Soarin'

Soarin' is a flight motion simulator attraction and film at Disney California Adventure, Epcot, Shanghai Disneyland, and Tokyo DisneySea; the attraction is known under various names, varying by park. It employs a mechanical lift system, a projected presentation on an 80 ft (24 m) concave 180-degree dome screen, and artificial scents and wind to simulate a hang gliding flight over locations in six of the world's continents. Many consider it the first flying theater. The original ride, Soarin' Over California, was an opening day attraction at Disney California Adventure on February 8, 2001. It took guests over several locations in California and included a pre-show on the history of California's aviation industry. The ride opened at Epcot in 2005, with the name shortened to Soarin'. A new film was developed for the Shanghai Disneyland resort, debuting as Soaring Over the Horizon on June 16, 2016. This film features landmarks and landscapes from around the world. The Disneyland and Walt Disney World versions were also replaced with the film the following day, titled as Soarin' Around the World. On July 23, 2019, the film at the Tokyo Disneyland Resort as Soaring: Fantastic Flight. After an initial limited return engagement during the summer of 2019, the original Soarin' Over California has returned to Disney California Adventure annually as part of the park's Food & Wine Festival during the spring season. A third film, Soarin' Across America, has been announced for Disney's celebration of the United States Semiquincentennial at the California and Florida locations in Summer 2026. The EPCOT version debuted on May 26, 2026, and the Disneyland version debuted on July 2, 2026.