Review: Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is a giant leap forward

The new Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is a giant leap forward for EPCOT and Disney’s thrill rides in general. 

While a lot of fans have focused on whether Guardians of the Galaxy fits in at EPCOT, let’s remember the big deal is that this is the first roller coaster at EPCOT.

And, it’s a very different coaster than what already exists on Walt Disney World property. This is the first Disney Omnicoaster, meaning the cars make controlled rotations to keep the rider focused on the action. There are no inversions like Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster. While there is a backward launch, it is not as fast as when you go backward on Expedition Everest. 

This is more of Space Mountain on steroids. The track and car movements are very smooth. Like Space Mountain, it is a dark ride. While the track is illuminated if you sit in the front seat (as I did) and try to follow the track, you might get a little freaked out when the car rotates and you realize the track has disappeared. Unlike Space Mountain, these cars feel a lot sturdier.

This is also not a one-and-done ride. The vehicle’s onboard audio cranks out one of six tunes from the ’70s and ‘80s. Each ride the song rotates so you might have a new experience each time. In addition to the soundtrack, there are audio tracks and quips that take place during the ride, which you might miss during all the excitement, as well as some of the visuals. So you might find yourself seeing and hearing new things with each ride.

One more thing before we head to spoiler territory and it deals with the queue. This is a long line and it is all uphill (similar to Star Tours), so if you are using a wheelchair, be prepared.

Now, let’s climb aboard a Starjumper and prepare to fly through some jump points. Spoilers ahead!

When Disney first proposed bringing a Guardians of the Galaxy ride to EPCOT there were a lot of sour faces on fans who felt this was not consistent with EPCOT’s original mission. But Disney has come through by creating a Wonders of Xandar pavilion, inviting EPCOT guests to learn more about the people and advanced technologies of the planet Xandar. No different than, say, heading to the Norway pavilion to learn about that country and culture (before going on a water ride that ended with a commercial to visit Norway, remember that?).

When entering the pavilion you take a long journey through the line, and there is almost always something to look at as you advance through the line. This building is big. The attraction covers more than 200,000 square feet, with the main show building stretching longer than a football field. By volume, four Spaceship Earths would fit inside.

You start your journey at The Galaxarium. This sweeping planetarium-style space showcases planets, stars, and other intergalactic wonders that connect Terra and Xandar. The Xandarian supercomputer, Worldmind, provides narration in the Galaxarium and gives context to the stunning visuals.

It also shares the most important thing Peter Quill, otherwise known as Star-Lord, said should be shared with the universe: the music of Chuck Berry. 

After leaving the Galaxarium, guests enter the Xandar Gallery to learn more about the Xandarian people, culture and history, including the heroes of Xandar. The gallery also features excerpts from “Good Morning Xandar,” where a host interviews the Guardians of the Galaxy about their heroic deeds. (Wait until you hear what Peter Quill is looking forward to doing on his next visit to EPCOT.)

The video for this area, the pre-show, and the attraction are fun and in keeping with the spirit and humor of the movies. Disney Imagineers went to the set of “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” to film more than 75 minutes of original content for the attraction.

The Gallery contains a diorama of Xandar as well as uniforms from the Nova Corps and a model of the full-scale Starblaster ship located outside the pavilion.

The next location is the Phase Chamber where the pre-show starts. I appreciated that the pre-show as funny, relatively short and engaging. If you plan (or hope) to ride this again and again and again, this preshow will not get old like others do (I’m looking at you, Dr. Stevens at the Pandora Conservation Initiative).

Guests are greeted in the Phase Chamber by Nova Prime Irani Rael, the leader of Xandar and commander of the Nova Corps (Glenn Close reprises her role from the “Guardians of the Galaxy” film). Centurion Tal Marik, Commander of the Starcharter, portrayed hilariously by actor Terry Crews teleports you to the Nova Corps Starcharter (a reveal nearly on par with landing on the Star Destroyer in Rise of the Resistance).

Once on the Starcharter we watch as a Celestial named Eson steals the Cosmic Generator, a piece of Xandarian technology that creates jump points – artificial tunnels in space allowing for rapid travel across vast distances. Eson has been watching Earth for eons and now intends to use the Cosmic Generator to jump back in time and change the course of humanity.

The Guardians are called, and Rocket hatches a plan to use all of the guests to help save the Galaxy. Don’t worry it’s better than 12% of a plan – maybe. Now it’s time to head to the  Starjumpers and let the ride begin.

The ride vehicle holds four people, two in front and two in back. It is roomy, which is appreciated and should not be an issue for people of various sizes. There is a small pouch that will hold a hat or sunglasses only. Otherwise, any bag you have will go under your legs, and hold on to them. 

You start off moving forward receiving some encouraging words from the Guardians until the car rotates and you head back in time. We won’t go through all of the twists and turns that follow,  but make sure to keep those eyes and ears open. The huge screens throughout the ride provide impressive projections and scenes. Also, the various jump points mean you will be accelerating a bit. There is one spiral around a moon that might take your breath away, but, please remember to breathe.

All of the music and visuals might be a bit overwhelming and hard to follow and that’s why you might want to ride again, and again, and again. Also, the return to EPCOT at the end might seem a bit abrupt if you miss the narrator.

WHAT TO KNOW

Opens to the public: May 27, 2022
Height requirement: 42 inches, 107cm or taller
Ride photo: There is a ride photo. It is taken during the backward launch.
Virtual Queue or Individual Lighting Lane only: When the ride opens a virtual queue will be in place. Guests will need to use the My Disney Experience app to enter the attraction. A standby queue will not be available. Each Guest can enter the virtual queue no more than once per day. Or Guests may purchase Individual Lightning Lane entry for this attraction when it opens.

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