A new version of Soarin’ and another day of patriotic fireworks are planned for summer 2026
It’s a semiquincentennial y’all and the Fourth of July at Disney is going to be ready to party.
It might seem odd that Disney would announce plans for the Fourth of July 2026 before Halloween 2025. There are a number of holidays and events between the two, including Christmas, New Year’s, St. Patrick’s Day, Cinco De Mayo, May the Fourth and more.
But we have to remember two things.
1: The Disney calendar moves fast. Halloween season starts in August, Christmas begins on November 1 and in parts of the parks, it’s July Fourth all the year round. In a business where people plan their vacations as much as a year in advance, it’s important to get the word out early. 2. Disney loves any opportunity to be patriotic and America’s 250th birthday is just such an opportunity.
I was alive in 1976, when America celebrated its 200th birthday, but not old enough to remember it, except for the lingering bicentennial quarters that remained in circulation long enough for me to use to play Pac-Man and Joust or even Tron. So, while I can’t speak to what Disney did in 1976, it is clearly gearing up to make 2026 the best Fourth of July celebration in Disney history.
IN THIS ARTICLE
Soarin’ Over America
The first change for America’s 250th birthday will be a new version of Soarin’ available in both Disney World and Disneyland. Traditionally, Soarin’ – a suspended flight simulator – has two different versions. In EPCOT, the flight is over the globe, getting an aerial view of the Himalayas, the Eiffel Tower, and the Taj Mahal. In Disneyland, it’s a mix. The ride debuted as Soarin’ Over California – but was replaced by Soarin’ Around the World. The original version – which many call superior – does make periodic returns.
For summer 2026, however, both parks will host Soarin’ Over America – same concept but we’re Soarin’ over American landmarks.
“The new bi-coastal offering will showcase the United States—from sea to shining sea—highlighting some of the country’s natural beauty and iconic cityscapes. This will be brought to life with the iconic elements that make Soarin’ unforgettable – the flight, the sights and score, even the scents! Walt Disney Imagineering is hard at work capturing more than a dozen breathtaking locations for the new flight,” Disney said in a release.
The accompanying pictures show what appears to be swampland – looks like Louisiana to me with heavy cypress trees in the distance.
The accompanying video features Patrick Warburton – who has been the baritone-voiced pre-flight instructor in the traditional Soarin’ video for decades.
What do we know about Soarin’ Over America?
Well, we certainly have a feel for the vibes the ride will create having ridden the other versions and the release states there will be more than a dozen locations. In addition to the swampland we see, there’s another picture of a helicopter amongst green forests but that could be anywhere.
We would think New York and Washington D.C. – whose landmarks are ripe for flyovers as long as you can get clearance – would be almost shoo-ins. The Gateway Arch in St. Louis – near Walt’s home – would be likely as well as Mt. Rushmore, the Grand Canyon, the Rockies, and the Pacific Northwest.
It’s unclear how long the ride will be, but Soarin’ Around the World lasts about five minutes.
What else does Disney have planned for the 250th?
The company is launching some veteran-based initiatives that will begin in November of 2025 and run through next summer, at least. These include special veteran offers, special movie screenings and events featuring active duty military members stationed around the world.
There’s also a bunch of TV stuff that will feature prime time specials, Disney+ content and more.
The big part of this will be a “24-hour, multi-platform broadcast, “Disney Celebrates America,” highlighting America’s 250th anniversary events nationwide across Disney’s linear networks and streaming platforms, including Disney+, Hulu, ABC, Disney Channel, ESPN, Freeform, FX and National Geographic, ending with a special evening fireworks broadcast from Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resort.”
The special fireworks show is the key statement there for the parks. Disney does special fireworks shows for the Fourth of July in the Magic Kingdom, EPCOT and in Disneyland. In 2026, that special show will be three nights – starting July 3 – instead of the traditional two.
Is there anything else?
Merch. There’s going to be sooooo much merch. I’m seeing popcorn buckets and stuffies and bubble wands and T-Shirts, sweatshirts, hats, collectible cups, mugs, plates and just about everything else.
There’s going to be so much semiquincentennial that Disney’s Character Warehouse is going to be selling it until the Tricentennial in 2076.
This all sounds like fun. Should I go?
Good Lord, no. Even with the extra night, the Magic Kingdom and EPCOT are going to be absolute nightmares in terms of crowd. In the heat of July with those crowds? Stay home and watch it on Disney+ in the air conditioning.
You could zag and try to go with the week before or the week after, assuming anyone going THAT close to the holiday would try to get in on the once-in-a-lifetime – maybe twice? – experience.
There is something to be said for going to Disney for such a historic event. But man, I can’t imagine that crowd in that heat.
You might consider getting a room at a deluxe resort with a theme park view. But those appear to be going fast. There weren’t any theme park view rooms available at the Contemporary’s Main Tower for July 4, 2026, when I checked. But the deluxe studio in the Bay Lake Tower with theme park view – which isn’t as good as the main tower – was available for $974 for the night. The Polynesian had theme park view availability for $1,107.
