Will Mt. Rushmore Be Included in Updated Disney Parks Attraction?

What has 18 letters and will be the backdrop for a party of epic proportions across America in 2026?

It's Semiquincentennial, a fancy way of acknowledging 250 years, which is what the United States will be doing next year on July 4th.

Massive makeover

The nationwide celebration will take on many forms, including the revamping of an attraction at Disneyland in California and Walt Disney World in Florida.

This week, Walt Disney Imagineering announced that the popular Soarin' attraction at the EPCOT and California Adventure parks will be updated with a 'trip across the United States' in honor of the country's 250th birthday.

Filming for Soarin' Across America is now underway across multiple U.S. locations, in the hopes of reflecting the 'diversity and beauty of the nation through a cohesive flight narrative.'

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The attraction will continue to use the signature suspended ride system, scent effects, and orchestral score that Soarin' has incorporated for nearly two decades.

Destinations unknown

Disney has yet to confirm exactly which American scenes will be depicted in the final version of the film, which will make its debut sometime next summer, but obviously, around here, we're pulling for an appearance from South Dakota's famous faces at Mount Rushmore.

Strong Reaction

And while several people have included the Black Hills carvings of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Teddy Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln on their list of places that should be included, others have expressed a less-than-favorable opinion of Mount Rushmore in the comment sections of one Disney-related blog.

At WDWMagic.com:

• 'Some would make an argument that Mount Rushmore is controversial, as it was built on in the Black Hills, which was sacred land to the Sioux and other Indian tribes.'
• 'Mount Rushmore should have been skipped if they're actually including it. Too many other things they could showcase in the US that are far more impressive.'
• 'Exactly -- that's why I think it should be skipped. It's not that impressive and would really be a waste compared to so many other options out there. I don't think it would even belong in a top 50 of things to showcase.'
• 'Totally get this argument, but I think the more pressing one is Mount Rushmore simply isn't that awe-inspiring visually lol. If you've ever been in person, it looks small and unfinished. Don't know how cool it'll look compared to something like the Rockies. (Though I think they'll almost certainly include it).'

South Dakota's Hidden Gems

Meanwhile, some commenters at Disney Tourist Blog were pulling for the inclusion of a couple of other South Dakota attractions:

• 'My last “sleeper” pick will be Badlands NP and the Black Hills, which would do double-duty representing Native American culture and then zooming over Mount Rushmore.'
• 'Definitely! That’s really hard because so many deserving ones wouldn’t make it. I’m thinking Arches, Grand Canyon, Yosemite, Volcanoes, Yellowstone, and Bryce. Think we can safely rule out Carlsbad, Mammoth, and Wind Cave!'

What do you think? Should Mount Rushmore make the cut? Share your opinion on our Facebook page.

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