Soarin’ Across America is coming soon to EPCOT in Walt Disney World and California Adventure in Disneyland, as part of the Walt Disney Company’s extended celebration of the United States’ 250th anniversary. This post shares our ‘wish list’ for National Parks, city skylines, and other places that deserve to be featured in the new flyover film celebrating the US.
As part of Disney Celebrates America, the once-in-a-lifetime celebration of the United States Semiquincentennial (rolls right off the tongue!), the Walt Disney Company is debuting Soarin’ Across America in Summer 2026. The celebration as a whole kicks off on Veterans Day 2025 and continues through the Fourth of July 2026 weekend, but we expect Soarin’ Across America to debut towards the tail end of that, likely in June 2026.
Disney Celebrates America will honor America’s past, celebrate the present, and inspire its future. Both Walt Disney World and Disneyland will feature heavily in “Disney Celebrates America,” which will be highlighted by Soarin’ Across America. As a big fan of Soarin’ Over California and the US National Parks, I have strong opinions on what deserves to be included in Soarin’ Across America, which should have an emphasis on America’s Best Idea.
It’s with that in mind that I’ve made this list, and probably given way too much thought to it. Before digging in, there are a few ground rules. First, no California. As a practical reality, this probably won’t happen–we wouldn’t be surprised if Soarin’ Across America actually recycles a scene or two from Soarin’ Over California, either due to difficulty in securing permits or to cut costs. Either way, that’s fine with us in practice. But as part of a wish list exercise, we want all new locations.
Second and somewhat similarly, we want representation of a wide range of locales. The United States is a beautiful place, but there’s often disproportionate attention given to the East Coast, West Coast, and Mountain West. There are many places from those three regions, but we’re also careful to include the Midwest, Great Plains, Heartland, etc. After all, these are key constituencies of Walt Disney World guests.
Third, obviously Soarin’ Across America does not mean Soarin’ Across America’s National Parks. There will be cities, farmland, and other rich biodiversity that makes the United States such a special and great place. With that said, we’re most interested in the aerials from our beautiful U.S. National Parks.
This is probably going to upset some readers, especially those who have regional pride in the cities near them. Fair warning: Boston, Philadelphia, New Orleans, Chicago, and other “popular” U.S. cities are not on the list. There are only two skylines that are indispensable, although a few other urban environments do make the list. In a film that’ll have only a dozen locations, a couple of those will probably be left on the cutting room floor.
Imagineering needs to learn from its mistakes made with Soarin’ Around the World and focus less on architecture and man-made beauty with Soarin’ Over America. The natural world is more beautiful and (critically) less subject to distortion woes.
Anyway, here goes my wish list for Soarin’ Across America locations. Not all of these can make the cut, but it was tough to narrow the list down even this much, and that’s even after excluding California!
Washington, D.C.
While New York is America’s City, Washington DC is our nation’s capital. It feels like an obvious pick for Soarin’ Across America on that basis alone.
Flyover highlights of Washington D.C. include the Jefferson Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument and everything else at the National Mall, White House, Pentagon, and more. It’s a distinctive view from above.
New York City
Including New York City is obvious. Nowhere is as quintessentially American as NYC, the greatest city in the world, and an international symbol of what makes the United States a superpower.
It doesn’t hurt that the aerial view is impressive. You’ve got the Statue of Liberty, Central Park, Five Boroughs, and the city’s geography defined by the Hudson River to the west and the East River to the east, which frame Manhattan Island–the Island of Ambition. It’s about as American of an aerial as apple pie.
Thunder Over Louisville
Thunder Over Louisville is an airshow and fireworks display that starts the week of festivities leading up to the Kentucky Derby. It’s the biggest and best fireworks show I’ve ever seen outside of Disney.
A lot of other Disney fans have good ideas for iconic Major League Baseball stadiums or other distinctly patriotic venues that should be featured in Soarin’ Across America. I don’t disagree with any of those, but Thunder Over Louisville is an interesting sleeper pick that combines awesome fireworks display and airshow and iconic American sporting event. It probably won’t be featured–unless Imagineering had the foresight to film this summer–but it’d be an awesome alternative to more obvious options.
Gateway Arch
The 630-foot-tall Gateway Arch monument in St. Louis, Missouri is the world’s tallest arch, Missouri’s tallest accessible structure, and (debatably) the tallest human-made monument in the Western Hemisphere.
The Gateway Arch makes the St. Louis skyline look really cool, and I assume looks good from above. It would add Midwestern representation to the attraction. It’s also inexplicably a National Park, so that would up the National Park count for Soarin’ Across America.
Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Cuyahoga Valley National Park near Cleveland and Akron, Ohio is not one of the “big name” US National Parks, but it features beautiful fall colors.
Despite Cuyahoga Valley being rather unassuming from the ground, it could be gorgeous from above. It’s not just the fall colors. There are a few waterfalls, railroad, and a few covered bridges. More great Midwestern scenery, and of a state that’s probably top 10 for Walt Disney World guests.
Mackinac Island
Michigan’s “place of the great turtle” is likewise deserving of a place in Soarin’ Across America. Mackinac Island’s striking natural beauty, unique historic character, and car-free environment make it a unique winner. It could be shown as a contrast to New York City, with horse-drawn carriages and cyclists offering a scene from a bygone era that’s starkly different to that modern metropolis.
The flyover would also feature the natural beauty of the isle’s forest, coastal bluffs, and geological formations like Arch Rock. Mackinac Island also has recognizable landmarks, such as the historic Fort Mackinac, Victorian architecture of the island’s quaint downtown, and ferry docks.
Have Barry Sanders and Calvin Johnson sitting on the porch of the Grand Hotel, and the crowd would go wild. It’d be a win for America’s Team, as well as Midwest representation and the highlighting of a state park.
Acadia National Park
Acadia National Park actually reminds me a lot of Mackinac Island. It’s one of the few high-quality East Coast parks, and ranks highly thanks to its unique coastal character. Featuring the iconic Bass Harbor Head Light, Monument Cove, Cadillac Mountain, and Ocean Drive would all offer breathtaking aerial visuals.
The fall colors in Acadia also score it big points, especially if Disney is currently filming Soarin’ Across America. Acadia National Park also has a unique private-then-public character, and it’d be a fun visual to swoop down into Rockefeller’s carriage roads or head into downtown Bar Harbor.
Although popular, Acadia National Park in Maine is more under-the-radar than the West Coast major National Parks, like Yosemite or Yellowstone. It’d probably be many Americans’ first exposure to Acadia. That would help Soarin’ Across America stand out amidst other flyover films.
Mount Rushmore
The rumors were wrong. Walt Disney World is not getting rid of the Hall of Presidents, they’re doubling down on the idea. Soarin’ Across America will almost certainly feature a flyover of Mount Rushmore, and for good reason.
The massive carving of four presidents—George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln—is an enduring symbol of America, democracy, and liberty’s leaders. Seeing the sculpture from the air would offer a unique perspective on the NPS National Memorial, and would pair well with the natural beauty of the Black Hills.
Mount Rushmore’s inclusion in Soarin’ would also give representation to the Dakotas, so another win on the regional diversification front.
Arches National Park
One of Utah’s “Mighty Five” National Parks, Arches National Park features miles and miles of natural arches (over 2,000!). The landscape of Arches is truly amazing; it’s almost an otherworldly environment.
Watching the sunrise light kiss the arches and illuminating the red rock formations, is one of my favorite National Park experiences. Photograph a snow-covered Delicate Arch is on my bucket list, and something that would be a highlight of Soarin’ Across America if Disney’s crews could capture it this winter. Utah is also an absolutely massive demo for Disneyland, so it’d make sense to feature one of the Mighty Five in Soarin’ Across America.
Yellowstone National Park
This is an obvious one. When Soarin’ Across America was first announced, Yellowstone garnered the most mentions in the comments to our posts. My potentially unpopular opinion is that Yellowstone wouldn’t top my own personal list–in addition to “playing the hits,” I’d like to see a fewer lesser-known locales.
Nevertheless, Yellowstone National Park has a lot to offer–there’s a reason it’s America’s preeminent National Park. The park contains more than 10,000 hydrothermal sites, including about half of the world’s active geysers. A flyover of Grand Prismatic Spring and Old Faithful, along with the entire basin and village visible from above, would offer a unique perspective of the famous geyser’s regular eruptions.
Rocky Mountains National Park
Rocky Mountains National Park was the first U.S. National Park that Sarah and I visited together, and it’ll always hold a soft spot in my heart for that reason. It’s also just a flat out spectacular place, so there’s that.
At its heart, Rocky Mountain National Park perfectly exemplifies Colorado. Fresh air, rushing waterfalls, snow-capped mountains, an abundance of wildlife, and people with an affinity for the great outdoors. It’s a mesmerizing place, and I’m sure the diverse scenery would be stunning from above. It’s also one of the more accessible western National Parks for a lot of Americans, making it a good one to highlight.
Ranch
There’s gotta be something in Soarin’ Across America to represent the Great Plains, which is often overlooked. That would be a mistake here, especially given how many guests of both Walt Disney World and Disneyland come from this region.
The easy answer is probably a ranch in Texas. That checks off one of the most important states while diversifying the visuals. While Texas does have unique skylines, I don’t think it really makes sense to include those in Soarin’ Across America given the alternatives.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
For a high percentage of Walt Disney World guests, Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the closest and most easily-accessible major National Park. Notably, Great Smoky Mountains is the United States’ most visited National Park, with over double the number of annual visitors of Grand Canyon National Park.
Of course, eye-catching aerial visuals are also needed to merit representation in Soarin’ Across America, and Great Smoky Mountains National Park does not disappoint on that front. There are the mountains and breathtaking views along the Newfound Gap.
Clingmans Dome is the park’s most popular spot, and there are also cool man-made features–Cade’s Cove and Mingus Mill–that really put Great Smoky Mountains National Park over the top, adding a layer of cultural intrigue to a park that also has immense natural beauty (I’m not sure Mingus Mill would be accessible for a flyover, but I like the idea).
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
It only seems appropriate to highlight Hawaii alongside Alaska in Soarin’ Across America. Seeing the lava flow and the evening glow of Halemaumau Crater in Kīlauea are two of the most breathtaking sights in any National Park on this list.
Beyond seeing the glow of the lava or volcano, there’s actually a lot to see at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park that could be featured in a flyover. The sea arch, steam vents, and even Volcano House. All of this makes HVNP one-of-a-kind, and perfect for inclusion in Soarin’ Across America.
Alaska
The Last Frontier. America’s 49th and largest state. Home to 8 U.S. National Parks (Denali, Gates of the Arctic, Glacier Bay, Katmai, Kenai Fjords, Kobuk Valley, Lake Clark, and Wrangell-St. Elias) and a significant chunk of all NPS land in the US. Also home to tens of thousands of reindeer, making it the favorite state of Santa Claus (citation not needed).
Alaska would give Soarin’ Across America unique visuals, with large expanses of untouched terrain, massive mountain ranges, ginormous glaciers, and wondrous wildlife. An obvious choice for a flyover would be Denali, North America’s tallest peak, as well as the surrounding Alaska Range.
Disney also might choose to focus on the coastline, highlighted by tidewater glaciers, mountain ranges that meet the water, and misty fjords. Golden synergy opportunity for Disney Cruise Line, which will soon be doubling its Alaska itineraries!
Grand Canyon National Park
C’mon…it’s the Grand Canyon. One of the “Seven Natural Wonders of the World.” How could it not make this list?! Seeing the Grand Canyon out the window of a commercial flight is awe-inspiring, so I can only imagine how great it would look from a closer vantage in Soarin’ Across America.
Not much more needs to be said about the Grand Canyon. But on a related note, if you’ve never visited, I’d highly recommend it. Before taking my dad to see this bucket list National Park, I worried it’d be a “look at a big crater and leave” experience. That couldn’t be further from the truth. Grand Canyon National Park is not just that breathtaking natural wonder. It also has some of the country’s most compelling parkitecture and great hikes.
Glacier National Park
Glacier might just be America’s best National Park. Among the ones I’ve visited, it’s right up there with Yosemite. There’s so much fodder for flyover footage here–stunning peaks and vanishing glaciers, of course. But there are also breathtaking waterfalls, iconic lodges, and so much scenery along Going-to-the-Sun Road.
It’s also a winner for wildlife. A flyover could feature bear, bighorn, moose, deer, mountain goats, and other critters. And they wouldn’t even need to be CGI! If Soarin’ Across America is going to get one heavy-hitter National Park, my vote is Glacier. It’s every bit as beautiful as Yosemite and Yellowstone.
Florida Wildcard
Disney already did Soarin’ Over California, so it’s time to “Be Fair to Florida.”
Obvious options here include Everglades National Park, Dry Tortugas National Park, Biscayne National Park, Miami and the Gold Coast, Florida Keys, historic lighthouses, Kennedy Space Center, other coastal cities, or even Orlando and Walt Disney World (just avoid that other theme park complex).
I’m going to go with a sleeper pick here: Blue Spring State Park and/or Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge (they’re not near one another, so it’d have to be pieced together). Film this footage on a cold day in the winter and capture hundreds of glorious sea cows seeking warmth in spring water. One time we visited Blue Spring State Park, there were 308 manatees counted that day!
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Your Thoughts
Which U.S. National Parks, city skylines, and other points of interest or events would make your wish list for Soarin’ Across America filming locations? Are you excited about the debut of Soarin’ Across America in EPCOT at Walt Disney World or at Disneyland? Do you agree or disagree with our assessment? Any questions? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
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