Disney announces that EPCOT's Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind will open in 2022

Sep 30, 2021 in "Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind"

Gallery / 2 Photos
Imagineers inside the Galaxarium

Posted: Thursday September 30, 2021 9:55am ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

Disney has today confirmed that Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind will open in 2022 at EPCOT, but did not offer a specific timeframe.

Imagineer Zach Riddley said this morning, "Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, will debut in 2022. That’s right, our friends from Xandar will open the first 'other-world' showcase pavilion at EPCOT next year, inviting us on an intergalactic chase through space and time!"

Imagineers inside the Galaxarium

In the picture above, Tom Fitzgerald (left) and Scot Drake (right) gave us a new look inside the Wonders of Xandar pavilion currently under construction. Here you see them in the Galaxarium, which when completed will feature a planetarium-type presentation where the Xandarians show us their world, their people and their advanced technologies.

Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind concept art

The attraction will feature a new innovation from Walt Disney Imagineering – a storytelling coaster that rotates 360 degrees to focus guests on the action, including the first reverse launch on a Disney coaster.

Inside Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind show building

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Coaster Lover28 days ago

I mean, ultimately, that's what ever scene on a trackless dark ride is. You want every scene to be long enough that the vehicles in front of you have enough time to clear the scene in front of you and for the scene to rest (if needed). The preference is to have lots of shorter scenes to allow more vehicles on the circuit at any one time. In roller coaster terms, each scene acts as sort of a block zone where only one set of ride vehicles can be in the block zone at any one time. Ideally, whatever is happening in each scene is long enough (and interesting enough) that it doesn't feel like you are just waiting in a scene (though sometimes that does happen if there is a delay at unload and a backup of vehicles in the scenes ahead of you).

Disstevefan128 days ago

Thanks for the correction. You're right Disney had no intention to eventually monetize FastPass. 🤣 I guess someone in Disney just woke up one day and said, "Hey, you know the FastPass system that cost us so much to develop and release and we give out for free, lets monetize it, Universal already does!!" I admit I am not an expert like you, but the moment I saw the tap points and and free magic bands, and the app, I KNEW we would be paying eventually (but that's just my thoughts).

MisterPenguin28 days ago

I learned that from Rollercoaster Tycoon!!

lewisc28 days ago

Isn't it an internet facts that Disney needs new E Ticket attractions every few years to motivate some return guests. LL revenue is the gravy

Fido Chuckwagon28 days ago

This is demonstrably false.

Mr. Sullivan28 days ago

This actually something I was wondering when I wrote it a few days ago. What is actually happening here? We’re not actually going anywhere we’re just sitting in that room for the brief elevator simulation, I know that. But does it serve a purpose beyond the storytelling element? If not, I don’t think that’s a problem, but I was curious if it was something that was included maybe as a clever way to hold vehicles in place for timing or to put enough distance between the set of vehicles you were riding with and the one ahead of you behind you, etc.

Professortango128 days ago

Its also how they use the space. The only "big warehouse" rooms that I notice are the start "tell them its a prisoner transfer" which is fine as we are essentially moving from the load station to the actual attraction. The other is the AT-AT room which works. The design does a fairly good job of making it feel like the ride is supposed to go to certain areas but then diverted and ditching out into other areas. I do wish the fake elevator sequence did have some simulation to make it feel like you are moving to another level.

lazyboy97o28 days ago

Which is why I said “trackless, but not true trackless”. Wire guided is considered as a type of trackless. It’s a technical difference but there’s really no experiential difference. Many people incorrectly assume Symbolica at Eftling is true trackless because it does all the true trackless gimmicks but it is in fact a much cheaper wire guided ride.

Disstevefan128 days ago

I think in addition to our "scope cut" drinking game we also need a "Sell LL" drinking game ;) But you have a point, we all know by now, Disneyparks is a business and their number one product, the "money for nothing" LL product is the absolute top priority to sell! Maybe my repeatedly posting about LLs and scope cuts is my copium ;)

Purduevian28 days ago

I guess there really isn't a big difference between Warehouse and Hanger... but yes it's in theme at ROTR.

Disstevefan128 days ago

I think it was safe to presume it was approved because Disney knew they were going to paid fastpass. Lets face it, when they developed and deployed the fastpass system, the company already knew they would eventually monetize it.

UNCgolf28 days ago

ROTR is blessed with a setting that's generally huge and open in the movies, so it gets around the problem.

Purduevian28 days ago

Very fair... I just know on Remy and MMRR... I feel like I'm super aware I'm just in a big warehouse. ROTR does a lot better at this. I feel like the kuka arm is the next evolution of the omnimover personally (basically a 3D omnimover) TOT isn't trackless AFAIK. I believe it's wire guided.