Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at EPCOT

A big part of the re-imagination of EPCOT for the 50th anniversary of the Walt Disney World Resort will include the much anticipated GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY: COSMIC REWIND roller coaster. This ride is rumored to have cost $500 million making it the most expensive theme park attraction that far surpasses the $300 million cost to build Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure at Universal’s Island of Adventure.

Located on the site of the former Universe of Energy pavilion which featured Ellen’s Energy Adventure with Ellen DeGeneres and Bill Nye, Guardians of Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind will add a modern roller coaster / thrill ride type attraction to what has been perceived as a dated area of Epcot. At 5,577 feet in length, this reverse-launch roller coaster was manufactured by Dutch roller coaster designer Vekoma and is one of the longest indoor coasters in the world.

Opening to the public on May 27, 2022, this roller coaster ride is without a doubt an excellent compliment to the adjacent Mission: Space and Test Track attractions within Future World and a welcome addition to the current line up of rides at Epcot.

The Building – Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind

The ride building itself is enormous and along with Spaceship Earth, dominates the landscape around Epcot. At approximately 140 feet in height, it’s the largest building in Epcot’s Future World. According to the Disney Parks Blog, 960 truckloads of concrete were needed to be poured just for the foundation of the new building along. The following photos will give a much better prospective on the physical size of this attraction.

This photo is from Epcot’s parking area outside the front gate.

This photo was taken from the 26th floor of the Hilton Orlando Buena Vista Palace across from Disney Springs. From this view, it appears that the ride building is approximately twice the size of Spaceship Earth.

The Queue and the Story

The queue and pre-show is very well done and one of the best that Disney Imagineers have designed. It enhances the story to show as how Star-Lord (Chris Pratt) visited EPCOT as a child and was so fond of the experience that suggested that it be the place where Xandarians connect with Terrans.

The story in the Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is for Terrans (earth people) to teleport to a Nova Corps ship for a demonstration of the “cosmic generator” which is the power source used to create jump points or tunnels in space for travelers to cross distant galaxies in a short periods of time.

When Nova Prime (Glenn Close) and Centurion Tal Marik (Terry Crews) give the Terrans a preview of the cosmic generator the power goes out and the generator then goes missing. Nova Prime tells Tal Marik to call the Guardians who identify a Celestial names “Eson” who has taken the power generator from the Nova Corps to “change the course of humanity”.

Since the Guardians are far away from Eson, Rocket suggests that the Terrans follow Eson through the jump point using the Starjumper Shuttles until the Guardians can arrive to save the galaxy.

In the “Wonders of Xandar” pavilion (the queue), guests will explore three distinct areas:

The Galaxarium: This area is a planetarium style room which shows planets and stars that connect the universe.

The Xandar Gallery: Guests learn about the planet Xandar including the famous Guardians of the Galaxy.

The Phase Chamber: In this pre-show guests will meet Nova Prime and Centurion Tal Marik as well as the Guardians of the Galaxy. This is where the action really gets going.

The Ride – Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind

Guests board 4-person 360 degree rotating roller coaster ride vehicles that is themed after the Guardians of the Galaxy movie franchise. Lap bars that hold the riders in place while being launched backwards through a tunnel to the main building that houses most of the roller coaster track.

The attraction takes riders a a journey through the galaxy at speeds of up to 39 miles per hour. There are a number of twists and turns but what makes the ride unique is the rotation of the ride vehicles which turn in accordance to the story. And since music was a big part of the Guardians movie franchise, this all is taking place while riders listen to songs from the movies “Awesome Mix”:

“One Way Or Another” by Blondie
“September” by Earth, Wind & Fire
“Conga” by Gloria Estefan
“I Ran” by A Flock of Seagulls
“Everybody Wants to Rule the Worlds” by Tears for Fears
“Disco Inferno” by The Trammps

Unfortunately riders do not get to choose their individual song but these these six were chosen by Disney out of more than 100 tracks.

Watch our on-ride POV video of the Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind accompanied by the song “One Way Or Another” by Blondie.

Frequently Asked Questions – Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind

How long is the Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind?

The ride itself lasts about two and one-half minutes from the time guests board the vehicles to the time they depart.

Is the Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind family-friendly?

Disney is marketing the Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind as a “family-thrill attraction” so it is considered family friendly and suitable for younger riders. Based on our experience, the ride and accompanying story line is an enjoyable roller coaster experience for both first time coaster riders as well as experienced thrill seekers.

What are the height requirements the Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind?

There is a minimum height requirement for riders of 42 inches. Any child below the age of 7 must be accompanied by a supervising companion of ages 14 or higher.

Does the Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind go upside down?

The Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind features a number of twists and turns but there are major drops and it does not have any inversions or loops (does not go upside down).

How fast is the Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind?

The Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind ride is reported to travel at speeds of up to 39 miles per hour which is faster than Space Mountain (approximately 27 miles per hour) but slower than Expedition Everest (up to 50 miles per hour).

Is there are virtual queue for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind?

There will be a virtual queue offered for The Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind attraction. Guests will need to have an account for the My Disney Experience app to reserve a boarding group. It appears the process will be similar to the virtual queue for Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance.

Will there be a Lightning Lane available for the Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind?

There will be an individual Lightning Lane available for purchase using the Disney Genie system – the cost at this time is $17.00 per person. Learn more about Disney Genie system and Lightning Lanes in our Complete Guide.

Review – Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind

The Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind has now become our favorite attraction at the Walt Disney World Resort. The queue and pre-show are great to experience and the ride itself is truly one-of-a-kind. There is little doubt in our opinion that Disney Imagineers have deigned this coaster to fit a very wide variety of audiences.

In our opinion, this is not only the best roller coaster at Walt Disney World, but among the the top in all of the Orlando theme parks. From the rotating ride vehicles to the video and music, this attraction is an absolute must to do when visiting EPCOT.

How does it compare with other Orlando theme park roller coasters?

We consider Guardians among the top roller coaster at any of the Orlando theme parks. Since it is a fully indoor coaster, there is a bit of a different experience than that outdoor roller coasters – but both have their advantages and disadvantages.

To see how the Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind stacks up against the Universal’s VeloioCoaster or SeaWorld’s Ice Breaker, visit our post on the Top 15 Best Orlando Theme Park Roller Coaster for 2022.

About the Walt Disney World Resort

The Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida is one of the most visited destinations throughout the state. With four amazing theme parks, two water parks, over 30,000 hotel rooms, a major sports venue and one of the area’s largest shopping dining and entertainment districts, there is something for guests of all ages.

Learn More about the Walt Disney World Resort with our Theme Park Guides

Where Should We Stay When Visiting the Walt Disney World Resort?

The Walt Disney World Resort has a number of great on-site hotels and each and every one of them have their own benefits, characteristics and price points.

There are multiple “categories” of hotels which are as follows:

Deluxe Resort Hotels
Deluxe Resort Villas
Moderate Resort Hotels
Disney’s Campgrounds
Value Resort Hotels

Deluxe resort hotels include the Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, Disney’s Boardwalk Inn, Disney’s Yacht Club Resort, Disney’s Beach Club Resort and Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. These resort hotels are all located adjacent to a Walt Disney World theme park (Magic Kingdom Park, EPCOT and Disney’s Animal Kingdom) and offer easy access to that park as well as superior amenities and accommodations.

The Walt Disney World Swan, Walt Disney World Dolphin and the Walt Disney World Swan Reserve are located in the Epcot Resorts area and within walking distance to Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

In addition Disney’s hotels and resorts, there are a number of other hotel options including the hotels in the Disney Springs Resort Area and those within the Bonnet Creek Resort.

Click here to learn more about hotels at the Walt Disney World Resort