Soarin' Across America Reshapes EPCOT's Crowd Math Overnight

Soarin' Across America Is Rewriting EPCOT's Identity

For years, EPCOT has been Walt Disney World's second-tier park when it comes to crowd pressure. Magic Kingdom draws the rope-drop sprinters. Hollywood Studios absorbs the thrill seekers. EPCOT coasts along at a comfortable baseline, buoyed by festivals and World Showcase dining. That dynamic shifted on Thursday.

According to Lightning Brain's Daily Park Report, EPCOT's median wait time on May 28 ran nearly 50 percent above its 30-day baseline, putting it in the same heavy-traffic tier as Magic Kingdom. The gravitational center was unmistakable: Soarin' Across America, the marquee reopening featuring a brand-new film, pulled guests into World Nature and World Discovery with enough force to reshape wait times across the entire park. Soarin' averaged 50-minute waits all day, running two-thirds above its typical 30-minute baseline. The ripple effects were striking. The Seas with Nemo and Friends posted 20-minute averages against a typical 5 minutes. Gran Fiesta Tour, rarely anyone's first priority, ran double its usual wait.

EPCOT's peak came unusually early, at 8:00 AM, with a median of 55 minutes. That points to rope-drop crowds sprinting directly to Soarin' and creating a morning surge the rest of the day never fully shed. Test Track compounded the problem by going offline twice for a combined two and a half hours. Frozen Ever After also went down during the afternoon rain window, overlapping with 0.78 inches of rainfall that triggered weather-protocol closures across seven outdoor attractions at two parks between 2:54 and 3:56 PM.

Hollywood Studios also ran heavy at 7/10 (Heavy), about 20 percent above its already elevated 30-day average. Animal Kingdom, by contrast, offered a genuine escape. The takeaway is clear: Soarin' Across America has fundamentally altered how guests are distributing across Walt Disney World, at least for now. If you are planning a visit in the coming weeks, EPCOT should no longer be treated as the low-crowd default. It is, for the moment, the park everyone wants to be in.

The Parks

The biggest piece of park news beyond the crowds lives at Disney's Hollywood Studios, where the full map and concept art for the new Magic of Disney Animation experience have been released. WDW News Today broke the details, and Attractions Magazine followed with a deep dive into the dozens of characters hidden throughout the building. The range is remarkable. During a preview walkthrough, Attractions Magazine spotted rare deep cuts like Gurgi, Ratigan, Lambert the Sheepish Lion, and The Reluctant Dragon alongside favorites like Baymax, Elsa, Stitch, and Judy Hopps. This attraction rewards obsessive fans who slow down and explore every corner, providing the kind of experience Hollywood Studios has historically lacked between its headline thrill attractions.

Planning your Disney trip? Download Lightning Brain from the App Store or visit lightningbrain.app to optimize every minute of your park day.

Also at Hollywood Studios, WDW News Today reports that a set installation permit has been filed for Alien Swirling Saucers, suggesting work is underway at Toy Story Land.

At EPCOT beyond the Soarin' surge, the Three Caballeros animatronics have been refreshed, per WDW News Today. And WDW News Today also confirmed that Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress is getting a timeline shift with new scenes, alongside a confirmed closing date for the work to begin. This is a significant development for one of Magic Kingdom's most beloved and historically protected attractions.

Over at Disney's Animal Kingdom, MickeyBlog reports that Luna the elephant celebrated her 16th birthday. Dr. Mark Penning shared video on Instagram of Luna enjoying birthday treats prepared by the Animal Care Team and trampling a few decorations along the way. Animal Kingdom's animal residents are the emotional core of that park, and Luna has been there since the day she was born. A sustainable animal figure machine has also been installed at the park, according to WDW News Today.

At Disney Springs, change is coming. Disney Food Blog confirmed that the food trucks on the West Side will close permanently at the end of the day on June 7. The trucks, which have served everything from juice to tacos in cones over the years, are outside businesses that may continue operating off Disney property. Disney Food Blog notes that Disney has not announced what will replace them, but the courtyard sits next to Summer House on the Lake and the West Side Starbucks, directly across from the Marvel and Star Wars stores. This is prime real estate, and Disney Springs has been steadily upgrading its lineup, with Six Ravens still on the way near Gideon's Bakehouse.

At the Contemporary Resort, WDW News Today reports that gates have been installed to prevent guests from using the fireworks observation deck. The move signals Disney is tightening access to what had been a popular, if unofficial, viewing spot.

Meanwhile, Disney Experiences published a comprehensive breakdown of current deals across Walt Disney World, Disneyland, and Disney Cruise Line. The highlights for Walt Disney World include a 4-Day, 4-Park Magic Ticket starting at $109 per day (total starting at $436 plus tax) valid between May 26 and October 3, an After 2 PM ticket starting at $235 plus tax for a 2-day pass, Florida resident tickets starting at $219 plus tax for two days, and a free water park day for guests staying at Disney Resorts Collection hotels between May 26 and September 8. Disney+ subscribers in the Perks program can book select Disney Resorts Collection hotels starting at $99 per night at Disney's All-Star Sports Resort. Hotel savings of up to 30 percent are available on select properties for stays most nights through October 4. For families who have felt priced out of a Walt Disney World vacation, this is one of the more aggressive stacking opportunities Disney has offered in recent memory.

The redesigned My Disney Experience app is also on the way. Disney Tourist Blog reports that Walt Disney World is rolling out major updates including a new checklist feature, price comparison tools that will allow rate comparisons by day and season, party planning functionality, and AI-driven search. WDW News Today also confirmed the upcoming changes to the app and website.

Disney Cruise Line is undergoing its own wave of policy changes. DCL Blog reports that starting June 3, 2026, new sailings across the fleet will feature updated policies focused on stateroom door decorations, the guest carry-on alcoholic beverage allowance and corkage fee, and selfie sticks. WDW News Today adds that the carry-on wine allowance is being reduced while the corkage fee is being lowered. The door-decorating policy, a beloved DCL tradition where guests festoon their stateroom doors with magnets and themed displays, is being modified fleet-wide.

And then there is the Disney Adventure, sailing out of Singapore and quietly becoming a testing ground for a different economic model. Lightning Brain's Cruise Deets Daily reports that the ship is implementing a $5 service charge per room service order plus an 18 percent automatic gratuity, making it the first DCL vessel to charge for room service. Breakfast orders placed via door hangers and concierge-level guests are excluded. The reason, according to WDW News Today, is operational: Crew Members have been struggling to keep up with room service demand aboard the new ship. The Disney Adventure has also introduced a $49 per guest dessert party tied to The Lion King: Celebration in the Sky, another fleet first. Two firsts in one month, both involving charges for things that have historically been included. Whether this model migrates to other ships remains an open question, but the Adventure is clearly the laboratory.

The Screen

The Mandalorian and Grogu has arrived with force. According to a report from The DisInsider citing Variety, the film opened to an estimated $102 million domestic over the Memorial Day holiday weekend, making it one of the biggest openings of 2026 so far. After nearly seven years since Star Wars last appeared in theaters, that number represents a significant vote of confidence from audiences who have spent years investing in Din Djarin and Grogu's story through Disney+. The theatrical Star Wars business is very much alive.

On the streaming side, D23 published the full June 2026 lineup for Disney+ and Hulu, and it is packed. The marquee arrival is the Disney+ premiere of Avatar: Fire and Ash on June 24. Behind the Attraction returns for season 3, with the premiere episode taking viewers to the high seas with Disney Cruise Line. Best of the World with Antoni Porowski brings National Geographic's travel franchise to life across Paris, Mexico City, London, and New York. Live sports continue to expand on the platform with multiple Banana Ball games on ESPN on Disney+, including the Savannah Bananas vs. the Firefighters on June 13. The Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival streams live starting June 11. Dragon Striker premieres June 10 with all episodes available. And Disney+ will exclusively stream three new episodes of The Simpsons this summer, per WDW News Today.

WDW News Today also reports that the streaming date for Hoppers has been revealed, and that Toy Story 5 food and novelties are coming to theaters to coincide with the film's release.

The Vault

Victoria and Albert's at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort and Spa has retained its MICHELIN Star in the 2026 MICHELIN Guide Florida, making it three consecutive years the restaurant has held the honor. BlogMickey reports that this year's retention carries added weight because the 2026 Guide marks the first time the Florida edition has expanded to cover the entire state, meaning the pool of evaluated restaurants grew considerably. The tougher competition cost at least one nearby restaurant its star: Capa at the Four Seasons lost its distinction this year. Victoria and Albert's, which BlogMickey notes became the first restaurant owned and operated by a U.S. theme park to earn a MICHELIN Star back in April 2024, continues to stand alone at Walt Disney World.

Disney Parks Blog published a sweeping historical retrospective on ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, tracing its arc from the March 1997 opening day, when a sellout crowd watched the Atlanta Braves beat the Cincinnati Reds 9-7, through nearly three decades of evolution across baseball, basketball, cheer, soccer, and long-distance running. The piece notes that the complex now spans more than 260 acres and is preparing to welcome Banana Ball for the first time, with the Party Animals facing the Loco Beach Coconuts in an anticipated weekend series.

And in a story that bridges Disney's storytelling legacy with real-world impact, The Walt Disney Company and Philips announced that beloved Disney animated characters and stories are being incorporated into Philips Ambient Experience for MRI at medical facilities in 87 countries worldwide. A multi-center study across six European hospitals found that for children ages 6 to 10, post-scan stress levels dropped 43 percent compared to pre-exam levels, and pauses during scans dropped 63 percent. "At Disney, we believe stories have the power to bring comfort and emotional connection to children and families," said Lisa Haines, Senior Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility at The Walt Disney Company. Sixty-six percent of pediatric patients report feeling anxious during MRI scans. Disney stories, piped into the room through immersive lighting, sound, and visuals, are now helping some of those children hold still long enough to get the images their doctors need.

Sources

Lightning Brain · WDW News Today · Attractions Magazine · MickeyBlog · Disney Food Blog · Disney Tourist Blog · DCL Blog · Disney Experiences · The DisInsider · D23 · BlogMickey · Disney Parks Blog · Walt Disney Company