As much as we LOVE Soarin’ Around the World in EPCOT, there’s one awkward moment that we just can’t unsee!
Soarin’ Around the World
Soarin’ Around the World is one of the most popular attractions in EPCOT — and for good reason! The attraction takes guests on a stunning flight over some of the world’s most beautiful locations. But we can’t help but notice that something is off on our worldwide sightseeing tour…
During your flight on Soarin’, you’ll be treated to views of both natural and man-made wonders from around the globe.
The Land
With scenes over the Swiss Alps, the Great Wall of China, Australia’s Sydney Harbor, the Eiffel Tower, and more, it’s a breathtaking tour of some of the world’s highlights that have earned a place on many people’s bucket lists!
Sydney Harbor Scene ©Disney
And it’s a pretty immersive experience, considering how ambitious the premise of the attraction is. Soarin’ uses effects that play to multiple senses, including the 180-degree, 80-foot IMAX digital projection dome for gorgeous aerial views, gentle motion effects to simulate flight, and even various scents that are piped in during different scenes to really make you feel like you’re in the middle of the action!
Soarin’ Seating
And with all of that attention to detail to make you feel like you’re really “there” at all of these incredible places, we can’t help but notice one glaring discrepancy that’s literally right in front of us as soon as we walk out of the building.
Soarin’
The final scene in Soarin’ takes us back “home” to EPCOT with a fireworks show over Spaceship Earth…or does it??
Soarin’
During this scene, the camera glides over the park entrance area and the section now known as World Celebration. But you might notice that it looks WAY different than the actual area you just walked through in the park!
The park entrance area looks way different now!
The aerial footage used in Soarin’ was taken before EPCOT’s massive transformation project, which seriously changed the look of the park.
And with how immersive the rest of the attraction is, we can’t help but wonder why Disney hasn’t updated Soarin’ to include footage of EPCOT in its current form!
EPCOT
But hey, the silver lining in this discrepancy is that at least it provides a dose of nostalgia for those of us who remember the “old” EPCOT, even if it does take away from the immersion of the ride for a moment!
Soarin’ Around the World
We’ll continue to be your eyes and ears (and nose, and tastebuds…) from around the parks, so stay tuned to DFB for more of our Disney World takes and updates!
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I always found it weird that it was coming from the lagoon and not the other way around. But I do like seeing the old EPCOT better
I’d rather they sorted out the wonky Eiffel Tower first.