on its official opening day. Extended Evening Hours and After Hours events will also include Soarin Across America beginning in June 2026. This early opening allows Disney to test operations before the full holiday weekend crowds arrive. The attraction is expected to remain popular throughout the Memorial Day weekend and beyond.
Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run at both Hollywood Studios and Disneyland is receiving significant updates starting today. The attraction will now feature multiple new destinations inspired by classic Star Wars films and the new The Mandalorian and Grogu movie. Guests will now tag along with Mando and Grogu on their bounty hunt for the first time ever. In this updated version, riders join Hondo to smuggle cargo when The Mandalorian and Grogu need assistance. The engineer can now choose between three different locations for the bounty hunt mission. One imperial soldier heads to Coruscant, another goes to Bespin, and a pirate visits the Death Star wreckage. The right engineer picks which location the group visits, determining the specific mission undertaken. Instead of learning from Hondo, The Mandalorian and Grogu now accompany guests throughout the entire ride experience. A screen beside the engineers allows riders to see Grogu for the duration of the adventure. After completing the mission, Mando and Grogu exit their ship to thank guests for their help with the bounties.