Soarin'
2005
In 2004, after the success of Soarin' Over California at Disney California Adventure, Disney decided to bring a similar immersive attraction to Walt Disney World at The World Above pavilion. Thus, in September of that year, the last guests rode Take Flight before it was closed permanently. Demolition and construction took place at a rapid pace, and Soarin' opened to guests in June 2005.
Renamed Soarin' (though the on-ride film is called Soarin' Across America), the attraction allows guests to journey across the United States on a hang glider. Starting in California, guests soar over recognizable landmarks and immersive locations from various locations in the US before finally flying over Walt Disney World, with a sparkling Epcot visible under guests' feet.
Ride Synopsis
As guests start their flight (to the tune of Jerry Goldsmith's fantastic Soarin' Over California score), they fly over expansive orange groves in California. During this scene, guests are blasted with a lovely orange smellitzer. As they begin passing through a bank of clouds, guests catch a short glimpse of the Golden Gate Bridge before finding themselves at the Hoover Dam. Guests soar between cliff faces as they approach the massive dam, before finally turning upwards and entering more clouds. Next, guests arrive in Idaho, diving above the majestic Shoshone Falls. Guests are hit with real mist and fog during this scene. Guests fly through another cloudbank and emerge at Mount Rushmore, viewing the larger-than-life faces of our past national leaders.
The next stop is Palo Duro Canyon, in Texas. Guests zoom over this wide area, a sweeping landscape full of hiking trails and native wildlife. This slower-paced scene provides a relaxing break during the attraction. After a small stretch of smooth gliding, however, guests enter another cloudbank. Next, guests' hang gliders fly over St. Louis. The famous Gateway Arch greets them as they briefly fly over the city and beneath the famous arch.
Passing through a cloudbank, guests arrive in Chicago. Zooming along the waterfront, the guests are soon engulfed in fog. Emerging from the fog, guests find themselves zooming over New York Bay, narrowly avoiding Lady Liberty. Guests take a short flight over Manhattan before entering more clouds. Seconds later, they are in Washington, D.C., the nation's majestic capital. In one of the longer scenes of the attraction, guests see the capital, White House, Lincoln Memorial, and Washington Monument before again finding themselves in a cloudbank.
Next, guests arrive in the beautiful city of New Orleans. Here guests get a quick view of the diverse colors and architectural styles of the city and an extended look at the St. Louis Cathedral.
In the finale of the attraction, guests soar over an illuminated Epcot at night. Guests' hang gliders fly over the World Showcase lagoon and over part of Future World as fireworks explode around them. As the cinematic ride score ends, guests fly up into the sky, slowly being engulfed by clouds.
2016 Refurbishment
On June 15th, 2016, Soarin' closed at Epcot and Disney California Adventure. Two days later (the day after Soaring Over the Horizon opened at Shanghai Disneyland), Soarin' reopened at both parks as Soarin' Around the World. This updated version of the attraction took guests on a flight around the entire world, instead of the country. Many guests were disappointed by the change at both parks, but the original films did return for special promotional events over the years.