Instagram/@disney
Disney Parks communicated their plan for a new ride, Soarin’ Across America, a limited-time ride, which would be available at Disneyland and Walt Disney World for the summer of 2026. The casting was made with the help of a video that brought the U.S. semi-quincentennial to life and told the story by the charming character of Patrick Dempsey.
Advertisement
Right from the start, the narrator of the video, Patrick Dempsey, who was once again stepping into the shoes of the chief light bearer, got the spotlight. Dempsey spoke in his charming way: “Once you are in our amazing skies, you may very well get to see the golden grains and beautiful mountains coated in purple.” He talked about the “sea to shining sea” route and shared the must-pack items, like Betsy Ross flags, apple pies, and bald eagles, and finally, he showed off the special patriotic Mickey ears.
As if it could not be more fitting, the country was about to honor 250 years since the Declaration of Independence was signed. This announcement from Disney caused an uproar among park-goers, and some even said that the temporary overlay of the popular Soarin’ attraction was an artistically and world-friendly approach that encouraged them to visit more than once.
There was a quick comment that summarized the overall feeling as, “How cool is this?!? Nice job Disney! I am so pumped!!” The theme of patriotism surely grabbed the interest of many visitors who thought it was a return to the classic Disney celebration of American values and monuments.
The news of Patrick Dempsey being the ride narrator again was very much welcomed. “He is still here, thank God,” one fan said and explained how the actor’s presence has become so crucial to the Soarin’ experience since the Cali version.
In stark contrast, some reactions were of a different nature altogether. There was a laughing user who was commenting on the situation with a bit of humor saying, “Yes, it’s a thirty minutes grand finale! (Is the ride a minute and half?)” and referring to the famous quote from The Muppets. This funny remark got a lot of LOL responses, and one person added, “Nice comment! Muppets forever!”
The announcement also initiated a discussion about the emphasis on geography rather than politics in the ride. A commenter on the thread wrote, “No politics here! The only focus is on the natural beauty of American places!” “Different elections may come and go, people may even change their worships or gender identities—nothing but the geography from sea to shining sea.”
Moreover, a few individuals equated the new attraction with Walt Disney’s original vision. “Scott’s waving the American flags—the eyes of Walt behind that,” one observer noted, while another simply said, “Walt would be delighted.” This was one of the comments that voiced how the connection to the company’s patriotic history still feels very strong among many visitors.
The practicalities of the situation were not missed by the devoted park-goers. “It’s official. Annual pass is on again!” was one such ecstatic visitor that illustrated the case of how new attractions can immensely impact even long-term decisions about park attendance. Another person lauded the versatility of the screen-based rides, saying, “This is what I love about screen-based rides. We get different rides every time!”
There were also emotional reactions, with one admitting, “Why did this make me cry 😭😂 I am so excited!!!” The combination of nostalgia, patriotism, and Disney magic had indeed struck a chord with many of the followers.
The announcement comes during Disney’s ongoing efforts to keep the older attractions fresh and updated while at the same time preserving the original magic that made them loved. By letting Dempsey continue as the narrator and, at the same time, bringing in the completely new visuals showing American nature, the company appears to be smartly balancing innovation and tradition.
While the summer of 2026 is still two years off, that may be a long enough period for the excitement to swell. The fact that the attraction will be available for a short time only gives the tourists wanting to witness the special patriotic celebration an impression of urgency. One commentator was able to say it very concisely, “This is outstanding news! Way to go Disney, and what a great time! I like this new patriotic spirit!”
Advertisement
Disney’s brilliance in generating such a high degree of anticipation so far in advance is a definitive indicator of the ongoing power of their brand and the strong emotional connection that fans have with their parks. Soarin’ Across America has been a very successful announcement in both stirring up national pride and reminding people why the Disney parks continue to be enchanting places for all ages. This project also reminds us of Dempsey’s other high-profile endeavors, such as his partnership with Tag Heuer.