EW exclusive 'Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind' interview with Disney brings confusion around audio-animatronics in the ride

Dec 07, 2021 in "Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind"

Posted: Tuesday December 7, 2021 12:30pm ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

EW has published an exclusive preview of the upcoming 'Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind' rollercoaster coming to EPCOT in 2022, and with is comes some uncertainty about exactly what audio-animatronics show scenes we can expect.

Imagineers inside the Galaxarium

The original edition of the article said, "Kicking off with a backward launch, the fast-paced attraction will rocket riders through time and space and into the largest 'show building' on the property, complete with animatronics, 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."

The article has been revised today to remove all mention of the animatronics, and now reads, "Kicking off with a backward launch, the fast-paced attraction will rocket riders through time and space and into the largest 'show building' on the property, complete with 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."

Did EW jump the gun and announce something that Disney wasn't ready to talk about just yet, or was it an error and there are in fact no animatronics in the attraction?

Inside Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind show building

Disney has not previously made any mention of animatronics, but the ride's massive price tag has given observers the impression that we should expect some elaborate show elements, possibly part of the pre-show area that will take place inside the former Universe of Energy building.

Another tidbit in the EQ article refers to the thrill actor, with Disney saying, "the overall thrill factor lies somewhere between that of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and the Rock 'n' Roller Coaster."

You can read the full article at EW.

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gerarar20 days ago

The VQ system has finally ended today for GOTG: CR! Standby line starts tomorrow Tuesday, February 25, 2025. The VQ system was reportedly supposed to end multiple times during some lull periods, but never came to fruition. It went through 2 hurricane closures, but nearly 3 years later after the ride opened May 27, 2022, the VQ has concluded and standby is finally here. Scatterplot of every single VQ data point collected for the past 1002 days. Here's my final update for it and wrap-up post:

Andrew2521 days ago

I for one hope that one day they can find a way to add railings within the pre-show spaces to reduce the pain point that is the funnel at the end. Ideally, it would be tiered "rows" within the preshow space where a CM then can release each section one by one instead of the mass release. I also think Disney should really enforce kicking people out of line who exit the preshow early to get a headstart.

Professortango121 days ago

I am aware. I was speaking more to the concept of the room rather than the function.

Agent H21 days ago

The stretching room is not an elevator in Florida

Professortango121 days ago

HM also has a trained CM in the elevator with us, so they can manage the emergency release if an incident were to occur.

lazyboy97o21 days ago

Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts also has an elevator scene in the queue. Florida Fire Prevention Code, NFPA 101 12.4.9.2.1.3 allows designs that “confound the egress path” when combined with “approved directional exit marking that becomes apparent in an emergency”. Section 12.4.9.6.2 also requires an Emergency Action Plan approved by the local fire department. The big thing to do when designing these spaces is to ensure systems fail in a safe manner. In a situation where the door is obscured the easiest solution would be for the default, no-power position to be that the door is open with signage visible when open.

Agent H21 days ago

Hm I didn’t think about that. maybe the haunted mansion is just sort of grandfathered in because there’s not really a way to change it?

Purduevian21 days ago

Guessing that might be a fire code issue? I have no idea how the HM stretching room gets away with having no visible windows and doors from a legal/code standpoint

Agent H21 days ago

That’s really cool but maybe we also need doors that can’t be pushed open so easily?

Purduevian21 days ago

There was apparently supposed to be an impressive AA figure on the opposite side of the room from the doors (on the left). It would naturally spread the crowd out a lot better. Sure there would still be a group of people that will squeeze up against the doors to the ride. However, a lot of people would drift to the left to see the AA. When the preshow ends, the group is already more spread out and it wouldn't be as much of a crunch. Kind of like the HM stretching room. People that know, stand under the parasail girl for an easy exit, however, most people don't know where the exit is, and thus spread out.

JohnD21 days ago

I traveled with a family of three almost a year ago. I told them we were going to hold back and that they didn't want to be squeezed in. Much better being among the last in the group. Yes, the next group comes in behind us but we're almost into the main loading area by then.

vikescaper21 days ago

That’s exactly how I feel, too. Plus, we usually request rows 9 and 10 so it doesn’t really benefit us rushing out as we will have to wait regardless.

Agent H21 days ago

How would that have solved the problem? Don’t get me wrong of course they should have done that but how would it have solved this problem?

JohnD21 days ago

When I'm in the teleportation room and everyone goes right, I go left. You go rush those doors and squeeze yourselves in like sardines. I'm good back here. What am I going to lose. Another minute?