Soarin’ Across America has arrived at EPCOT, and one viewing took this author back to the late 1980s and the nostalgic memories of American Journeys, an old friend to those who began their fascination with Disney in the last quarter of the 20th Century. American Journeys (sponsored by Black and Decker) was a 360-degree motion picture similar to the movies shown in China and Canada in EPCOT detailing key aspects of America’s history and traditions, with a narrative voice overlay and stunning scenes of the nation’s vast geographic diversity. The film ran from 4 July 1984 to 6 July 1996 at Disneyland in Anaheim, from 15 September 1984 to 9 January 1994 at Disney World, and from 17 May 1986 to 31 August 1992 at Tokyo Disneyland.
Soarin’ Across America, the third installment of Disney’s popular Soarin’ attraction, is a celebration of the 250th Anniversary of the United States and includes scenes stretching from the coastal Northeast to the Hawaiian Islands. However, what is arguably most striking about Soarin’ Across America is its similarity to the long-defunct American Journeys.
Easter Egg Flashback
This sort of commonality across attractions is typical, with Disney Imagineers hiding Easter Eggs from previous attractions and activities throughout Disney’s theme parks and resorts. In the Magic Kingdom, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh has a picture of Mr. Toad handing over the deed to Toad Hall to Owl, a nod to Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride. At EPCOT, the latest installment of Test Track includes references to the World of Motion, the original EPCOT attraction that Test Track replaced in the late 1990s. Most recently, a new swimming pool at the Fort Wilderness Campground features a large water barrel with “RIVER COUNTRY” emblazoned on the side, honoring the Old Fashioned Swimming Hole of the River Country water park that operated next to Fort Wilderness from 1976 through 2001.
Different – But Very Similar
However, despite the similarities, it needs to be understood that Soarin’ Across America is not a simple rehash of American Journeys. First, American Journeys was 19 minutes long, whereas Soarin’ Across America is less than five minutes long if you do not include the pre-show. This means American Journeys includes scenes not shown in Soarin’ Across America, and it has a narrative overlay that includes details and historical discussions that Soarin’ Across America does not have.
That said, almost every scene in Soarin’ Across America has an equivalent scene in American Journeys. These scenes include a space launch from Cape Canaveral, the Grand Canyon, the swamps and bayous of the southeastern United States, coastal New England, the New York City skyline and the Statue of Liberty, the mountains of Alaska, Waikiki Beach on Oahu, Washington DC’s monuments, a train traveling through mountains, Mount Rushmore, and a vista of the vast American prairie. In fact, the only scene in Soarin’ Across America that does not have an equivalent scene in American Journey’s is near the end when the city of Los Angeles and the HOLLYWOOD sign are shown.
A History of Soarin’
It is also worth noting that earlier versions of Soarin’ also had scenes strikingly similar to those found in American Journeys. Soarin’ Over California included vistas of Yosemite Valley, the Golden Gate Bridge, and northern California’s rocky coastline, as well as scenes from the flight deck of an aircraft carrier, just as American Journey’s did. Similarly, Soarin’ Around World, the version of Soarin’ that Soarin’ Across America is replacing, shows a scene of hot air balloons flying over Monument Valley in Arizona and a scene of people riding outrigger canoes in the Fiji Islands. American Journeys has almost the exact same scene of Monument Valley. The scene of people riding outrigger canoes is also similar, except that the Soarin’ Across America’s scene is off Oahu’s Waikiki Beach, as opposed to the Fiji Islands.
Putting Easter Eggs from past attractions and clear connections to past attractions in new attractions is Disney Imagineering at its best. It creates feelings of nostalgia that mean a great deal to those of us who love Disney theme parks and resorts and demonstrates a respect for the past while building the future. The obvious connections between Soarin’ Across America and American Journeys are a fantastic example of this, especially since American Journeys is an attraction that was discontinued three decades ago, and those of us who will make the connection between the two attractions are decidedly among the older generations. However, that only serves to make the feelings of nostalgia that much more meaningful because, for those of us who can appreciate them, it means going back to a much earlier time in our lives.
Welcome, The Latest Soarin’
Soarin’ Across America unofficially opened at EPCOT for Annual Pass Holders on 19 May 2026, with the official opening set for 26 May 2026. The attraction will premiere at California Adventure in Disneyland on 2 July 2026. Of course, smartphone videos of the newest edition of Soarin’ are already posted on YouTube in case you are curious, and if you want to see American Journeys, grainy home videos of that film are available on YouTube as well.