Disney officially announces the opening date for EPCOT's 'Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind' rollercoaster

Apr 04, 2022 in "Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind"

Posted: Monday April 4, 2022 8:48am ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

Disney has made the Memorial Day weekend opening date for Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind official.

EPCOT's new $450 million Guardians of the Galaxy-themed rollercoaster will officially have its opening on Friday, May 27 2022.

The Memorial Day weekend opening does not come as a surprise since a high-ranking Disney executive let the cat out of the bag via social media following a test ride last month.

Memorial Day is typically Disney's start of the summer season, with many schools in Florida beginning summer vacation at the end of May.

'Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind’ was initially planned to open in Spring 2021, before the start of Walt Disney World's 50th-anniversary celebrations. The COVID-19 shutdown and subsequent cost-control measures that Disney imposed delayed the project, but it will now serve as Disney's headline attraction to market for the summer and remainder of 2022.

Although Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind will officially open on May 27 2022, we can expect some early previews for certain groups of guests.

Assuming that previews follow the recent opening of Remy's Ratatouille Adventure at EPCOT, we should expect previews for Club 33 and D23 members, Cast Members, and Annual Passholders. It seems that random soft openings for guests who happen to be in the area are a thing of the past, with Disney preferring to use the soft opening period to plus the membership offerings for those select groups.

When the attraction does open, we should also expect a virtual queue to manage guest numbers. It would seem likely that an Individual Lightning Lane purchase will be offered, allowing Disney to quickly monetize the new ride. Should Disney go this way, as it did with Remy's Ratatouille Adventure, it does mean there will likely be no standby line option available to guests who miss out on either of the two ride reservation systems.

Located in the park’s newly renamed World Discovery neighborhood, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind will be the first “other-world” showcase pavilion at EPCOT.

Xandarians traveled from their homeworld in the Andromeda galaxy to Earth – or Terra, as they call it – to build this Wonders of Xandar pavilion, inviting EPCOT guests to learn more about their people and their advanced technologies. Until the Guardians arrive, anyway, and adventure ensues …

In addition to the Wonders of Xandar pavilion, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind will offer several other "firsts," including:

  • The first coaster attraction at EPCOT.
  • The first reverse launch for a Disney coaster.
  • The first Walt Disney World attraction to feature the Guardians of the Galaxy.

Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind will be one of the longest fully enclosed coasters in the world, housed in one of the largest show buildings ever constructed for a Disney theme park. By volume, four Spaceship Earths would fit inside the attraction’s massive new show building.

The Wonders of Xandar Pavilion
Xandarians have come to Earth and are hard at work building their new EPCOT pavilion.

Highlights include:

  • The Galaxarium, a sweeping planetarium-style space showcasing planets, stars and other intergalactic wonders that connect Terra and Xandar.
  • The Xandar Gallery, where guests will discover more about the Xandarian people, culture and history – including the heroes of Xandar – through specially crafted displays and projections.
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MisterPenguin14 days ago

Do you know why they would leave out the actors and Marvel gang that provided the thematic portion of the ride? Or is it just about the mechanical engineering?

JohnD14 days ago

I scrolled through the credits like I would for a movie. But their accolades are well-deserved. I rode it again on Tuesday and, man, I just LOVE that ride! The exhilaration. The music. The "wind". The movement of the vehicles. I could ride it over and over and over again.

lazyboy97o14 days ago

For context, this list was created to qualify for the Thea Awards and will be published on the TEA website in the awards ceremony program after the event this weekend.

DCBaker16 days ago

An official credits list of those who worked on Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind has been posted online from an Imagineer at WDI.

HauntedPirate27 days ago

Agreed. Everest at night is a completely different experience due to the complete darkness.

Rich Brownn27 days ago

Every time I rode Everest there was light bleed in the backwards section revealing the inside structure. I dunno why they couldn't seal it better

Bocabear27 days ago

Guardians suffers from too much light and reflection in a few scenes but is still easily my favorite Disney Coaster next to Old Space Mountain. If they could use a matte paint on some of the surfaces in the Guardians show building that would help...but it would also be difficult to clean... but I really think it is a solid, super-fun ride...

Andrew2528 days ago

Not sure if it's just me, but is Tron's indoor portion easier to see now? Last few rides (different time of days each) have been very bright and easy to see that your in a warehouse. Don't have that problem on Everest/Guardians.

Bocabear28 days ago

I think visually it looks completelty different from anything in Tomorrowland...there was no attempt to integrate the architecture with the area...Make it more harmonious....If they had Tron-ified the Speedway and the Speedway queue was in covered with a similar canopy and the cars redesigned to look futuristic and decked out with lighting and some sets around the course.... but there was no attempt to actually make it look like it belongs there...so to me, personally, I do not think it looks like it fits...and frankly Tomorrowland all seems to be a bit of a mess...A shuttered attraction right at the entrance, Half finished theming...it really needs some love.

SpectreJordan28 days ago

I think the theming is better in Velocicoaster. The only wow moment in Tron is the scene in the queue when the window reveals the rest of the line. But Velocicoaster has the raptor animatronics in the line, the fantastic rock work in the actual ride, etc... I think Tron works well in Tomorrowland tbh.

Phicinfan28 days ago

Sorry, but not everything has to be a mini-land. I have no issue with some IP being only attached to one ride. Now that being said, I am pretty darn sure at one time insiders had the speedway getting a "tron" update. But that got budgeted out.

Bocabear29 days ago

Tron was such a knee-jerk reaction...and bad placement... a whole Tron themed miniland at DHS could have been so cool...Flynn's Arcade could have been the portal to both a TRON miniland and a Wreck It Ralph/Sugar Rush/Heroes Duty Miniland...Multiple rides and attractions... it would be great!

Epcot82Guy29 days ago

I see what you are saying. I would very easily put all 3 (TRON, CR and Hagrids) in one category myself. They are all ultimately family coasters with different tricks. Disney is trying to push Tron and Guardians as thrill rides. Universal almost downplays the thirll a bit, I find. Tron and Guardians both have a main launch speed of 60 mph. Hagrid's, while multiple launches, is only 50 mph. On the other hand, Tron and Guardians both launch into effectively a lift and then use gravity while Hagrid's uses the speed and terrain to create the feeling of speed. They all use unique riding positions (bike for Tron and Hagrid's) or controlled spin (Guardians). And, none really use height all that much. It's more show and twists/turns. I do agree Hagrid's (and for different reasons Guardians) are more successful at creating actual sensations of thrill and better rides overall. TRON just isn't that successful for me as either a family ride or a thirll ride, so I agree it's an easy third place.

Skibum197029 days ago

and Hagrid's is mostly outdoor. I don't think that TRON compares to any of the UNI coasters as they are for different audiences. Hagrids has seven launches, a backwards section, a drop track, and is generally much more thrilling than TRON. I would have a difficult time comparing Guardians to any Universal coaster as well. I would rate TRON near the bottom of the coasters at Disney (one step up from Barnstormer) due to its shortness and repetitive track maneuvers. I enjoyed 7DMT more because it was longer and provided a better overall experience. Guardians is one of my favorite coasters at Disney, though.