Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is opening in Walt Disney World on May 27, 2022 as part of the historic transformation happening in EPCOT!
We were invited to a Media Preview at Walt Disney World and able to experience the ride prior to its opening. You can STEP INSIDE and ride with us HERE!
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!
Are you ready to ROCK THE GALAXY?!?
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)
And to hop right to any specific posts about our experience RIDING Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, click any of the links below:
- PHOTOS & VIDEOS: We Rode Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind in EPCOT — Come INSIDE With Us!
- FIRST LOOK at the Queue for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind in EPCOT!
- The Easter Eggs You Won’t Want to Miss on EPCOT’s Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind Ride
- PHOTOS: Sneak Peek at the On-Ride Photo for EPCOT’s Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
- PHOTOS: FULL LOOK at the Merchandise from EPCOT’s Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind Gift Shop
- Will the Guardians of the Galaxy Coaster Make You BARF in EPCOT? What You Need to Know.
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) is bringing 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 will 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 will 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 will allow guests to get to know the Guardians!
The Phase Chamber
The tour now leads guests 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 he 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.
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
Safety bars pull down for each guest, and speakers are also inset into each row between the seats. (Cue Awesome Mix Vol. 1 and 2!)
To help you on your adventure are “emissaries of Xandar as members of the Nova Corps”… otherwise known as Disney Cast Members!
Disney Imagineer Zach Riddley has shared that the Cast Member costumes feature some of the style, colors, and symbols from the Nova Corps and the world of Xandar that fans have previously only gotten glimpses of.
Disney shares that Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is “a massive experience that will match the scale and adventure of the Guardians of the Galaxy films.”
Guardians of the Galaxy: The Cast of Characters and Other Appearances
In addition to Rocket, Groot, Drax, Gamora, Star-Lord, and Eson the Searcher (as mentioned above), Terry Crews appears as “Centurion Tal Marik, Commander of the Starcharter and close advisor to Nova Prime.”
And actress Glenn Close has reprised her role as Nova Prime in the attraction.
You may see another familiar face as well…
In fact, you may be taken by surprise by a few things you notice!
See TONS of hidden Disney details and Easter Eggs in Cosmic Rewind HERE!
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind — Awesome Mix! (The Soundtrack)
Want to know which songs you’ll hear while you ride? There are six tunes that provide the sounds for the experience:
- “September”
- “Disco Inferno”
- “Conga”
- “Everybody Wants to Rule the World”
- “I Ran”
- “One Way or Another”
Spoiler Alert: the soundtrack WON’T be the same every time you ride it. Disney has shared that “you won’t know which track you’ll hear each time you ride until you actually blast off!”
Get the story behind the sounds HERE!
Guests will also hear some of the songs that didn’t make it into the final ride mix when exiting the ride. There are “several dozen songs” that will play in this area, so you can hear some of the songs that were considered for the attraction.
Disney Imagineering of Cosmic Rewind
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 2023 (fast-approaching the May 27th opening), 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 will be “[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 will be a “bold and colorful line celebrating Peter Quill’s childhood visit to EPCOT.” It will really have a vintage feel with “retro silhouettes and graphic designs evoking decades past.”
- Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind – Honorary Guardians Collection — This collection will help 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 will 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.”
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind — Opening Date
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind was originally scheduled to open in time for the 50th Anniversary of Walt Disney World (October 1, 2021). However, construction for several projects around the Resort was paused during the temporary closure of Walt Disney World in 2020 in response to the global health situation. But we are happy to say that in April 2022, Disney announced that Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind will open on May 27, 2022!
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind — Rider Access
In its opening phase, there will be TWO ways to ride Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind:
ONE: Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind will utilize 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 will NOT be 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 will offer paid-for rider 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 is not yet known; currently, the highest priced attraction in Disney World is Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, at $15 per person, per ride.
Click HERE to learn how to purchase Lightning Lane access to ride Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind!
Early Preview Events for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
Select groups have been eligible for the chance to register for Previews prior to the attraction’s opening date: Disney World Cast Members, Disney World Annual Passholders (UPDATE: Annual Passholder previews have reached capacity), and eligible Disney Vacation Club Members (UPDATE: Disney Vacation Club previews have reached capacity).
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind — Specifications
Location: World Discovery in EPCOT
Individual Attraction Lightning Lane Access (pay-per-ride): YES
Virtual Queue for a Boarding Group: YES
Minimum Height Requirement: 42″ (107cm)
Appropriate Age Groups: Disney classifies this ride as Family-friendly, and appropriate for “kids, tweens, teens, and adults.”
Motion Sickness Concerns: We discuss this important topic in full HERE. However, our nutshell comparison with other thrill rides in Disney World is as follows: “The sensation of this ride was like a combo of Space Mountain and Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster — it’s very dark inside! We found that the intensity was between the two coasters, it’s more intense than Space Mountain but less intense than Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster. We even thought it was less intense than Expedition Everest. And, for anyone concerned, this coaster does NOT go upside down, but it does go backwards.”
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!
Disney Food Blog Posts Mentioning Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
You Might also Like: Epcot Transformation, Space 220, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure
Check out our video above and click any of the links below for MORE information about all the changes coming to EPCOT!
Want MORE Details About EPCOT’s MASSIVE Transformation?
EPCOT’s Three New Neighborhoods Have Debuted — Learn More Here
Learn About the NEW Restaurant Coming to EPCOT – Connections Cafe and Eatery
A Starbucks Will Be Inside EPCOT’s New Restaurant – Get More Details Here
Go Inside Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure With Us
Check Out All of the Tasty Details About La Crêperie de Paris
Learn All About Space 220, Which Has Officially OPENED in EPCOT
See Spaceship Earth’s Permanent New Nighttime Look
Learn More About EPCOT’s New Nighttime Spectacular -- Harmonious
The Mary Poppins Attraction is on Hold – Learn More Here
What’s Been CUT From the EPCOT Transformation?
Learn More About the New PLAY! Pavilion Coming to EPCOT
See All the Details You Need to Know About the Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind Coaster Coming to World Discovery
Learn More About Journey of Water -- Inspired by Moana, Coming to World Nature
Click HERE for All the News and Details about EPCOT’s Transformation!
Join the DFB Newsletter To get all the latest Epcot transformation news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe!
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