Soarin’ Over California is again at EPCOT in Walt Disney World for a restricted run, changing the ‘Across the World model of the journey quickly. This occurred with the corporate’s one hundredth Anniversary celebration, which concluded its run on the finish of final 12 months. (Up to date February 21, 2024.)
EPCOT was the middle of the Disney100 celebration at Walt Disney World, which started final fall. The occasion nominally celebrated a century of magic and innovation, whereas additionally ushering sooner or later because the multi-year transformation of EPCOT wraps up. The 100 Years of Surprise festivities completed on the finish of final 12 months. All indicators and such have been eliminated over the course of the final month.
For its half, Soarin’ Over California returned on September 22 with the beginning of Disney100 at EPCOT. On the time, Walt Disney World didn’t announce an finish date, so we speculated that it might discontinue service on a number of completely different dates. Maybe New 12 months’s Eve, on the finish of the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend, or after the finale of the 2024 EPCOT Competition of the Arts. All of these dates got here and went, and Soarin’ Over California continues to take flight.
Walt Disney World has introduced at this time (February 21) that Soarin’ Over California will as soon as once more be grounded after a number of months of flights. Right here’s the official announcement from Walt Disney World:
Soarin’ Over California – Closing Quickly
Glide by way of the air on Soarin’ Over California by way of February 27, 2024. Then, get pleasure from Soarin’ Across the World—returning on February 28, 2024!
Should you’re a diehard Walt Disney World fan who’s unhappy to see Soarin’ Over California go or disenchanted that you simply missed this service, there’s a good risk that departures from EPCOT to the Golden State resume once more sooner or later. The OG Soarin’ has returned to Disney California Journey a number of occasions.
It’s just about all the time been in an effort to attract individuals away from Disneyland–the primary time was in the course of the opening season of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, then when Magic Occurs debuted. It now happens yearly for DCA’s Meals & Wine Competition, which coincides with spring break.
It normally works. Locals love Soarin’ Over California–in all probability as a result of it’s higher. Trotting out the superior, Golden State-centric model of Soarin’ is the fashionable day model of bringing again the Major Avenue Electrical Parade, a time-tested tactic. I’m relieved that we’ll be capable to expertise it once more, and that the technique is lastly being piloted in Florida.
As for when Soarin’ Over California might return to Walt Disney World once more, the obvious risk for my part is in the course of the EPCOT Meals & Wine Competition. Disney might do a California-themed sales space over by the Land pavilion, tie that with Soarin’ Over California, and have a pleasant draw for followers in the course of the slower months of August and September.
For what it’s price, such a state of affairs wouldn’t be a primary for EPCOT. Again earlier than work on the now-paused Play Pavilion started, the previous Wonders of Life pavilion served as a competition heart and confirmed the movie ‘Seasons of the Vine,’ which was a movie initially made for Disney California Journey (the theater was transformed to Blue Sky Cellar).
Nevertheless, we wouldn’t count on this to happen for the 2024 EPCOT Meals & Wine Competition. It’s in all probability too quickly to carry Soarin’ Over California again once more, and wouldn’t actually transfer the needle as a draw. It’s additionally potential that Walt Disney World gained’t ever carry it again, if visitor satisfaction scores had been markedly decrease for the Golden State model. Nevertheless, we doubt that’s the case–if it had been, Walt Disney World would’ve ended Soarin’ Over California’s run on December 31 with all the opposite Disney100 stuff, not prolonged it till February 27, 2024.
(What follows is my commonplace commentary about why it is a good thought, even for Walt Disney World…)
This might sound foolish. In spite of everything, the unique is Soarin’ Over California and Walt Disney World is positioned in Florida. Furthermore, Epcot is a park celebrating the assorted cultures of the world, not a selected state. Truthful factors, however I feel there are a few worthwhile counterpoints.
First, Soarin’ at Epcot is positioned in World Nature/Future World, not World Showcase. Furthermore, it’s shoehorned into the Land, a pavilion that’s ostensibly devoted to human civilization’s interplay with the Earth. California isn’t just probably the most biodiverse state, it’s probably the most biodiverse locations on the planet. With such a spread of ecosystems, it’s laborious to consider California is a single state. (What a spot!)
This vary of ecosystems is on full show in Soarin’ Over California, which primarily highlights the Golden State’s pure wonders (few of which scream “that is in California!”). That is what made Soarin’ a smart location for the Land pavilion within the first place. Its farm, desert, coastal, mountain, and many others. surroundings makes it a pure counterpart to Residing with the Land.
On this word, it’s price stating that almost all visitors visiting Epcot in the course of the time it ran the unique Soarin’ (with “Over California” dropped from the title) didn’t even notice the areas had been solely in California. Except you’ve visited Anza-Borrego, Yosemite Nationwide Park, Tahoe, Malibu, Camarillo, and many others., you in all probability couldn’t determine the place the footage was shot. You would possibly’ve simply assumed the desert, waterfall, speeding rapids, ocean, orange groves, and many others. had been merely generic–however beautiful–areas.
Many of the locations in Soarin’ Over California are usually not as readily identifiable as these in Soarin’ Across the World. Orange groves and shoreline are inclined to mix collectively. The Eiffel Tower, Taj Mahal, and Nice Wall of China…not a lot. If Soarin’ returned to Epcot in precisely the identical presentation as when it left, the overwhelming majority of first-time visitors would merely assume it’s a flyover of the USA.
Whereas Soarin’ Across the World highlights the pure world (or relatively, a model of nature created by a pc), it focuses extra on landmarks. There’s a purpose distortion isn’t as pronounced within the unique Soarin–as a result of as a substitute of structure and linear parts, the attraction primarily options geography that may masks distortion higher.
I’m not significantly averse to Soarin’ Across the World, however the CGI, tacky animals, and distortion has worn on me over time. Furthermore, I feel Soarin’ Over California shouldn’t be displaying its age in any respect. If something, it advantages from its footage being actual, whereas the intensive CGI of the brand new model will inevitably date itself a lot sooner.
As well as, the return of OG Soarin’ to Epcot is a good “throwback” for Disney100 at Walt Disney World. Exterior of merchandise and meals, Walt Disney World’s fiftieth Anniversary celebration didn’t comprise almost sufficient nods to the previous. Whereas this specific one could be the not-so-distant previous (~5 years in the past), it could doubtless be appreciated by many longtime Walt Disney World followers who nonetheless miss the unique Soarin. It’s an awesome transfer to showcase the previous, current, and way forward for EPCOT throughout Disney100.
That’s just about my ‘case’ for bringing OG Soarin’ again to Epcot. (There’s additionally the third possibility of working Soarin’ Over California in a single theater, and determining a logistical solution to let individuals select.) Okay, let’s evaluation: that’s extra on-theme to the Land pavilion, much less distortion, no CGI, California > the World…anything? Oh yeah, have a pleasant flight!
Wait occasions for Soarin’ Over California spiked when the attraction final returned to DCA, which was an anomaly as in comparison with the remainder of the sights at Disneyland and Disney California Journey. The native viewers went wild for the return of the OG Soarin’, with applause upon seeing the Golden Gate Bridge and on the finish of the Disneyland flyover.
I wouldn’t count on that sort of thunderous reception for the return of OG Soarin’ to Epcot, however it wouldn’t be stunning to see elevated demand. It may also be good counter-programming inside Epcot as soon as Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind debuts in Summer time 2022.
Personally, I hope the run of Soarin’ Over California at EPCOT continues indefinitely (and likewise returns as soon as once more to DCA). The attraction itself is essentially unchanged and nonetheless appears to be like fashionable. The movie was up to date to a digital projection shortly earlier than being retired, and it nonetheless appears to be like crisp and clear. The scents, together with a brand new one, are as pleasant as ever.
The unique Soarin’ is one movie that stands the take a look at of time, identical to Impressions de France, which continues to be proven in Epcot 30+ years later. Really, in contrast to Impressions de France, you by no means get an up-close take a look at any individuals (and their dated apparel), so there’s not a lot so far the footage. Mainly simply the Los Angeles skyline, which has grown tremendously since ~2000. To my information, virtually every part else is nearly unchanged (really, I feel the actual orange grove is now a housing improvement–however you wouldn’t know from taking a look at it), which is the great thing about filming the pure world.
Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Study accommodations on our Walt Disney World Lodges Critiques web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Critiques. To save cash on tickets or decide which sort to purchase, learn our Suggestions for Saving Cash on Walt Disney World Tickets put up. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys put up takes a novel take a look at intelligent gadgets to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Experience Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, the very best place to begin is our Walt Disney World Journey Planning Information for every part you want to know!
Your Ideas
Are you excited concerning the return of Soarin’ Over California at EPCOT? Do you hope that it returns indefinitely? Would you favor to see Soarin’ or Soarin’ Across the World…or each? Do you agree or disagree with our evaluation? Any questions? Listening to your suggestions–even whenever you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!
