Attraction Review: Soarin’ Across America
In roughly one month, America turns 250 years old.
Back in 1776, some plucky colonists said, “We’ll do it ourselves!”
Photo: Disney
They split off from England, and the rest is history.
I’m told that in 1976, the United States went all-out in celebrating its anniversary.
Memorial Day – Disneyland Resort
The 250th birthday feels a bit more understated thus far…but not at Disney.
Your favorite company previously announced Disney Celebrates America.
Memorial Day – Disneyland Resort
The signature part of this event is a new re-theme of a popular ride. So, how is it?
Here’s an attraction review of Soarin’ Across America.
About the Soarin’ Change
Ten years ago, Soarin’ permanently changed at two different parks.
Disney California Adventure (DCA) and EPCOT replaced the original with a new version.
Soarin’ Around the World
Soarin’ Around the World is objectively better in many ways.
Despite this fact, the move proved controversial, especially at DCA.
Photo: Disney
The one thing that the park got right during its turbulent opening was Soarin’.
The initial version of the ride, Soarin’ Over California, perfectly fit the theme park’s underlying premise.
Photo: Disney
Fans understandably lamented the switch from the narrow band of the Golden State to the entire world.
EPCOT fans weren’t as emphatic about it, as they weren’t married to California.
Photo: Disney
Still, some critics fixated on a sticking point in Soarin’ 2.0.
Disney struggled with one element of its cinematography while filming landmarks.
Photo: Disney
The new version of Soarin’ proved susceptible to tilt when viewed at angles.
Anyone who has sat in the theater for this ride knows the deal here.
Photo: Disney
Everyone on the left and right side of the stadium is viewing at an angle.
Thus, landmarks like the Eiffel Tower experienced a strange lean.
Soarin’
Amusingly, had Disney included the Leaning Tower of Pisa, it would have looked straight.
The issue has remained significant throughout the existence of Soarin’ Around the World.
Soarin’
I’m someone who doesn’t miss the forest for the trees, so it has never bothered me.
Critics have waited to jump on Disney for repeating the mistake with its newest version.
Soarin’
Thankfully, Disney has avoided this fate.
About the New Version
I receive daily OneDrive notifications from Microsoft, and one from Sunday amused me. On this day a few years ago, I visited SkyFly: Soar America.
This attraction resides at The Island in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. As the name implies, it’s a shameless knockoff of Soarin’ at a tourist trap.
Photo: SkyFly
Since I live within an hour of the building, I had to check it out.
What I quickly realized is that Disney knockoffs, by nature, feel cheap and derivative.
Photo: The Island
Still, I was genuinely curious whether a Soarin’ ride set in America would feel similarly.
After all, I’d already paid for this ride not that long ago, albeit the non-Disney version.
This quick video reinforces my point:
Any Soarin’ style ride set in America will highlight the same landmarks. A few no-brainers are the Grand Canyon, the national parks, trains, and snowy mountaintops.
Sure enough, Soarin’ Across America covers some of the same territory. For this reason, I’m inclined to be more hypercritical than most.
Soarin’ Across America
I literally have Soarin’ at home. So, Disney’s version must impress me to differentiate itself.
Well, I’m happy to inform you that it does.
The Sights of Soarin’
You’ll know that Disney has gotten Soarin’ 3.0 right by the introductory video.
An aged Patrick Warburton once again appears as your captain.
Soarin’ Across America
He once again warmly greets guests and makes sure to get in the catchphrase.
This is the Semiquincentennial flight of Soarin’, the two-dollar word for America’s 250th anniversary.
Soarin’ Across America
Elder Captain Patrick isn’t as talkative as he used to be.
So, he deftly tags in his younger self to show the familiar Soarin’ script.
Soarin’ Across America
A few moments later, guests enter the theater and prepare to take flight.
Soarin’ Across America starts with a bang, and I mean that literally.
Soarin’ Across America
A rocket lifts off, a fitting sight for a ride based in Florida. Guests then soar through the clouds, losing sight of everything else for a moment.
Once our vision returns, Lady Liberty is there to greet us. This ride is as American as mom and apple pie, and there’s zero subtlety to it.
Soarin’ Across America
Walt Disney was fiercely patriotic, and Imagineers honor his nature with Soarin’ 3.0.
There’s no cynicism to be found on this ride, which even shows a fountain spraying red, white, and blue water.
Soarin’ Across America
My lone criticism is of the banjo music they play while showing bayou country.
I get why Disney did it, but that’s a bit too Deliverance for me.
Soarin’ Across America
Everything else on the ride will dazzle viewers, starting with the Branson Scenic Railway.
This train seems to zoom through the middle of nowhere due to its unique design.
Soarin’ Across America
Later, the camera plunges down to the depths of the Grand Canyon.
Soon afterward, you’ll regain altitude by heading through the glacial mountains of Alaska.
Soarin’ Across America
Along the way, you’ll witness Mount Rushmore as well.
Disney also highlights the splendor of Waikiki and the beauty of the Griffith Observatory.
Attraction Review: Soarin’ Across America
The ride experience ends just as fittingly as it begins.
As is Soarin’s tendency, it finishes at the park where guests are experiencing it.
Soarin’ Across America
In this case, EPCOT shoots off patriotic fireworks to punctuate the significance of America’s milestone.
So, Disney works in the red, white, and blue coloring twice without it ever feeling forced.
Soarin’ Across America
Along the way, a couple of creatures also appear, a fitting nod to Soarin’s history.
Overall, as a huge fan of the ride, I was deeply impressed by all that Disney got right.
Soarin’ Across America
This version of Soarin’ feels patriotic without pandering or coming across as cynical.
Disney has also reduced the angled artifacting that plagues Soarin’ Around the World.
Soarin’ Across America
We rode on the mid-right side and never once noticed any significant tilt.
To a larger point, Soarin’ comes across as well-intended at a time when Americans need more optimism.
Soarin’ Across America
I’ve read some decidedly mixed online reviews, but I love this limited-time version of Soarin’.
I think it’s a solid nine out of ten. To a larger point, it feels like a friendly gesture from Disney.
Soarin’ Across America
Nobody was asking the company for this. Park officials did it because they wanted to celebrate America.
I sincerely appreciate this patriotic gesture and hope it’s a July 4th/Memorial Day tradition.
