Disney Just Gave Passholders Early Access to Two New Rides — Here Is How to Get In

Walt Disney World dropped a significant announcement on May 5 that annual passholders have been waiting months for: the exact preview dates, times, and access mechanics for both Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets and Soarin’ Across America — and the window to ride before the general public opens is tighter than you might expect.

The details were first reported by Laughing Place on May 5, 2026.

What Is Opening — and When

Both attractions share the same public opening date: May 26, 2026. But passholders get in first, and the preview dates differ by attraction.

• Soarin’ Across America (EPCOT): Passholder previews May 19 and 20
• Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets (Hollywood Studios): Passholder previews May 21, 22, and 23

DVC members staying at a qualifying Walt Disney World resort hotel get their own dedicated preview dates: May 21 for Soarin’ Across America, and May 24 for Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets.

Two Very Different Access Systems

This is where it gets important to read carefully before you make plans.

Soarin’ Across America is keeping things simple. During the May 19 and 20 preview dates, passholders can ride using the standard standby queue during regular EPCOT operating hours. No virtual queue, no reservation required beyond normal park admission. Just show up and get in line. Lightning Lane will not be offered during the preview period.

Worth noting: the current film — Soarin’ Around the World — is scheduled to run through May 13, after which the attraction closes briefly for the film swap. The new American-themed experience debuts in previews starting May 19.

Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets is a different situation entirely. This one uses a virtual queue, and there are three daily distribution windows with different eligibility requirements:

• 7:00 AM: Passholders with a Disney’s Hollywood Studios park reservation for that day
• 11:00 AM: Passholders with a park reservation at any Walt Disney World theme park that day
• 3:00 PM: All passholders — no park reservation required

Each passholder can only request one virtual queue spot per day. There is no standby line and no Lightning Lane during the preview dates. Once the attraction opens to the general public on May 26, it will transition to a standard standby queue with Lightning Lane available.

As a bonus, passholders who ride during the preview window will receive a complimentary download of their attraction photo from Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets.

What This Means If You Are Planning a Trip

If you are an annual passholder with a trip already on the books in late May, you now have a concrete plan to work with. The Soarin’ preview is the easier get — standby only, no queue games, just be in EPCOT on May 19 or 20. If you want the Muppets coaster preview, the 3:00 PM virtual queue drop on May 21, 22, or 23 is your most accessible entry point since it requires no park reservation for that specific park.

The DVC member dates are equally worth flagging. If you are a DVC member staying on property, you get an extra day for each attraction before the passholder window even opens to the general public — particularly valuable for the Muppets coaster, where DVC gets May 24 and general passholders are already done by then.

The Bigger Picture

Both of these openings are meaningful. Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster’s transformation from an Aerosmith-themed ride into a Muppets experience required significant physical renovation — this is not a simple IP swap. Soarin’ Across America, meanwhile, arrives timed to the country’s 250th anniversary celebrations, replacing the international version of the film with one focused exclusively on American landmarks and landscapes.

May 26 is shaping up to be one of the more notable single days at Walt Disney World in recent memory, with two high-profile openings hitting simultaneously across two different parks. If you are planning around that date, crowds are a reasonable concern. The passholder preview window — particularly the quieter days before the public rush — may actually be the smarter way to experience both.

Source: Passholder Preview Dates Revealed for Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets and Soarin’ Across America — Laughing Place