Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind Review

Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, one of the most highly anticipated rides coming to Epcot, is finally here! On May 27, 2022, Cosmic Rewind officially opened to the public and has already proven to be one of Walt Disney World’s most popular rides…ever! Here is our review of Epcot’s newest ride!

What is it?

Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is based off of Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy films. However, you do not have to be a fan of the movies to enjoy the ride. If you have seen the movies, it will help you to understand some of the jokes and verbiage used throughout the queue and pre-show. Cosmic Rewind is a family-friendly coaster with a height requirement of 42 inches. It is an indoor, dark rollercoaster that is one of the longest fully enclosed coasters. This specific ride is also Disney’s first roller coaster to feature a reverse launch, with vehicles that rotate 360 degrees!

Image by Disney

Outside & Ride Queue

As you walk up to the ride, it’s hard to miss the amazing Nova Corps Starblaster in the Wonders of Xandar Pavilion! This is the first full-size version of this ship that has ever been built. Once you scan in and enter the ride building, you’ll first see the Galaxarium which is essentially an exhibition about Earth (Terra) and Xandar. It has a planetarium feel and is designed to show the intergalactic wonders that connect Terra and Xandar.

Image (right) by Disney

Next, you’ll enter the Xandar Gallery, which is where you will learn more about the Xandarian people. You’ll learn of their heroes, its people, and its protectors. There are a lot of really cool things to see in this part of the queue, including models of starships and a Xandarian city. There is a funny part as well where there is a little spoof on “Good Morning America” called “Good Morning Xandar”. Be on the lookout for some familiar faces!

Pre-Show

There are a few different parts to the pre-show. First, you’ll head into an area called the Phase Chamber, where you’ll see Nova Prime (played by Glenn Close) and another special guest that I will not spoil. You are then moved to the second part of the pre-show, narrated by the special guest. This is where your tour of the Wonders of Xandar pavilion starts to take an unexpected turn! The Guardians of the Galaxy are then called upon to help save the day!

Image by Walt Disney World Resort on Youtube

The Ride

Following the pre-show, you and your party will board your four-seater Starjumper ride vehicles. The coaster will rotate 360 degrees, so you won’t miss anything that’s happening around you. Hold on tight and prepare for an exciting reverse launch! Every seat allows you to be front and center of the story and excitement! It moves as fast as a regular rollercoaster but is very smooth and still allows you to see everything. There is also an amazing soundtrack throughout this ride.

There are six different songs that you can get while riding. You won’t know what song you got until after the ride has started. This list includes: “September” by Earth, Wind and Fire, “Disco Inferno” by The Trammps, “Conga” by Gloria Estefan, “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” by Tears for Fears, “I Ran” by A Flock of Seagulls, and “One Way or Another by Blondie.

Image by Disney

**Some guests have reported severe nausea from this ride so if you are prone to motion sickness, it may be best to skip it. **

How to Ride

There will be no standby line for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind as of right now. The only ways to ride are to join the virtual queue or to buy an Individual Lightning Lane. You can join the virtual queue at 7am or 1pm on the day of your visit to Epcot. You do not have to be inside the park to join the virtual queue at 7am but you do need valid admission to Epcot for that day. If you missed the 7am virtual queue, don’t worry, you have another chance at 1pm. At 1pm, you must physically be inside of Epcot to join the virtual queue. If you wish to purchase the Individual Lightning Lane for the ride instead, you must do so at 7am on the day of your visit. Prices will vary based on date and park occupancy. Individual Lightning Lane passes have been selling out within minutes, so it’s best to be up and prepared at 7am to get it.

Overall

Overall, this ride is absolutely incredible! It is unlike anything you’ve ever experienced before, and is definitely a welcome addition to Epcot. The ride almost feels like a hybrid of Space Mountain, Rock n Roller Coaster and Slinky Dog Dash all morphed into a super coaster! It is nothing short of amazing. From the moment you step into the ride building, you will feel a sense of wonder and amazement. Once you get on the ride, I guarantee you won’t be able to stop smiling or laughing! 

Were you lucky enough to get to ride on opening day? What did you think?

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