Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is NOW OPEN in Walt Disney World as part of the historic transformation happening in EPCOT! This new roller coaster — EPCOT’s first! — opened on May 27, 2022.

Click HERE to check out PHOTOS & VIDEOS of our FIRST RIDE on Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind!

Staying SPOILER-FREE? Click HERE for our NO SPOILER Review of Cosmic Rewind!

Located in World Discovery (in the area that formerly housed the Universe of Energy), the attraction — which is one of the longest indoor roller coasters ever built — will take YOU on an intergalactic adventure with the Guardians of the Galaxy!

You’ve got FAQs about Cosmic Rewind, and we’ve got answers HERE!

If you’d like to jump to a specific topic about Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, click any of the links below:

• The Story Behind Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind (SPOILER WARNING)
• The Ride, Ride Vehicles, and Unique Attraction Features
• The Cast of Characters
• The Soundtrack for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
• Cosmic Rewind Construction Milestones and Imagineering
• Treasures of Xandar — Merchandise Location
• Rider Access — How to Get on Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
• Ride Specifications (including Height Requirement and appropriate Age Groups)

As the story goes…

Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind — The Story

The planet of Xandar of the Andromeda Galaxy (and home to the galaxy’s Nova Corps) has brought the first Other-World pavilion to EPCOT: the Wonders of Xandar pavilion!

You see, Star-Lord loved EPCOT when he was just a lil’ Peter Quill. He loved it SO much, in fact, that he “suggested the Disney park as the perfect place for Xandarians to connect with Terrans.”

And so, the Wonders of Xandar pavilion was created to connect our worlds and people.

Let’s explore…

The Galaxarium

Guests first enter the Galaxarium, a “planetarium-like exhibition” where they will learn about the differences and similarities between the galaxies of Earth (Terra) and Xandar.

Visions of “planets, stars and other intergalactic wonders that connect Terra and Xandar” are presented to reinforce the notion that “we’re all born of the same space dust.”

Entirely immersive, the full viewable experience in the Galaxarium is over 30 minutes long. And your narration is provided by the Xandarian supercomputer, Worldmind.

You’ll see Xandar and the Andromeda Galaxy, as well as Earth (Terra) and the Milky Way Galaxy. (Click HERE for a video Sneak Peek!) You may also spy Star-Lord’s Awesome Mix Vol. 1 floating through space!

And, umm… a TURKEY LEG.

(You can find out a little more about that here. 😉 ) Next on our tour…

The Xandar Gallery

After winding through the ramps of the Galaxarium, guests enter the Xandar Gallery, where Xandarians teach us Terrans (Earth dwellers) about “their world, their people and their advanced technologies,” as well as Xandar’s “protectors and heroes!” (Now WHO could that be? 😉 )

On display are models of starships and a Xandarian city.

Meanwhile, excerpts from Good Morning Xandar allow guests to get to know the Guardians!

(Buuut, who’s going to be the one to break it to Peter that Horizons no longer exists? Anyway, moving on…

The Phase Chamber

The tour leads next to the Phase Chamber, where you’ll hear from Nova Prime Irani Rael, leader of Xandar and the commander of Nova Corps.

The goal from here? To “instantly teleport [guests] from EPCOT to a Nova Corps Starcharter cruiser orbiting Earth.” Nova Prime will talk “about the Cosmic Generator, a piece of Xandarian technology that creates jump points – artificial tunnels in space allowing for rapid travel across vast distances.”  From the Phase Chamber you’ll be able to teleport to a Nova ship above Earth for a demonstration of the Cosmic Generator!

Then it’s time for a demonstration, and a word of instruction from Nova Prime’s top officer, Centurion Tal Marik. 

Oh, and once you’re in the Phase Chamber, you may hear Centurion Marik mention the teeny, tiny little matter that that they’ve never transported Terrans before. (WAIT. Whaaaa…????)

Thankfully, there’s a smooth transition to the ship for a preview of the Cosmic Generator!

Well, there’s supposed to be a preview, that is…

Not All Goes According to Plan…

Suddenly, the power goes out and the cosmic generator goes MISSING. So much for that preview!

As it just so happens, a Celestial named Eson (or Eson the Searcher) once had possession of the Power Stone (one of the 6 Infinity stones). (Other Celestials you may have seen in the MCU include Arishem from The Eternals and Ego from Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 2.)

Eson has been watching Earth (Terra), for a long time, and apparently he “intends to use the Cosmic Generator to jump back in time and change the course of humanity.” Like, NOW.

Click HERE to check out the story behind the VILLIAN of Cosmic Rewind!

Nova Prime Irani Rael then commands Centurion Tal Marik, to get into action and contact the Guardians of the Galaxy!

And now? Rocket, Groot, Drax, Gamora, and Star-Lord need YOUR help to save the galaxy after receiving that S.O.S. from the Nova Corps that their outpost on Earth is in danger. Now, YOU, my friend, have gotta get out of the ship FAST, so you evacuate by using “Starjumper shuttles – small escape pods that launch from the Starcharter cruiser.”

Why? Because YOUR Starjumper shuttle will actually follow Eson until the Guardians can arrive!

With plenty of twists and turns, Cosmic Rewind will send guests on a high-speed journey through “space and time!”

Starjumper? Nova Corps? Cosmic Generator? Click HERE for all the NEW LANGUAGE you should learn for your Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind adventure!

Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind — The Ride and Features

As mentioned above, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is one of the longest indoor rollercoasters in the WORLD. At an event we were able to attend months before the ride’s opening, Disney Imagineers shared that the massive building which houses the attraction is technically one story (as one large room), but it realistically looks to be the height of a something closer to a 4 story building.

To give you more of an idea of the scope, Cosmic Rewind is located inside one of the largest show buildings that has EVER been built for a Disney theme park. In fact, the show building is so big that (by volume) FOUR Spaceship Earths could fit inside of it!

Cosmic Rewind also features the first ever reverse launch on a Disney coaster!

Click HERE to read our thoughts as we stepped inside Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind for the first time!

The attraction is a family-friendly Omnicoaster, which means that the ride vehicles — the Starjumper vehicles — spin a full 360 degrees on the track while traveling at high speeds.

Here is a closer look at the 4-seater Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind Starjumpers!

Click HERE to take a closer look at the Cosmic Rewind ride vehicles!

Josh D’Amaro (Chairman, Disney Parks, Experiences and Products) spoke during the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions Expo in late 2020, and shared a video of the ride vehicle moving on its 360-degree access so you can see it in action below!

Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind ride vehicles! Footage from the IAAPA Expo! pic.twitter.com/7NP1SVa3Mv

— AJ Wolfe (@DisneyFoodBlog) November 16, 2020

Throughout the construction of the attraction, we visited the site to keep an eye on the progress for Cosmic Rewind. For instance, in January 2022, assembly began on the 51-foot Nova Corps Starblaster ship which marks the entrance to the ride. (It’s the first full-size version of this ship that has ever been built!)

The iconic ship was first seen in the original Guardians of the Galaxy film, and now it greets guests as they approach the Wonders of Xandar Pavilion in EPCOT!

And in February, we noticed blaster installation on the Nova Corps ship.

And a HUGE moment came in April 2022, when the construction WALLS SURROUNDING THE ATTRACTION CAME DOWN!

Early ride testing began in December 2021 inside the building. Jeff Vahle, the President of Walt Disney World Resort, posted on Instagram that he took an early test ride on the upcoming attraction.

And in March 2022, Disney shared more photos from INSIDE the attraction:

Disney Imagineer Zach Riddley shared that the “Angular designs, striking use of colors, and materials all help tell the story of a Nova Corps facility. The railings, station gates and floor markings…are all used to convey the experience in ways that might not be as obvious or apparent, but every detail is a choice that supports our story.”

For instance, the gates for the loading zone are meant to have a “weight and scale to them to help convey the industrial nature of the area.” The handrails are made of “stainless steel give a sturdy and durable feel and show the precision craftsmanship of the Nova Corps.”

The Nova Corps designs are inspired by their star symbol, and Riddley shares that the symbol makes “several appearances in the space.”

Click HERE to see MORE pictures from INSIDE Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind!

In April 2022, Riddley also provided insight into the nighttime lighting for the attraction, sharing that the atmosphere is meant “to ensure that the people of Xandar have a suitable beacon for the message of peace and cooperation that they have brought to our park.”

The lighting is designed to “highlight the intricate layering of masses and forms that define the building—not to mention its very imposing scale!” And the Nova Corps Starblaster is set to be the focus of the pavilion at night in the middle of the courtyard. Riddley noted that “its programming is intended to allow the Xandarians to play along in the vibrant skyline of our new vision for EPCOT.”

He went on to write: “The lighting design reinforces the layering of space and scale that we focused on as we developed our exterior architecture, finishes, and color palette. We had such an amazing starting point with the pre-existing Universe of Energy building and looked for every opportunity to preserve and extend the many strong points of that facade.”

Treasures of Xandar — Gift Shop and Guardians of the Galaxy Merchandise

Disney Imagineer Zach Riddley has shared a bit of information and story about the Treasures of Xandar gift shop in association with the attraction.

According to Riddley, the story of this shop is that it is operated by “The Broker.” The Broker is “a proud Xandarian, who’s been awarded the contract and brought part of his famous store here to EPCOT.”

Some of the merchandise pays tribute to Xandar itself and items that have been acquired throughout the galaxy.

You’ll also find some items that celebrate the Heroes of Xandar…

…the Guardians of the Galaxy!

Merchandise collections, as shared by Disney, include: 

• Heroes of Xandar Collection — What if the Guardians were rock stars? This collection is “[i]nspired by vintage concert merchandise of the 1980s,” and will imagine “all of the gear and memorabilia fans would collect during the Guardians’ fictional intergalactic tour.”

• The Guardians of the Galaxy: Through the Eyes of Quill Collection — This collection is a “bold and colorful line celebrating Peter Quill’s childhood visit to EPCOT.” It has a vintage feel with “retro silhouettes and graphic designs evoking decades past.”

• Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind – Honorary Guardians Collection — This collection helps guests of all ages show off their new hero status after riding the ride and, you know, saving the galaxy! According to Disney, “Honorary Guardians will be distinguished in their rank through the official Honorary Guardian colors of navy and gold paired with the Honorary Guardian emblem, which is proudly displayed on each item in the collection.”

• Groot Through the Years Collection — This collection “celebrates the sentient tree-like creature and his journey to becoming a defender of the galaxy.” The collection will have “toys, home décor and children’s apparel” that show “Groot’s evolution from baby to adolescent to adult.”

The Broker reportedly shared a special statement with the Walt Disney Imagineering Team. The statement reads: “I am so delighted to bring my wares to the Wonders of Xandar pavilion. As a proud Xandarian, it gives me great pleasure to represent my planet to you Terrans and allow you to bring home a small bit of Xandar from my shop: Treasures of Xandar. I only hope that it brings our two cultures that much closer together.”

Click HERE to see a FULL LOOK at the Guardians of the Galaxy merchandise in the Treasures of Xandar!

Important Words from the Guardians of the Galaxy Regarding Cosmic Rewind

Disney has passed along the following message from Groot regarding his excitement over this ground-breaking new attraction: “I am Groot.”

Well said, Groot.

Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind — Rider Access

There are TWO ways to ride Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind:

ONE: Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind utilizes a Virtual Queue. Guests MUST have a Boarding Group in the Virtual Queue to ride. Registration for the Virtual Queue is accessible through the My Disney Experience app. A Standby line is NOT available in its opening phase.

PLEASE NOTE: Eligible guests going to Extended Evening Hours can also request to join the virtual queue for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at 6PM. Find COMPLETE DETAILS here.

Click HERE to learn everything you need to know to JOIN a Virtual Queue to get a Boarding Pass for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind!

TWO: Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind offers paid-for ride access via a Lightning Lane through Individual Attraction Selection on the Disney Genie tool in the My Disney Experience app. The cost to ride Cosmic Rewind can vary by date, and we have seen a range of $14 – $17 (cost is per person).

Click HERE to learn how to purchase Lightning Lane access to ride Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind!

Virtual Queue or Pay-Per-Ride? We discuss the best way to get on Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind here.

And HERE is the trick to riding Cosmic Rewind TWICE in one day.

Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind — Specifications

Features: Indoor roller coaster, reverse launch into space, 360-degree movement, OmniCoaster ride system, specialized movement along with the story, fast and energetic turns

On-Ride Attraction Photos through Disney PhotoPass: Yes — Learn more here!

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Want MORE Details About EPCOT’s MASSIVE Transformation?

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Click HERE for All the News and Details about EPCOT’s Transformation!

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