Soarin’ Around the World at Epcot is by far the least impressive version on the list. Housed inside of the extremely dated The Land Pavilion, the lead up to the entrance sign is so unimpressive, it could be mistaken for the entrance to any generic movie theater. The queue travels through bare-bones hallways with basic lighting and coloring, giving little to no indication of what is to come. The pre-show is the standard Patrick Warburton spiel – which of course is hilarious – but there is nothing really unique or standout here. The same could be said for the ride. The vehicles are the same design found in the California original, and the theater has no other theming to speak of. The ride experience is also standard. Originally the “Over California” version when it debuted in this park, in 2016 it was updated to show the “Around the World” version of the film to coincide with Shanghai Disneyland’s opening of the same attraction, as well as the conversion of the California original. Only the closing scene is unique as it flies above a pre-50th (i.e. pre-incredible LED lighting package) Spaceship Earth. Yes, it’s a fun attraction…the constant hour-plus wait is a testament to that. But without much theming or any real backstory, it can’t quite reach the heights of the other versions found around the world. As a result this Soarin’ feels more like it coasts….to last place on our list.

Shanghai Disneyland is the first place that the “Around the World” version of the film debuted…which makes sense given that a film based on California would be hard for most of the park’s audience to relate to. Supposedly a last-minute addition to Shanghai Disneyland’s opening ride roster, the Imagineers placed this one deep inside the caves of Adventure Isle, giving it a unique backstory related to the Arbori Tribe, who are native to this land. Guests are headed to visit the tribe’s Shaman, who has granted them the power of flight. The queue is themed well, as is the fantastic pre-show with the Shaman. The theater is also uniquely themed, with the ride vehicles adding touches to replicate the tribal theme, and the screen a starry sky. As far as the actual ride is concerned, it’s the “Around the World” film, with two major changes. The Eiffel Tower scene is removed for a brief flyover of downtown Shanghai, and the finale is a cruise above Shanghai Disneyland itself, fireworks included, of course. Ultimately it is a truly enjoyable experience to have a full-fledged backstory and pre-show that ties into the ride and the land so well, and the fact that this typically has the longest queue in the park is added proof. Unlike the Epcot version, it is a seamless, consistent experience within an appropriately themed land. In fact, on theme alone, this one would probably sit in second place, were it not for the variability of the California original (more on that below). Overall, Soaring Over the Horizon is a huge improvement over Epcot’s version thanks to great theming and a fun backstory, and it gracefully lands at a very close third place on our list.

The original version of the Soarin’ attraction – an opening day attraction – was one of the very few well-received aspects of the original Disney’s California Adventure park. Originally located in a “hanger” in the Condor Flats area of the park, the original attraction contained a film that was exclusively flyovers of famous California landmarks – and it was fantastic. Not only were the videos subject to minimal CGI-tampering, but they really pronounced the amazing spectacle that is the State of California – from its coasts, mountains, and deserts, to its farmlands, cities, and landmarks. When Shanghai Disneyland opened in 2016, this version – as well as the one at Epcot – were all changed to the “Around the World” version. And while that version of the film has some entertaining moments, it felt like a step backward in this park themed to California. Around that time, the surrounding area was rethemed to “Grizzly Peak” – an idealized version of a California National Park – which was actually a marked improvement. The queue was never changed, and works fine in both settings, leaning heavily into the history of flight in the state of California, the entry queue paying tribute to legendary aviators of the state’s past. But while this theming is somewhat minimal, and the “Around the World” film is fairly standard, where this version really soars is in the Spring each year. At that time, during park’s Food & Wine festival, the attraction reverts back to the original “Over California” film. And when this happens, the lines grow noticeably longer, and the riders are noticeably more enthusiastic. It becomes obvious just how well the original version fits into this park, and it’s a pity it doesn’t stay this way year-round, just to provide that exclusive factor in perpetuity. Regardless, Spring is the time to soar over California, and because of that single factor, this ride flies high in the pack – the second-best version of the attraction in the world.

At the top of our list is the antithesis of Epcot’s Soarin’…an experience where, like so many in this park, the queue is an attraction in and of itself – possibly on par or even in some ways exceeding the actual ride. Located in the Mediterranean Harbor port of Tokyo DisneySea, and housed within the jaw-dropping Museum of Fantastic Flight, the exterior is a façade that could rival any real Italian museum. What’s more, behind the museum, the Imagineers have taken this building even one step further, creating a small Venetian “village” perched on a hillside. It adds a layer of realism and depth to the show-building that the US Disney parks have not seen in years. Inside, the museum houses a collection of paintings and artifacts from S.E.A. member Camellia Falco – an individual that dedicated her life (appropriately) to the study of flight. There is so much detail to this queue that it’s almost worth putting up with the typically multi-hour standby queue just to experience and see it all. The pre-show uses fascinating technology to bring some of these paintings to life in a realistic way unmatched anywhere else in the Disney theme park universe – truly one of those “how did they do that?” moments. Ultimately, Camellia’s spirit comes to life, and she invites riders to board one of her Dream Flyer vehicles…which of course have special theming unique to this incredible park. The giant screen – like Shanghai – shows a star-filled sky before the actual ride begins. As far as the film itself, it’s mostly the standard “Around the World” version – but with the removal of the Paris scene for a lengthy flyover through downtown Tokyo – extending enough to warrant a longer version of the score. The finale takes riders over a firework covered Mount Prometheus at Tokyo DisneySea – the best vista of any Disney park anywhere – before the ride ends and guests depart back through the museum back into the Venetian-inspired streets and shops of Mediterranean Harbor. Like nearly every other aspect of Tokyo DisneySea, the execution is flawless from start to finish, and the supporting land matches the attraction perfectly. It’s the idealized version of the attraction at the idealized version of a Disney Theme Park – and it soars above the rest of the pack as the best version of Soarin’ in the world.