Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is a Marvel-themed roller coaster under construction at Epcot. This attraction will be the first of its kind at Walt Disney World, and one of the 50th Anniversary’s biggest additions. This covers everything you need to know about the ride: when it’ll open, concept art, details, and more. (Updated February 1, 2022.)
The saga of a Guardians of the Galaxy attraction at Walt Disney World dates back years. It started with rumors of a replacement for the iconic Twilight Zone Tower of Terror at Disney’s Hollywood Studios a la Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission Breakout at Disneyland Resort. Then came rumors that the Marvel misfits would take over the nearby Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith (an overlay that actually would’ve made a ton of sense).
Walt Disney World has since officially announced Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, replacing the dinosaurs of Universe of Energy at Epcot. Here’s everything we know about that attraction–for the latest developments and construction progress, scroll down to the “February 2022 Update” heading…
Walt Disney World has repeatedly referred to Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind as the first other-world showcase pavilion at Epcot. While releasing new details about the three new neighborhoods replacing Future World, Disney shed more light on how this pavilion will fit into the park.
The former Universe of Energy Pavilion is now the Wonders of Xandar Pavilion, which will be come to Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. The Wonders of Xandar Pavilion will be located in the World Discovery neighborhood of Epcot.
This area will showcase science, technology, and intergalactic adventure. Other offerings in the World Discovery area of Epcot will include the Play Pavilion, Space 220 Restaurant, Mission Space, and Test Track.
According to Disney, “Epcot just may be the perfect place for a Guardians-inspired attraction — Peter Quill (aka Star Lord) actually visited Epcot as a kid!” Plenty of EPCOT Center purists might disagree with that sentiment–whether that’s a good explanation for the thematic fit or a ham-fisted attempt at shoehorning Marvel into Epcot is in the eye of the beholder.
Regardless, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind starts in the “Galaxarium,” a planetarium-like exhibition that explores the similarities and mysteries of the formation of Earth’s galaxy and Xandar.
The conceit is that the Nova Corps have arrived on earth (that’s a Star Blaster parked out front) and are inviting guests to learn more about the treasures Xandar has to share. The premise is likely to be that the main building houses a science museum type exhibition.
In the teaser video for the attraction in Epcot Experience, a recorded video of a Xandarian welcomes earthlings to the installation before being interrupted by Rocket Raccoon for being boring. (When the feed is restored, we hear the Xandarian say, “…and now you know the secret of the universe.”)
The expectation is that the actual attraction will play out along these lines, with the pre-show involving an edutainment component that pays homage to the original message of EPCOT Center. That will likely be interrupted when the Guardians of the Galaxy arrive, culminating in the Big Bang, and an adventure across the cosmos ensuing.
Walt Disney World is touting Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind as a “storytelling coaster,” which is to say it’s a roller coaster with show scenes. Disney has indicated that it’s a family-friendly attraction–but it’ll still probably have a height requirement.
Imagineering is calling this an OmniCoaster ride system, and it’s a collaboration between WDI and Vekoma, a Netherlands-based roller coaster manufacturer. Cosmic Rewind’s vehicles will be able to rotate 360 degrees and do a reverse launch–a first for Walt Disney World.
Walt Disney Imagineering released the above video of the the OmniCoaster ride system.
This was presumably shot on Vekoma’s test track in the Netherlands, and not on-site at Walt Disney World or even in Glendale, California.
For years, Disney stated that Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind would open “in time for the 50th anniversary of Walt Disney World Resort in 2021.” However, that has not been the case since the closure/reopening.
Walt Disney World did not offer any official statements about the opening timeline for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind for over a year after Epcot closed and reopened. Fortunately, that has changed since Walt Disney World’s 50th Anniversary kicked off.
Walt Disney World announced that Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind will open in Summer 2022!
Unfortunately, no specific date–or even a month–has been provided, but this is nonetheless an exciting development. We have more speculation below as to what Summer 2022 means, beyond the “official” date range of June 21 through September 22, 2022 in the Northern Hemisphere.
With that in mind, here’s a look at the latest construction progress…
February 2022 Update
While the news about Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind’s opening season is exciting, there is still construction work that remains to be done.
The big new development is the installation of the Nova Corps Starblaster ship that’ll mark the Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind entrance. Imagineering is currently assembling the 51-foot-tall ship, which is now mostly done.
Above is a look at the current status courtesy of Walt Disney Imagineering.
Imagineers state that they’re still “adding finishing details and tying in the landing pad area that surrounds the ship.” In other words, this is not yet done.
Despite that, this has prompted online backlash from Walt Disney World fans who assume that support column will remain exposed. In some ways, I can’t totally fault those fans–not like WDI’s recent track record with ‘show’ is sterling in Epcot. Just take a look at the giant blue box behind the attraction or the giant off-center Stargate or water tacos in World Showcase Lagoon.
However, I’m also not ready to judge this until it’s actually done. It’s certainly not going to float like depicted in the concept art…but was anyone realistically expecting that? For one thing, Disney has always taken a lot of “artistic liberties” with concept art.
For another, RCID has strict standards, making this essentially a 51-foot ninja star in the event of a hurricane if not properly secured. My expectation is that the column will be blended to the point that the ship draws the eye and the support structure is easily overlooked. I doubt it’ll be perfect, but hopefully that’s good enough.
Once complete, the Nova Corps Starblaster ship will be the signature icon of the Wonders of Xandar pavilion and will help establish the Xandarian storyline inside the attraction.
In addition to this attraction icon, work continues around this courtyard, on the attraction facade, painting columns, and roofing.
Construction workers are actively installing paneling that’ll finish the exterior facade and roof of the main entrance.
Crews have spent a lot of time on the roof of this building over the years since the conversion from Universe of Energy began, but it appears it’s finally taking final form.
Here you can see the finished versus unfinished sections on the roof and front entrance.
Every day we visit Epcot, there’s visible progress on this. By later this month or March 2022, this will likely be in finished form.
Although not shown here, from the monorail you can also see work in the courtyard that will house the queue, pre-show, load/unload, and opening act of Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind.
Besides what’s visible around the courtyard and facade, it’s unclear how much of the portion of the first half of the attraction is finished.
Crews have also been repainting the building’s iconic ribs from orange to black.
The other side is now totally finished, and you can see one remaining copper panel towards the front of the building. Judging by the pace we’ve observed, this repainting should be finished within days–possibly by the time you read this.
Another very positive development is that Walt Disney World is inviting current Cast Members to apply for transfer opportunities from their existing roles to Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind (as well as Connections Cafe & Eatery, the restaurant across from the ride, suggesting they’ll open on similar timelines–which makes complete sense).
Opening teams are normally onboarded a couple of months in advance for training, test & adjust, and any previews. With recent attractions, Disney has done extended attraction previews during the off-season for Annual Passholders, Disney Vacation Club Members, and others.
Also noteworthy is that company executives and Imagineers have taken test rides. Walt Disney World President Jeff Vahle revealed this recently on Instagram, where he shared the following:
“After getting an update on the latest progress and an early test ride on Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, I have three words: it is AWESOME!!! Thank you to the teams at Walt Disney Imagineering and Walt Disney World who are bringing this amazing attraction to life. I’m looking forward to seeing the finishing touches over the next several months and can’t wait for you to get a look when it opens at EPCOT next summer as part of the park’s transformation!”
Another development came via a story in a recent issue of Entertainment Weekly, there’s an interview with Imagineer Wyatt Winter.
He revealed that Cosmic Rewind will feature a “stand-alone” Guardians of the Galaxy story, inside the largest show building on Walt Disney World property. The attraction will feature digital media and the James Gunn-directed series’ signature soundtrack of pop-rock hits, all in the name of amping up the same “energy and excitement” from the films.
Winter also didn’t reveal the ride’s launch speed–or whether it features a return launch–but he did say that the overall thrill factor of Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is somewhere between that of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster.
He also indicated that this Guardians of the Galaxy story is on a unique timeline, and has some surprises in store. Given its time-traveling theme, the attraction will combine bits of Marvel and Walt Disney World history. “Fans of both the films and Disney parks are going to find Easter eggs,” Winter promises.
During Destination D23, Disney also shared a special announcement (above) from Academy Award-nominated actress Glenn Close reprising her role as Nova Prime, the Xandarian leader and commander of the Nova Corps.
That’s not the only good news. Guardians of the Galaxy director James Gunn recently revealed that Cosmic Rewind has started shooting. This shouldn’t take too long (and might already be finished!), but it was one of the other holdups for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. That should no longer be the case, either.
In addition to this main entrance and exit, there is a large gravity building located backstage near Epcot’s parking lot. The set-up here is similar to that of Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster over at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, which also launches into a hidden gravity or show building.
The main difference here is that this towering show building for the main roller coaster segments of the attraction is visible throughout Epcot. Despite being painted shades of “blend-in blue” and “go-away green,” it competes with Spaceship Earth for attention.
As for the gravity building, I had a chance to see inside during the World’s Most Magical Celebration media event. My main impression is that it’s huge. Hardly a bombshell revelation, as the colossal building is visible from across World Showcase Lagoon and has been one point of contention about the attraction.
Beyond the size of the space, there’s a lot of OmniCoaster track weaving through that colossal area. For me, the amount of track was the most reassuring aspect of the visit—it’s difficult to judge from the ground, but it looks like the ride duration should be fairly satisfying.
There are also several tunnels, screens along the perimeter of the upper level of the track, a jump point, and even a large moon or planet that the OmniCoaster vehicles circle. It’s going to be a very obscure comparison, but the whole thing reminded me of a very amped-up version of Space Fantasy — The Ride (that’s very high praise). Photos weren’t allowed inside, so you’ll just have to take my word for all of that.
One thing that’s notable is that we did not wear hardhats or safety vests. That’s significant, as it means construction is finished inside the gravity building. In fact, Imagineers who guided the tour said that there’s only a brief window right now when they could greet groups, as testing will begin in the coming weeks. Now, that doesn’t mean Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind will be ready to open right at the beginning of Summer 2022, as there’s still that other building that’s home to the attraction’s opening act—roughly half of the attraction, per Imagineers.
When Will Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind Open?
Finally, there’s the question of when Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind will open. As noted above, Walt Disney World has revealed the nebulous “Summer 2022” timeframe. Technically, that means any time from June 21 through September 22, 2022.
Typically, that’s not how Walt Disney World’s seasons work. Rather than following the Farmer’s Almanac (or wherever those dates are derived), Disney uses the ‘colloquial calendar’ that defines summer in the United States as Memorial Day through Labor Day.
There’s every reason to believe that Disney will open Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind when it’s strategically most advantageous. Officially, the World’s Most Magical Celebration will last 18 months, through March 2023.
The 18-month anniversary celebration gives Walt Disney World the chance to do something of a soft reset about halfway through, “amping up” the festivities with new attractions and entertainment. This will incentivize visitors who already experienced the first half of the celebration to come back, and will also lure new guests. That halfway reset will likely be headlined by Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind.
Halfway through the 50th Anniversary Celebration would be roughly May 2022. Memorial Day weekend would make sense, as would early June 2022.
This would also align with test rides already having started for Walt Disney World leaders, and the fact that Cast Members are being recruited for the opening team.
It’s also consistent with past precedent. Of the recent additions with summer openings at Walt Disney World, Pandora – World of Avatar debuted on May 27 and Toy Story Land opened on June 30.
It’s also worth noting that Pandora had extensive registration-only previews for APs and DVC prior to that in May. The same was true for Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure last fall. The latter was a savvy move by Disney, as it got locals and diehard fans to Epcot at a time that was otherwise uncrowded. The lead-up to Memorial Day is similarly an attendance lull, so lengthy previews might likewise be strategically advantageous.
In our view, an official opening around Memorial Day or the weekend thereafter makes much more sense than debuting in July through September, which is almost entirely unprecedented. Usually, July bookings are strong regardless, with things dropping off in mid-August through September as schools go back into session.
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind has a ton of marketing potential. It could convince Marvel enthusiasts (and there are a lot of them) to not just visit Epcot, but to book Walt Disney World trips. As such, we’d expect a June 2022 opening at the latest to take full advantage of this marketing potential.
Of course, a lot could happen and change between now and then. It’s thus impossible to make any sort of credible predictions about when Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind will open beyond “Summer 2022.”
Whenever it does open, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind will instantly blast into the #1 attraction spot at Epcot. Regardless of how we might feel about how it fits into Epcot (both thematically and physically), this is undeniably a blockbuster attraction with a colossal budget and a ride system that’s likely to give it wide appeal to guests of all ages.
In short, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is likely to be a crowd-pleasing attraction that wows guests with both its thrills and technology, plus its layer of Imagineered detail and storytelling, plus popular music and the irreverence of these Marvel misfits. It’ll likely rival Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, Tron Lightcycle Run, and Avatar Flight of Passage for the longest wait times and most coveted Lightning Lane selections in all of Walt Disney World.
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Your Thoughts
Are you excited for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind? If you’re also an EPCOT Center purist, are you apprehensive that this will fit the park, or do you think the storyline and pre-show will sufficiently weave things together? When do you predict that Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind will open? Do you agree or disagree with any of our thoughts? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
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