Review: Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind After Six Rides (Includes Ride Cam Video)
Hi everyone!
We were invited to a media preview for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at EPCOT, which opens to the public on May 27th, 2022. Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is a thrilling, innovative roller coaster that will bring energy (not a play on words) to the newly renamed World Discovery area of the park. I wanted to give some thoughts, which also touch on questions that I’ve been asked about the intensity of the attraction. (I rode six times yesterday and Jeff rode eleven times).
First, check out our 45-second ride cam video that was given to us as part of the media event. This was our first ride, and I said “wow” a lot. This is just a small segment of the nearly 4-minute ride.
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is the first roller coaster at EPCOT, and includes the first reverse launch for a Disney coaster. The onboard audio sets the tone for the ride, with six different songs – I experienced four of those yesterday. The ride just hits differently if listening to “One Way or Another” by Blondie vs. the slower paced “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” by Tears for Fears. Onboard audio has come a long way in 30 years – I didn’t realize until this past week that Casey Jr. Circus Train at Disneyland Paris had the first in the world, just under 30 years ago.
Official video from Disney
Disney calls Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind a “family thrill coaster”. I would emphasize the word “thrill” here. It is a roller coaster that many families will be able to enjoy together, but it is also a more intense coaster than I expected and it does have a reverse launch with a controlled spin on the cars. There are no inversions or big drops, but it reminds me both of Crush’s Coaster at Disneyland Paris as far as motion (with much more comfortable seats and an easier boarding process) and also of Space Mountain, with the feeling of flying through space. However, unlike Space Mountain, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is incredibly smooth – probably the smoothest coaster I have ever been on.
Photo by Denise Preskitt, Mousesteps
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind was still a pretty easy ride for me – just pure fun. I have gotten asked quite a bit in the past day about the intensity and the spinning. I am 55 years old (I grew up in the 70s and 80s, so the music is perfect for me) and I don’t tend to go for the “big” coasters like I used to. I love Disney coasters as far as thrill rides, they tend to be “just enough” thrill for me. The most intense time on a Disney coaster I ever have is on the backwards section of Expedition Everest, and for that reason I only ride it once at a time and just every so often now. I don’t have an issue with spinning, although I can’t do Mission: Space (either side). So for myself, as someone who likes thrilling but more modest coasters now (not the tallest/fastest), this is perfect for me. But for those who have a problem with motion, this is almost a 4-minute ride and I talked with one friend yesterday who had a hard time with the motion for much of that time. The attraction also takes place in the dark, like Space Mountain but with more visuals.
Photo by Denise Preskitt, Mousesteps
I’m not touching on anything else but the ride aspect in this article, since that is almost all I’ve gotten asked about. But I will be sharing queue photos and video, merchandise photos and video, and more about the attraction in the coming days.
I have been visiting EPCOT since its opening year and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is a fantastic addition to the park. One other thing to mention is that the queue is huge. That was my first takeaway from the experience before getting to the ride. And there is a lot to see and hear throughout it.
When Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind opens, there will be a virtual queue and individual Genie+ Lightning Lane available. Standby will not be offered.
I will add any other thoughts about the attraction as I think of them or receive questions.