Just in time for the Fourth of July, the limited-time Soarin’ Across America has opened at Disney California Adventure. Honoring 250 years of America, the new version of the attraction showcases the country’s iconic landmarks and natural beauty from sea to shining sea.
Soarin’ Across America opened at EPCOT for Memorial Day.
Full POV Video
Queue
The Soarin’ sign outside now has an “Across America” piece hanging below.
Red, white, and blue banners and bunting adorn the entrance.
Patriotic bunting continues inside, hanging above guests as they walk through the queue.
Pre-Show
Former flight attendant, now Captain Patrick (Patrick Warburton) has a brand-new spiel he gives to guests as they prepare to board their flight.
“Hello, and welcome to Soarin’ Across America. My name is Patrick, Captain Patrick. I’d like to welcome you to this special Semiquincentennial flight. We’ll begin boarding in a few minutes but first here’s a handsome young devil who would like like to acquaint you with some important safety information.”
He leaves the screen and the standard Soarin’ safety brief plays.
Scenes
Imagineering went to great lengths capturing new footage of iconic cityscapes and natural landscapes across the country. The team used satellite mapping and aerial path modeling to film. As always, scenes are accompanied by scents and wind. Bruce Broughton created a new musical arrangement of the Jerry Goldsmith Soarin’ themes.
The flight starts off with a scene of a Artemis II taking off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. It then moves to the Statue of Liberty and flies over the skyline of New York City, including a red, white, and blue fountain.
Guests then find themselves above the shores of Maine where the Portland Head Light lighthouse is situated on the rocky shores. We felt a sea breeze in this scene. Heading to Washington, D.C., guests get a birds eye view of the National Mall and Washington Monument.
Then guests are going down the bayou in the southeastern portion of the United States, where they see an airboat moving through the swamp. Heading out west, guests encounter a Branson Scenic Railway train moving through mountain forests.
Then it’s on to Mt. Rushmore’s iconic carvings of presidents, followed by a rancher on horseback herding cattle. This scene had a distinct grass smell, similar to the African Savanna elephant scene in Soarin’ Around the World.
Guano Point in Grand Canyon West comes into view as an eagle flies below.
The scene segues to Denali National Park in the Pacific Northwest where a moose wades in the water, followed by the shores of Diamond Head in Waikiki.
Then it’s on to Los Angeles, where guests get a glimpse of Griffith Observatory before transitioning to the Hollywood sign.
Finally, guests arrive at Disneyland Resort, where they fly over Main Street, U.S.A. to Sleeping Beauty Castle as patriotic fireworks go off.
The fireworks create a hidden Mickey, eagle, and then American flag.
Exit
The exit queue is lined with new travel posters for national parks in the U.S. and other countries:
- Carlsbad Caverns
- Great Basin
- Acadia
- Bavarian Forest
- Glacier
- Killarney
- Petrified Forest
- Saguaro
- Hawai’i Volcanoes
- Wild Taiga
We also received this “Honorary Aviator” sticker after our flight.
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