Soarin' Over California is coming back to Walt Disney World

September 9, 2023, 10:27 PM · Get ready to smell the orange groves again. The original version of Soarin' is coming back to EPCOT later this month.

Walt Disney World announced this afternoon that Soarin' Over California will return to The Land pavilion in EPCOT's World Nature on September 22. Disney is bringing the original show back as part of the Disney100 celebration of the company's 100th anniversary.

Soarin' Over California has returned on several occasions to its original theater in Disney California Adventure at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, but this will be the show's first return to EPCOT since the Soarin' Around the World production opened in 2016.

Disney said that the return is for a limited time only, but has not yet revealed a closing date for Soarin' Over California.

Can't wait? Enjoy a preview with our on-ride video of Soarin' Over California, from Disney California Adventure.

If you missed the rest of today's big Disney Parks news drop from the Destination D23 event at Walt Disney World, please check out our round-up in Walt Disney World reveals big changes for Animal Kingdom.

To keep up to date with all the big theme park news, please sign up for Theme Park Insider's weekly newsletter. And for ticket deals, as well as our reader rankings and advice on visiting Disney and other top theme parks around the world, please visit our our Theme Park visitors guides.

Replies (10)

September 10, 2023 at 8:48 AM

Again ... Small ball.

September 10, 2023 at 5:09 PM

I’m hoping the riders end the attraction with applause like they did prior to the change over to Soarin’ Around the World. Might make management consider making this a permanent change.

September 10, 2023 at 6:33 PM

It would be great if they could find a way to offer both versions a la Mission: Space.

September 10, 2023 at 10:05 PM

Who cares? Soaring offers increasingly diminishing returns, and has one of the most punishing standby lines at the resort. It's time to rethink the ride, consider some way to plus it beyond just bringing back an earlier, inferior version. Also please change the tired pre-ride video.

Such a shame that the Grizzly Peak area is one of two properly themed areas of the park (together with Carsland), but the rides are both just meh. Spice up Soarin, and for the love of god and all things holy, add a single bear to the friggen Ain't No Grizzlies River Rapids. Add a bear HEAD, one head peeking up over a rock. Add a bear SHADOW, literally _anything to distinguish the ride from the other 1000 theme parks that have it.

September 11, 2023 at 3:54 PM

@James - The problem with offering both versions is that Disney would quickly discover that the original film is far more popular, and no one would be lining up for Soarin' Around the World. It would probably be more practical at EPCOT, which has 3 theaters, and they could show the original film in 2 theaters while showing the newer film in the 3rd theater. I would be curious to see if given the choice and double the capacity for the original film, which version would have longer lines.

@thecolonel - I definitely agree that the Soarin's queue at DCA isn't the greatest, but the version at EPCOT is completely air-conditioned (though still a boring and stop-and-start queue indicative of the way the attraction typically loads).

September 12, 2023 at 7:20 AM

one of my favorite places i've visited is monument valley and my highlight of soarin' is flying through the mitten and then the eagle screech. i won't miss the leaning tower of eiffel but i will miss that! :(

September 12, 2023 at 8:01 AM

The original version is much better why not make it a permanent change. Same with Test Track.

September 12, 2023 at 12:19 PM

Ok ….

September 12, 2023 at 2:28 PM

Does California have patrick Warburton? He's the only reason to ride

September 12, 2023 at 2:28 PM

Does California have patrick Warburton? He's the only reason to ride

This article has been archived and is no longer accepting comments.

Park tickets

Weekly newsletter

New attraction reviews

News archive