Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind – Out of This World Thrills in EPCOT!
Guardians of the Galaxy is an amazingly fun branch of the Marvel universe. With an endearing cast of characters, quirky humor, and catchy music, super heroes have never been so fun.
But can the same be said for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind?
The new kid on the EPCOT block, Cosmic Rewind is the park’s first roller coaster! However, it’s not just any old roller coaster. It’s also an indoor dark ride that utilizes special effects to create the illusion of zipping along on an intergalactic adventure. More impressive still, it’s also the debut of Disney’s latest innovation: “omnicoaster” technology (ride vehicles that rotate toward the action you’re meant to observe). This star-studded ride is also Disney’s first foray into reverse-launching coasters.
Between the fandom and the firsts, there is so much hype around this coaster! But is it a must-ride for you? Here’s a run-down of the Marvel mayhem to help you decide!
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind Review
Cosmic Rewind is located in the World Discovery section of EPCOT (where Ellen’s Energy Adventure used to be). Disney’s first and only Marvel attraction (as of now, anyway) is housed in the “Wonders of Xandar Pavillion,” cleverly integrating an otherwise misfit ride into the World Showcase. Just like France, Japan, and Canada, ambassadors from the planet Xandar are simply here to share their culture with the denizens of WDW!
This also sets the stage for the ride’s storyline, as the queue has you winding your way through two preshows starring Chris Pratt as Star-Lord and Glenn Close as Nova Prime. In the name of cultural exchange, the characters explain how you’ll be allowed to use a piece of amazing new Xandarian tech – the Cosmic Generator – to jump through space and visit their planet.
But, of course, things don’t go according to plan. The Cosmic Generator is stolen by a new villain named Eson, who plans to use its power to erase Earth from existence! The ride itself has you hurtling after Eson in an attempt to find him and stop him before it’s too late.
Video screens help convey the story action while the coaster itself launches you into some top-tier physical action! Surrounding screens, set pieces, voice-over banter between the Guardians, and a-rockin’ song in the background culminate in a super fun, can’t miss experience. According to the Theme Park Tribune, “Epcot finally has a roller coaster — and it’s the best one that Disney has ever built.”
Let’s Get Down to Business (To Defeat Eson)
While the general consensus is that Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is fantastic – and even thought by some to be a much-needed pick-me-up for EPCOT – there are still some things that might keep it from being a must-ride for everyone.
The biggest complaint is the current queue situation. Perhaps because the ride is so new (read: popular), Disney has decided to forego a standby line. And, to be fair, if there were a standby line, it’d probably be long enough to listen through Awesome Mix Vol. 1 AND Vol. 2. (And maybe even Vol. 3.)
By using a virtual queue only, guests are assigned turns on the ride, resulting in Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind wait times of around 30 minutes. Not bad for a Disney World line!
That being said, trying to reserve your spot in the virtual queue can be quite difficult. Slots fill up insanely fast, so if you’ve got a slow internet connection when the virtual queue opens at 7 am and 1 pm… you’re out of luck. (The virtual queue can be found on Disney World’s app.)
There is another option for nabbing a spot on EPCOT’s singular coaster: Individual Lightning Lane. By using Disney’s Genie+ system and purchasing an Individual Lightning Lane, you can reserve a specific wait time and secure your spot on Cosmic Rewind. However, this, too, poses problems. Disney’s hotel guests have first dibs on Lightning Lane, and sometimes, there aren’t any reservations left over for other guests. There’s also the matter of money: reserving Cosmic Rewind is $17 extra dollars, making it the most expensive ride in the park. When you consider that the onboard ride time is right around three minutes, it might make it difficult to justify spending that kind of money.
Line problems aside, the ride itself is incredibly fun, and most guests are ready to ride it again and again. (Although you can only enter the virtual queue once a day…)
Cosmic Rewind Stats and Facts
All right, so we’ve established that riding Cosmic Rewind is pretty awesome, but let’s break down the experience by examining guests’ most burning questions.
(Photo: Jeremy Thompson via Flickr)
- What are all of the Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind songs?
Just like in the movies, your ride will take place against the backdrop of a hit tune from the 70s or 80s. The six-song playlist includes the following:
– “September” by Earth, Wind, and Fire
– “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” by Tears for Fears
– “Disco Inferno” by the Trammps
– “One Way or Another” by Blondie
– “I Ran (So Far Away)” by Flock of Seagulls
– “Conga” by Glorida Estefan
The song you’ll experience on your ride is selected at random, which adds an extra touch of re-rideability to the attraction!1 - Does Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind go upside down?
Nope! There aren’t any inversions, and there aren’t any significant drops, either!
- Does Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind cause motion sickness?
This is one of the smoothest roller coasters out there, so motion-sick-prone people don’t have to worry about jerky starts and stops or whiplash. There are no real heights, but darkness and simulated stars really give the feeling of floating in space, which might trigger motion sickness for some people. The biggest trigger is the “omnicoaster” movement, where the ride vehicles swivel so you can watch the action. The movement is comparable to Tilt-a-Whirl and teacup rides, but the spinning is not constant in this case. Nevertheless, the motion sick prone should take caution – an above-average number of riders do report feeling sick on this ride.2 If you decide to give it a go, try sitting on the left side of the ride car (where you’ll experience less g-forces) and ask a Cast Member for an airsickness bag, just to be safe! - How fast do you go on Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind?
This coaster reaches speeds of 60 mph! - Is Cosmic Rewind scarier than Space Mountain?
Cosmic Rewind is a family-friendly attraction. It’s not meant to be too scary! In regard to the story and set, if you can handle the movies, there aren’t any images that will frighten you here. However, the physical aspect of the ride is intense! It’s way smoother than Space Mountain, but thanks to newer effects and space explosions, we’d have to say it feels more intense. Some guests have commented that it’s not quite as intense as Expedition Everest. - What is the best seat on the Guardians of the Galaxy ride?
For extra intensity, try the back rows (9 & 10)! For something slightly tamer, go with the front rows (1 & 2).
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is technologically innovative and thematically imaginative. Getting to explore space with favorite characters is an automatic recipe for success (look at Galaxy’s Edge in Hollywood Studios!). Couple the fun of the Guardians gang with a blissfully smooth and speedy coaster track, and you’ve got the makings of a legendary Disney ride.
Have you ridden Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind? What did you think? Would you ride it again? Let us know in the comments below!
Cover photo: Anthony Quintano via Flickr
Disclaimer: We earn a commission if you click any of the links above and make a purchase at no additional cost to you.
