In 2026, Disneyland Resort will get a little more patriotic.
Soarin' Around the World at Disney California Adventure will become Soarin' Across America in 2026, a move timed for the 250th anniversary of the United States of America. The makeover is planned for next summer at both California Adventure in Anaheim and Florida at Walt Disney World's Epcot.
Disney announced the news through a social media post featuring actor Patrick Warburton, who plays Soarin''s chief steward. In the clip, Warburton, as fan-favorite character Patrick, promises “amber waves of grain” and “purple mountain majesties” while showing off red, white, and blue mouse ears worthy of the Fourth of July. A post on the Disney Parks Blog hints that the new film will also capture several American cityscapes.
Soarin''s makeover will coincide with a series of Disney initiatives designed to honor America's 250th birthday. “Disney Celebrating America” will launch on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, and continue through July 4, 2026. Several Disney networks, from ABC to ESPN, will participate in American-themed programming. Disneyland and Walt Disney World will host a special fireworks show on the Fourth of July.
A Soarin' Across America attraction poster released through the Walt Disney Co. corporate media site.
(The Walt Disney Company)
The celebration comes at a divisive time in American history. A sign for the attraction shows the Statue of Liberty juxtaposed with the American flag and bald eagle. It is an art that conveys a sense of nationalistic pride, and is perhaps representative of changing an outward-oriented global journey to one that can suddenly be more introspective.
It coincides with a time when American politics is pushing the so-called America First agenda (see President Trump's tariffs), while Walt Disney Co. itself has faced criticism for its handling of the recent controversy surrounding late-night comedian Jimmy Kimmel and pro-administration ICE recruiting ads shown on its various streaming services. Disney's own social media posts announcing the move are filled with rampant debate over whether this is an example of propaganda, as it risks appearing jingoistic.
That said, it's not unprecedented for Disney theme parks to lean toward American exceptionalism, although in recent years the parks have been moving away from some of their American-centric views to show a more global and diverse vision. In 2022, when the park resurrected the Electrical Parade, it removed its giant American eagle and floating flag from the procession, replacing them with a display of scenes from more recent Disney and Pixar animated films, including “Enchantment,” “Coco” and “Frozen.”
But Disneyland, of course, is a place of tradition, and even today the park hosts an Abe Lincoln robot (temporarily displaced for a show honoring Walt Disney), hosts flag retreats, and tells the story of the first Christmas every December.
Soarin' debuted with California Adventure in 2001 as Soarin' Over California. The latter usually returns each spring as part of the park's popular Food and Wine Festival.
A Disney representative described Soarin' Across America as a “limited time” offer.
