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Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind

• It’s Save the Galaxy Time!
• 42in (107cm) or taller
• Thrill Ride
• Attraction Photography

Rock Out on an Intergalactic Chase

A totally cool attraction located in world discovery at epcot, introducing a reverse-launch coaster, a world beyond belief, an extraterrestrial escapade.

Ready for an awesome quest across the cosmos to save the galaxy? It’s all up to you!

Request to Join the Virtual Queue

Boarding groups for a virtual queue are limited, subject to availability, and are not guaranteed. Not all boarding groups may be called to return, based on availability of the experience. View important information about the virtual queue.

Guests may also purchase Individual Lightning Lane entry for this attraction. Lightning Lane entry purchases are limited in availability, are subject to change or closure, may vary by date and are not guaranteed.

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What to Know About Epcot's Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind Ride

It’s save the galaxy time on Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind.

Elizabeth Rhodes is a special projects editor at Travel + Leisure , covering everything from luxury hotels to theme parks to must-pack travel products. Originally from South Carolina, Elizabeth moved to New York City from London, where she started her career as a travel blogger and writer.

Disney World opened a Guardians of the Galaxy coaster at Epcot in May 2022 — and since then, it has become a favorite among guests. Epcot's first roller coaster, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind offers a handful of other firsts: It's the first Disney Omnicoaster, a ride with rotating vehicles that turn guests toward the action, and it has the first-ever reverse launch for a Disney coaster. Themed to a favorite Marvel series (starring all your favorite Guardians) and using an innovative ride system, expectations for this coaster were high, and we were among the first to check it out. So, does it measure up to the superhero hype?

Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind Ride Review

Short answer: Yes, the indoor coaster is wildly fun, and it's a fantastic addition to Epcot and Walt Disney World as a whole. Thanks to the wonderfully smooth and thrilling coaster design, an engaging storyline, wisecracks from Star-Lord and the gang, and a throwback soundtrack featuring hits from the '70s and '80s like "Disco Inferno" and "Conga," the attraction perfectly captures the pure fun found in the films.

Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind does not currently offer a traditional standby line, so guests have to use the virtual queue or purchase an Individual Lightning Lane in order to ride. Guests who have valid admission to Epcot can enter the virtual queue via the My Disney Experience app at 7:00 a.m. (from anywhere) and 1:00 p.m. (from inside the park). When guests join the virtual queue, they'll receive a boarding group and an estimated return time when they can expect to experience the attraction. Guests staying at Deluxe Disney resorts get an extra opportunity to join the virtual queue during extended evening hours on select nights.

The virtual queue is not guaranteed, and it doesn't provide guests with any control over their return time, so I recommend purchasing an Individual Lightning Lane if you're set on riding Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. Guests staying on property can book their first Lightning Lanes of the day at 7:00 a.m. via the My Disney Experience App (those staying off property can book when the park opens). Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind Lightning Lanes are not included with Genie+ and must be purchased separately, and it's typically around $15 per person, though dynamic pricing means it could be a little more or less.

The Preshow

Disney touts this attraction as the first "other-world" showcase pavilion at the internationally themed park, saying that Star-Lord (a.k.a. Peter Quill, the lead character played by Chris Pratt in the films) visited Epcot as a child, eventually leading to the creation of the Wonders of Xandar pavilion. Here, guests can learn about the Xandarian people and their technologies in the Galaxarium, a planetarium of sorts featuring the galaxy around Terra — the Xandarian term for Earth — and Xandar.

From the Galaxarium, guests follow the queue through the Xandar Gallery, where they learn more about the people, culture, and history from this far-away planet, before following the tour into the Phase Chamber, where they teleport from Epcot to a Nova Corps Starcharter cruiser flying above the Earth.

You'll see actors from the film, like Glenn Close, along with an appearance from Terry Crews in the delightful and surprising pre-show. Of course, this isn't going to be a totally peaceful excursion — guests join the Guardians on a chase through the galaxy as they track down Eson, a celestial being bent on destroying humanity.

If all those Marvel references went right over your head, don't worry — this new coaster is downright fun, whether you're a diehard Guardians of the Galaxy fan or just a casual park visitor. You won't experience any inversions or heart-stopping drops, but you won't miss them. It's simultaneously thrilling, family-friendly, genuinely funny, and visually stunning. And, for what it's worth, I rode it three times in a row on opening night and did not get motion sickness, even though ride vehicles rotate as they glide along the track. (That said, I have heard that some other riders struggle with motion sickness on this ride; I recommend riding in the front for a gentler experience.) I couldn't help but dance and sing along to "One Way or Another" and "September" as I soared through stars and past planets.

To me, this attraction feels like a joyous celebration of everything we love about theme park rides. In some ways, the ride reminded me of classics like Space Mountain — the beloved indoor coaster at Magic Kingdom that takes guests on a (somewhat jerky) trip to the stars. But dare I say it, I think it's even better. The mechanics and ride statistics themselves are impressive, but the Imagineer-selected playlist and storytelling immerse guests in the experience, making Cosmic Rewind one of the best rides at Disney World.

Thanks to the six different songs that influence the overall vibe, the attraction has some re-rideability because you won't know which tune you're going to get until you're blasted into the galaxy.

• “September” by Earth, Wind & Fire
• “Disco Inferno” by The Trammps
• “Conga” by Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine
• “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” by Tears for Fears
• “I Ran” by A Flock of Seagulls
• “One Way or Another” by Blondie

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Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind – more facts, Easter eggs, and a glossary

• by John Frost
• May 27, 2022 May 28, 2022

Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind officially opens at EPCOT today bringing the park its first roller coaster style attraction and its first pavilion ‘sponsored’ by another planet.

As the attraction greets its first guests, we realize not everyone is as familiar with the Guardians of the Galaxy movies as we are. So we wanted to give an introductory primer to the ride and its place within the Disney pantheon of thrill rides.

Update : We just received a video from Disney with behind the scenes footage from the filming of Cosmic Rewind!

We recently talked with Imagineer Ben Bowser. As principal design manager he was responsible for making sure the project had all the resources and materials needed to meet project milestones in an efficient manner.

We had a wonderful conversation where we discussed the backstory of how the Xandarians came to choose EPCOT, the DNA of the attraction and how it fits within the pantheon of other great attractions like Space Mountain and Haunted Mansion. We also went over some of the important need to know facts for the ride

Previously : Our honest review of Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind .

Watch our conversation with Ben here:

A big thanks to Ben Bowser at Walt Disney Imagineering for giving us that great introduction to Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind.

Cosmic Rewind Easter Eggs

I also talked with a number of different Imagineers who worked on the project about some of the fun Easter Eggs and tributes you can find throughout the attraction.

Spoilers, obviously!

There are two audio tributes to Universe of Energy on the attraction itself. The first is the Ellen’s theme from the Universe of Energy attraction. It’s playing from the Milano right before your ride vehicle launches backward. Only it’s a rock’n’roll version of the theme song.

The queue and pre-show makes a couple different references to the “Big Bang” which was also discussed in the Universe of Energy. When you’re on the ride, listen for Drax calling it the “ding dang,” which is the term Ellen used with Bill Nye on the Universe of Energy. I think that’s the second audio tribute to the show.

The queue is full of Easter Eggs. In addition to a segment of Walt Disney talking about EPCOT, there is a section where Peter Quill talks about his fond memories of EPCOT. You’ll find this section in the gallery portion of the queue.

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There are some different variances you’ll get at on the ride depending on which song you have. One features the old adage that EPCOT really stands for “Every Person Comes Out Tired.”

We did find one hidden Mickey. Look inside the Xandarian City model in the queue. The Hidden Mickey is three small domes in a familiar shape.

I’m told that on the same display where Walt talks about EPCOT, there is a weather pattern displayed that resembles a Maelstrom. If you recall, that was the name of the attraction in the Norway Pavilion before Frozen moved in.

There’s probably many more than that as Imagineers are pretty cagy about this stuff. We will update this article as we learn new secret design elements.

Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind – Fun Facts

We love to learn more details about Cosmic Rewind as we think the fun facts provided by Disney embiggen the experience. Your mileage may vary, but we think these are pretty cool.

• A Starblaster ship rests in a docking stand outside the Wonders of Xandar pavilion, the first full-size version of this Xandarian ship ever built.
• Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is the longest fully enclosed coaster in any Disney theme park and one of the longest enclosed coasters in the world.
• The attraction covers more than 200,000 square feet, with its main show building stretching longer than an American football field. This massive structure’s foundation contains more than 80 miles of rebar and 9,000-plus cubic yards of concrete. By volume, four Spaceship Earths would fit inside this show building.
• Academy Award nominee Glenn Close reprises her role from “Guardians of the Galaxy” as Nova Prime Irani Rael, the leader of Xandar and commander of the Nova Corps.
• Disney Imagineers were on the set of “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” to film with the Guardians for this new attraction.
• Composer Tyler Bates from the “Guardians of the Galaxy” films created more than two hours of new music for the attraction’s score.
• Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind features more than 75 minutes of original content.
• For those trying to fit Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind in the overall Marvel Cinematic Universe timeline, good luck. The ride takes place outside the official canon and timeline. Imagineering wanted to give the broadest appeal to the characters, which is why Groot is a full grown version, despite having had to be regrown after the end of the first movie.

Who Are the Guardians of the Galaxy?

The Guardians of the Galaxy are a group of intergalactic outlaws who became unlikely heroes of Xandar when they defended the planet from utter destruction. Now pardoned as thanks for their brave and selfless acts, the Guardians travel the galaxy in search of new missions. They are:

• Star-Lord (a.k.a. Peter Quill) – Originally from Earth, the leader of the Guardians of the Galaxy brings a snarky sense of humor to protecting the universe from any and all threats
• Drax – A brutally honest warrior with superior strength and combat skills (and very little regard for metaphor), ready to destroy any enemies of the galaxy
• Gamora – Raised as a living weapon, she seeks redemption as a member of the Guardians, putting her extraordinary fighting abilities to good use
• Groot – The sentient tree-like creature known as a Flora colossus whose vocabulistics are limited to “I” and “am” and “Groot” (exclusively in that order) branches out of his comfort zone to help the Guardians keep the universe safe
• Rocket – The genetically enhanced creature is the Guardians’ weapons and tactical expert, risking his hide to defend the cosmos one wisecrack at a time

Glossary of Cool Terms and People

Andromeda Galaxy – Spiral galaxy home to the Xandar system; galaxy nearest the Milky Way

Xandar – Paradise-like planet in the Andromeda Galaxy home to a diverse, peace-loving population

Terra – Xandarian term for Earth, home to Terrans (residents of Earth)

Wonders of Xandar Pavilion – First “other-world” showcase pavilion at EPCOT, where the people of Terra can learn more about Xandarians and their technologies, as well as the commonalities between the two cultures

Galaxarium – Sweeping planetarium-style space showcasing planets, stars and other intergalactic wonders that connect Terra and Xandar

Worldmind – Xandarian supercomputer that narrates the Galaxarium; holds the collective knowledge, memory and experience of all the Xandarian people

Xandar Gallery – Showcase of Xandarian people, culture and history – including the heroes of Xandar – through specially crafted displays

“Good Morning Xandar” – Popular news program on Xandar, often featuring interviews with famous personalities

Phase Chamber – Xandarian teleportation room used to instantaneously transport people from Terra’s surface to an orbiting ship

Treasures of Xandar – Retail shop at the Wonders of Xandar pavilion, operated by The Broker

Jump Points – Artificial tunnels in space allowing for rapid travel between two different points separated by a vast distance

Cosmic Generator – Xandarian technology that creates jump points, linking distant points in space to one another

Nova Corps – Defense and peacekeeping force for Xandar and the Andromeda Galaxy

Nova Prime Irani Rael – Leader of the Nova Corps, charged with protecting the Xandarian people from threats while serving as an emissary of peace through understanding across the galaxy

Centurion Tal Marik – Commander of the Starcharter, leader of the Nova Corps peacekeeping efforts, and close advisor to Nova Prime (this is the character’s first appearance, as he was created for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind)

Starblaster – Nova Corps short-range patrol craft, notable for its eight pointy fins that look like a star; can connect with other Starblasters to form a physical barrier

Starcharter – Large Nova Corps cruiser

Starjumper – Small escape shuttle that launches from a Nova Corps Starcharter

M-Ship – Class of personal spacecraft owned by Peter Quill, serving as base of operations for the Guardians of the Galaxy

Celestial – A cosmic being of immense power whose size and scope defy human perception

Eson – A Celestial watching over Earth for eons, growing increasingly frustrated with the course of human history

I am Groot.

If you get a chance to ride Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, we hope this primer gives you a good understanding of the attraction and how it fits into EPCOT and the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Follow all our Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind coverage on The Disney Blog.

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Home » Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind Roller Coaster Guide

Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind Roller Coaster Guide

By Author Meg Frost

Posted on Published: January 19, 2024

Without a doubt my absolute favorite ride at Walt Disney World is the Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind roller coaster at Epcot.

The combination of storytelling, iconic Marvel characters, and fun music always make this ride a must-do for me.

In this rider’s guide, I’m going over all the details of this stellar thrill ride, including history, accessibility accommodations, safety requirements, a complete Cosmic Rewind song list, and more.

Let’s take a closer look so you can decide if this ride is also a must-do for your next visit.

An introduction to Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind ride

The Guardians of the Galaxy : Cosmic Rewind roller coaster was created by Walt Disney Imagineering and Netherlands-based attraction manufacturer, Vekoma.

Vekoma also collaborated with the Imagineering team on TRON, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, and Expedition Everest at Walt Disney World. So it’s safe to say that pretty much everything they help build is going to be a top-tier ride!

Cosmic Rewind opened on May 27, 2022, replacing Ellen’s Energy Adventure ride in what is now known as World Discovery at Disney World’s Epcot theme park.

The ride features iconic characters from the Guardians of the Galaxy film franchise, such as Peter Quill/Star-Lord, Rocket, Groot, Drax, Gamora, and Nova Prime Irani Rael.

All of the characters’ actors from the movies returned for their role, except for Vin Diesel (Groot) and Bradley Cooper (Rocket).

In addition, a brand new character, Centurion Tal Marik, played by Terry Crews, was created for the pre-show.

The ride starts off as a tour of Xandarian artifacts and technology, which is supposed to end with teleportation to Xandar to demonstrate their cosmic generator technology.

However, the generator is stolen and the Guardians are summoned to help evacuate guests.

At this point, guests are ushered to the roller coaster portion of the attraction, which is, surely to Peter Quill’s delight, set to a random selection of tunes from the 70s and 80s.

It’s a super fun ride with creative storytelling (I mean, it is a Marvel ride, after all!) and I highly recommend carving out time to ride it at least once during your visit.

And I might be biased, as it’s my #1 favorite ride at Disney World, but something tells me after you right it once, you’ll be itching to ride as many times as you can!

Now that I’ve pumped up Cosmic Rewind, let’s go over some basic info so you can decide if it is indeed a must-do ride for you!

Accessibility accommodations

There are a number of accommodations available for this ride, as well as a few things to consider that may prevent you from riding.

If you use a wheelchair or scooter, you must be able to transfer to the ride on your own. Cast members cannot assist with this. In addition, service animals are not allowed on this ride.

In terms of accommodations, audio descriptions, handheld captioning, and assistive listening features are all available for this ride.

The ride depends greatly on the storytelling, as well as visuals, so I’m super glad they’ve had this from the get-go!

Health & safety restrictions

Guests must be at least 42 inches to ride, which is strictly enforced before entering the queue.

Guests of certain body sizes and shapes may not be able to ride due to the over-the-shoulder restrains and seat-style. As long as you are able to sit in the seat with the restraints closed, you’re good to go.

In addition, guests with a history of neck, back, heart, or motion sickness problems are warned not to ride, as these conditions can be aggravated by the ride.

I used to get motion sickness very easily when I was a kid, but it’s far better now that I’m (much) older.

However, the first time I went on Cosmic Rewind, I got quite nauseous. Thankfully, that has been the only time!

Lastly, if you are pregnant, you are also strongly encouraged against going on the ride.

How long is Cosmic Rewind?

The ride is a little over 3 minutes long, give or take. It depends on whether there are any delays in the setup of the ride, which launches backwards.

How fast is Cosmic Rewind?

According to Roller Coaster Database , Cosmic Rewind tops out around 60 MPH. It just barely edges out TRON Lightcycle Run as the fastest roller coaster at Disney World and is also one of the fastest rides .

Is rider switch available?

Rider swap is available for Cosmic Rewind. Therefore, if someone is too short to ride or is too scared to go on, they can wait with one member of your party while the other rides.

I should note that if you’re sending your kiddos on, kids 7 and under must be supervised by someone 14 and up at all times.

So make sure whoever is waiting with any kids in that younger age group is 14 or older. Cast members are unable to babysit, even if it is only for a few minutes.

Is there a ride photo?

Yes, there is a ride photo! The photo occurs shortly after the backwards launch.

It includes the full car of 4 seats, so if you are visiting with a group, you may want to request to be in the same car.

Is Cosmic Rewind scary?

One of the most common questions I get about thrill rides at Disney World is whether they are scary.

In my opinion, this ride has a few elements that could be scary to younger guests, but not so much for older ones.

Both the pre-show and ride take place in the dark, so keep that in mind for guests who have a fear of the dark!

In addition, the villain that steals the cosmic generator in the pre-show is pretty intimidating – more so than some of the villains we’ve seen in the movies.

Other than that, the ride launches backwards and the ride vehicles twist, which can cause many guests to experience motion sickness.

While I wouldn’t say that’s scary, it is enough to “scare” many guests from riding.

Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind song list

And now we get to one of my favorite parts about this ride: the soundtrack!

The ride portion of this attraction randomly launches to one of six songs. Here’s the complete list of songs:

• One Way or Another by Blondie
• September by Earth, Wind & Fire
• Conga by Gloria Estefan
• I Ran So Far Away by A Flock of Seagulls
• Everybody Wants to Rule the World by Tears for Fears
• Disco Infern o by The Trammps

In 2022, Cosmic Rewind switching things up during the holiday season by using remixed holiday tunes.

However, it didn’t return in 2023, likely due to it being quite unpopular with guests. My guess is that it won’t be back in the future, either. At least Disney gave it a try!

How to ride Cosmic Rewind

The only thing I don’t like about Cosmic Rewind is that it’s available via virtual queue and individual lightning lane only .

That means you can’t just walk up to the ride and hop in line, at least for the time being.

So how do you go about riding Cosmic Rewind? Check out the steps below for joining a virtual queue and purchasing an individual lightning lane.

How to join the Cosmic Rewind virtual queue

You have 2-3 chances to join the Cosmic Rewind virtual queue each day.

The first queue opens at 7 AM on the dot.

If you miss that queue, your second chance is at 1 PM. However you (and your party) need to be physically in Epcot, or at least have visited it prior to 1 PM, in order to join.

Lastly, if you are attending an after hours event at Epcot or are staying at a resort that provides extended evening hours, there is a third chance at 6 PM.

It’s important to note that you can only join ONE virtual queue per day.

To join the virtual queue for Cosmic Rewind, open the My Disney Experience app and select “Join Virtual Queue” from the home screen.

From there, follow the prompts to join the queue and get ready for your intergalactic adventure!

Once you join the queue, you’ll get a boarding group number and estimated wait time.

When your group is called, you’ll get a push notification from the app. Plus, if you’re wearing a MagicBand+, your band will vibrate.

Just head to the ride and tap your MagicBand or ticket at the Virtual Queue entrance and in you go!

How to purchase an individual lightning lane for Cosmic Rewind

If you miss the virtual queue, want to ride at a specific time, or want to ride a second time, your option is to purchase an individual lightning lane.

According to Thrill Data , the price ranges between $14-17 on average.

Considering how pricey everything is at Disney World these days, I try my best to snag a virtual queue instead of paying for a lightning lane pass. ‘

However, I’ve also been known to immediately purchase a pass as I’m walking off the ride, hahaha. Surely I’m not the only one!

Anyway, here’s how to buy a lightning lane for Cosmic Rewind:

• Open the My Disney Experience app and scroll down to the section about Lightning Lanes. Tap Learn More .
• Scroll down the Lightning Lane info page until you see the box for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind . Tap View Details .
• From here, follow the directions on the page to purchase a lightning lane pass.

A second way to purchase lightning lanes is to tap the search icon on the bottom of the app and search for Cosmic Rewind.

Tap on the name of the ride in the search results, then follow the directions to purchase a lightning lane.

Either way, once your time arrives, you’ll get a reminder from the app and on your MagicBand+.

Head to the ride and tap your band or ticket to the Lightning Lane entrance to go in. Cast members will be on hand to assist you if necessary.

Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind Tips

Before I wrap up this article, I’ll leave you with a few tips to help you enjoy the ride.

First up, if you are prone to motion sickness but really want to try this ride, prep ahead by taking antihistamines or whatever type of nausea medication your doctor suggests is best for you.

I realized after going on Cosmic Rewind a few times, I was getting nauseous at the part where the coaster circles a moon. But if I focus on the center of the moon as it’s going around, I don’t get nauseous at all!

It might also be a good idea to have ginger chews in your bag to pop in your mouth post-ride. Alternatively you could pop into Connections Eatery for some Ginger Ale.

Hustle out of the exit to get fresh air, as fresh air often helps relieve nausea on its own. But if it’s that bad, there is a bathroom along the exit route!

Lastly, if motion sickness is not an issue for you on this ride and you want to bump up the intensity, ask the cast member for row 9.

Despite experiencing motion sickness on this ride when I first went on it, I’ve rode row 9 a few times now and I’m convinced my strategies above helped me enjoy the most intense seat!

Are you ready to ride Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind?

I hope you found this rider’s guide helpful. With its face pace, stellar storytelling, fun soundtrack, and lots of twists and turns, this roller coaster is a must-do at least once!

Before you go, be sure to drop your favorite song from this ride in the comments below. At the moment, mine is a tie between Disco Inferno and Everybody Wants to Rule the World !

For more insight on rides at Disney World, check out these guides:

• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
• Expedition Everest
• Flight of Passage
• Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster
• Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
• Slinky Dog Dash
• Space Mountain
• Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
• Tower of Terror

About the author

Meg Frost is the creator of  The Park Pixie , where she covers Disney World, Disney+, and Disney fandom.

She holds an M.A. in Journalism from Northeastern University and B.S. in Communication & American Studies from University of Miami in Florida.

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Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at Disney World’s EPCOT

Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is NOW OPEN in Walt Disney World as part of the historic transformation happening in EPCOT ! This new roller coaster — EPCOT’s first! — opened on May 27, 2022 .

Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind

Click HERE to check out PHOTOS & VIDEOS of our FIRST RIDE on Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind!

Staying spoiler-free click here for our no spoiler review of cosmic rewind.

Located in World Discovery (in the area that formerly housed the Universe of Energy), the attraction — which is one of the longest indoor roller coasters ever built — takes YOU on an intergalactic adventure with the Guardians of the Galaxy !

You’ve got FAQs about Cosmic Rewind, and we’ve got answers HERE !

If you’d like to jump to a specific topic about Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, click any of the links below :

• The Story Behind Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind (SPOILER WARNING)
• The Ride , Ride Vehicles, and Unique Attraction Features
• The Cast of Characters
• The Soundtrack for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
• Cosmic Rewind Construction Milestones and Imagineering
• Treasures of Xandar — Merchandise Location
• Rider Access — How to Get on Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
• Ride Specifications (including Height Requirement and appropriate Age Groups)

As the story goes …

Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind — The Story

The planet of Xandar of the Andromeda Galaxy (and home to the galaxy’s Nova Corps) has brought the first Other-World pavilion to EPCOT: the Wonders of Xandar pavilion!

You see, Star-Lord loved EPCOT when he was just a lil’ Peter Quill. He loved it SO much, in fact, that he “suggested the Disney park as the perfect place for Xandarians to connect with Terrans.”

Wonders of Xandar

And so, the Wonders of Xandar pavilion was created to connect our worlds and people.

Wonders of Xandar Dedication Plaque

Let’s explore…

The Galaxarium

Guests first enter the Galaxarium, a “planetarium-like exhibition,” to learn about the differences and similarities between the galaxies of Earth (Terra) and Xandar .

Visions of “planets, stars and other intergalactic wonders that connect Terra and Xandar” are presented to reinforce the notion that “ we’re all born of the same space dust .”

Entirely immersive, the full viewable experience in the Galaxarium is over 30 minutes long . And your narration is provided by the Xandarian supercomputer, Worldmind .

You’ll see Xandar and the Andromeda Galaxy, as well as Earth (Terra) and the Milky Way Galaxy. ( Click HERE to see a video !) You may also spy  Star-Lord’s Awesome Mix Vol. 1  floating through space!

The famous turkey leg!

And, umm… a TURKEY LEG .

(You can find out a little more about that here . 😉 ) Next on our tour…

The Xandar Gallery

After winding through the ramps of the Galaxarium, guests enter the Xandar Gallery , where Xandarians teach Terrans (Earth dwellers) about “their world, their people and their advanced technologies,” as well as Xandar’s “protectors and heroes!” (Now WHO could that be? 😉 )

Starblaster Model in the Xandar Gallery

On display are models of starships and a Xandarian city.

A Xandarian City Model

Meanwhile, excerpts from Good Morning Xandar allow guests to get to know the Guardians!

“Good morning Xandar!”

( Buuut , who’s going to be the one to break it to Peter that Horizons no longer exists ? Anyway, moving on…

The Phase Chamber

The tour leads next to the Phase Chamber, where visitors hear from Nova Prime Irani Rael, leader of Xandar and the commander of Nova Corps.

Nova Prime!

The goal from here? To “instantly teleport [guests] from EPCOT to a Nova Corps Starcharter cruiser orbiting Earth.” Nova Prime talks “about the Cosmic Generator, a piece of Xandarian technology that creates jump points – artificial tunnels in space allowing for rapid travel across vast distances.”  From the Phase Chamber you’ll be able to teleport to a Nova ship above Earth for a demonstration of the Cosmic Generator!

Then it’s time for a demonstration, and a word of instruction from Nova Prime’s top officer,   Centurion Tal Marik. 

Centurion Tal Marik

Oh, and once you’re in the Phase Chamber, you may hear Centurion Marik mention the teeny, tiny little matter that that they’ve never transported Terrans before . (WAIT. Whaaaa…????)

Inside the Phase Chamber

Thankfully, there’s a smooth transition to the ship for a preview of the Cosmic Generator!

Well, there’s supposed to be a preview, that is …

Not All Goes According to Plan…

Suddenly, the power goes out and the cosmic generator goes MISSING. So much for that preview!

As it just so happens, a Celestial  named  Eson (or Eson the Searcher ) once had possession of the Power Stone (one of the 6 Infinity stones). (Other Celestials you may have seen in the MCU include Arishem from  The Eternals and Ego from  Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 2. )

Eson has been  watching Earth ( Terra) , for a long time, and apparently he “intends to use the Cosmic Generator to jump back in time and change the course of humanity.” Like, NOW.

Click HERE to check out the story behind the VILLIAN of Cosmic Rewind!

Nova Prime Irani Rael commands  Centurion Tal Marik , to get into action and contact the Guardians of the Galaxy !

The Guardians!

And now?  Rocket, Groot, Drax, Gamora, and Star-Lord need YOUR help to save the galaxy after receiving that S.O.S. from the Nova Corps that their outpost on Earth is in danger . Now, YOU, my friend, have gotta get out of the ship FAST , so you evacuate by using “Starjumper shuttles – small escape pods that launch from the Starcharter cruiser.”

Loading Area for your Starjumper Shuttle

Why? Because YOUR Starjumper shuttle will actually follow Eson until the Guardians can arrive !

Starjumpers

With plenty of twists and turns , Cosmic Rewind sends guests on a high-speed journey through “space and time!”

Starjumper? Nova Corps? Cosmic Generator? Click HERE for all the NEW LANGUAGE you should learn for your Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind adventure!

Guardians of the galaxy: cosmic rewind — the ride and features.

As mentioned above, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is one of the longest indoor rollercoasters in the WORLD. At an event we were able to attend months before the ride’s opening , Disney Imagineers shared that the massive building which houses the attraction is technically one story (as one large room), but it realistically looks to be the height of a something closer to a 4 story building.

To give you more of an idea of the scope, Cosmic Rewind is located inside one of the largest show buildings that has EVER been built for a Disney theme park . In fact, the show building is so big that (by volume) FOUR Spaceship Earths could fit inside of it!

Cosmic Rewind also features the first ever reverse launch on a Disney coaster!

Cosmic Rewind

Click HERE to read our thoughts as we stepped inside Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind for the first time!

The attraction is a family-friendly Omnicoaster , which means that the ride vehicles — the Starjumper vehicles — spin a full 360 degrees on the track while traveling at high speeds.

Here is a closer look at the 4-seater Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind Starjumpers!

Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind Ride Vehicle

Click HERE to take a closer look at the Cosmic Rewind ride vehicles!

Josh D’Amaro (Chairman, Disney Parks, Experiences and Products) spoke during the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions Expo in late 2020, and shared a video of the ride vehicle moving on its 360-degree access so you can see it in action below!

Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind ride vehicles! Footage from the IAAPA Expo! pic.twitter.com/7NP1SVa3Mv — AJ Wolfe (@DisneyFoodBlog) November 16, 2020

Safety bars pull down for each guest, and speakers are also inset into each row between the seats. (Cue Awesome Mix Vol. 1 and 2!)

Inside the ride vehicle

To help you on your adventure are “emissaries of Xandar as members of the Nova Corps”… otherwise known as Disney Cast Members !

©Zach Riddley (@thezachriddley on Instagram)

Disney Imagineer Zach Riddley has shared that the Cast Member costumes  feature some of the  style, colors, and symbols from the Nova Corps and the world of Xandar  that fans have previously only gotten glimpses of.

Disney shares that Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is “a massive experience that will match the scale and adventure of the Guardians of the Galaxy films.”

Guardians of the Galaxy: The Cast of Characters and Other Appearances

In addition to Rocket, Groot, Drax, Gamora, Star-Lord, and Eson the Searcher (as mentioned above) , Terry Crews appears as “ Centurion Tal Marik , Commander of the Starcharter and close advisor to Nova Prime.”

Glenn Close and Terry Crews

And actress Glenn Close has reprised her role as Nova Prime in the attraction .

You may see another familiar face as well…

Walt Disney

In fact, you may be taken by surprise by some of the things you notice !

See TONS of hidden Disney details and Easter Eggs in Cosmic Rewind HERE!

Guardians of the galaxy: cosmic rewind — awesome mix (the soundtrack).

Want to know which song you’ll hear while you ride?  There are six tunes that provide the sounds for the experience :

• “September”
• “Disco Inferno”
• “Everybody Wants to Rule the World”
• “One Way or Another”

Spoiler Alert: the soundtrack WON’T be the same every time you ride it. As Disney shares, “ you won’t know which track you’ll hear each time you ride until you actually blast off! ”

Get the story behind the sounds HERE!

Guests will also hear some of the songs that didn’t make it into the final ride mix when exiting the ride. There are “several dozen songs” that play in this area, so you can hear some of the songs that were considered for the attraction.

And GET THIS… During the Holiday Season in Disney World , the Guardians trade in their typical playlist for a “mash-up of seasonal jams.”

Disney Imagineering of Cosmic Rewind

Throughout the construction of the attraction, we visited the site to keep an eye on the progress for Cosmic Rewind. For instance, in January 2022, assembly began on the 51-foot Nova Corps Starblaster ship which marks the entrance to the ride . (It’s the first full-size version of this ship that has ever been built!)

Nova Corps Starblaster ship

The iconic ship was first seen in the original  Guardians of the Galaxy  film, and now it greets guests as they approach the Wonders of Xandar Pavilion in EPCOT!

In February, we noticed blaster installation on the Nova Corps ship.

Nova Corps Starblaster in mid-February 2022

And a HUGE moment came in April 2022, when the construction WALLS SURROUNDING THE ATTRACTION CAME DOWN !

In April 2022, Riddley also provided insight into the nighttime lighting for the attraction , sharing that the atmosphere is meant “to ensure that the people of Xandar have a suitable beacon for the message of peace and cooperation that they have brought to our park.”

The lighting is designed to “highlight the intricate layering of masses and forms that define the building—not to mention its very imposing scale!” And the Nova Corps Starblaster is the focus of the pavilion at night in the middle of the courtyard. Riddley noted that “its programming is intended to allow the Xandarians to play along in the vibrant skyline of our new vision for EPCOT .”

Treasures of Xandar — Gift Shop and Guardians of the Galaxy Merchandise

The Treasures of Xandar gift shop in association with the attraction is, as the story goes ,  operated by “The Broker.”

Treasures of Xandar

The Broker is “a proud Xandarian, who’s been awarded the contract and brought part of his famous store here to EPCOT.”

Some of the merchandise pays tribute to Xandar itself and items that have been acquired throughout the galaxy.

Nova Corps Mug

You’ll also find some items that celebrate the Heroes of Xandar …

Guardians of the Galaxy Baseball Tee

…the Guardians of the Galaxy!

Groot and Rocket Stress Squeezies

Merchandise collections, as shared by Disney, include : 

• Heroes of Xandar Collection — What if the Guardians were rock stars? This collection is “[i]nspired by vintage concert merchandise of the 1980s,” and imagines “all of the gear and memorabilia fans would collect during the Guardians’ fictional intergalactic tour.”

Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind Merchandise

• The Guardians of the Galaxy: Through the Eyes of Quill  Collection —  This collection is a “bold and colorful line celebrating Peter Quill’s childhood visit to EPCOT.” It has a vintage feel with “retro silhouettes and graphic designs evoking decades past.”

• Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind – Honorary  Guardians Collection — This collection helps guests of all ages show off their new hero status after riding the ride and, you know, saving the galaxy! According to Disney, “Honorary Guardians will be distinguished in their rank through the official Honorary Guardian colors of navy and gold paired with the Honorary Guardian emblem, which is proudly displayed on each item in the collection.”

• Groot Through the Years Collection — This collection “celebrates the sentient tree-like creature and his journey to becoming a defender of the galaxy.” It offers “toys, home décor and children’s apparel” that show “Groot’s evolution from baby to adolescent to adult.”

Guardians of the Galaxy Merchandise

The Broker reportedly shared a special statement with the Walt Disney Imagineering Team. The statement reads: “I am so delighted to bring my wares to the Wonders of Xandar pavilion. As a proud Xandarian, it gives me great pleasure to represent my planet to you Terrans and allow you to bring home a small bit of Xandar from my shop: Treasures of Xandar. I only hope that it brings our two cultures that much closer together.”

Click HERE to see a FULL LOOK at the Guardians of the Galaxy merchandise in the Treasures of Xandar!

Important words from the guardians of the galaxy regarding cosmic rewind.

Disney has passed along the following message from Groot regarding his excitement over this ground-breaking new attraction: “I am Groot.”

Rocket and Groot

Well said, Groot.

Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind — Rider Access

There are TWO ways to ride Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind :

ONE: Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind utilizes a Virtual Queue . Guests MUST have a Boarding Group in the Virtual Queue to ride. Registration for the Virtual Queue is accessible through the My Disney Experience app . A   Standby line is NOT currently available.

PLEASE NOTE : Eligible guests going to Extended Evening Hours can also request to join the virtual queue for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind  at 6PM .  Find COMPLETE DETAILS here .

Click HERE to learn everything you need to know to JOIN a Virtual Queue to get a Boarding Pass for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind!

TWO: Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind offers paid-for ride access via a Lightning Lane through Individual Attraction Selection on the Disney Genie tool in the My Disney Experience app . The cost to ride Cosmic Rewind can vary by date, and we have seen a range of $14 – $17 (cost is per person).

Tap Point for Lightning Lane entrance

Click HERE to learn how to purchase Lightning Lane access to ride Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind!

Virtual queue or pay-per-ride we discuss the best way to get on guardians of the galaxy: cosmic rewind here., and here is the trick to riding cosmic rewind twice in one day., guardians of the galaxy: cosmic rewind — specifications.

Location: World Discovery in EPCOT

Individual Attraction Lightning Lane Access (pay-per-ride) : YES

Virtual Queue for a Boarding Group : YES

Minimum Height Requirement : 42″ (107cm)

Appropriate Age Groups:  Disney classifies this ride as Family-friendly, and appropriate for “kids, tweens, teens, and adults.”

Motion Sickness Concerns: We discuss this important topic in full HERE, and offer some tips on how to avoid motion sickness on the attraction here . However, our nutshell comparison with other thrill rides in Disney World is as follows: “The sensation of this ride was like  a combo of Space Mountain and Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster  — it’s  very dark  inside! We found that the intensity was between the two coasters, it’s  more intense  than Space Mountain but  less intense  than Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster. We even thought it was  less intense  than Expedition Everest. And, for anyone concerned, this coaster  does NOT go upside down , but it does go backwards.”

Features: Indoor roller coaster, reverse launch into space, 360-degree movement, OmniCoaster ride system, specialized movement along with the story, fast and energetic turns

On-Ride Attraction Photos through Disney PhotoPass : Yes — Learn more here !

Accolades : In November 2023, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind was honored with a Thea Award for Outstanding Achievement — Attraction in 2024 by the Themed Entertainment Association (TEA).  The Thea Awards  are internationally recognized and acknowledge “exceptional achievements in the themed entertainment industry and celebrate the creative teams who bring immersive experiences to life.”

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You Might also Like: Epcot Transformation , Space 220 , Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure

Want MORE Details About EPCOT’s MASSIVE Transformation?

New festival areas, gardens, a meet-and-greet area, and more are coming to epcot, learn all about journey of water -- inspired by moana, has the mary poppins project at disney world been canceled, what’s been cut from the epcot transformation, sneak peek at the new fireworks show coming to epcot, click here for all the news and details about epcot’s transformation, join the dfb newsletter to get all the latest epcot transformation news right in your inbox click here to subscribe, check out our other ebooks.

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Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind: How to ride Disney's newest roller coaster

Walt Disney World's newest ride, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, officially opened at Walt Disney World in Orlando on May 27 and has guests (virtually) lining up in droves to help save the galaxy.

The ride brings a series of firsts to Disney World. Cosmic Rewind is Epcot's first-ever roller coaster and it is also Disney's first reverse launch on any coaster. The ride is also Disney World's first Marvel-themed attraction, housed in Epcot's new "other-world" showcase pavilion. If those weren't already enough highlights to catch your attention, the attraction is like a giant dance party in space and just might be the best time you've ever had on a ride .

But, unfortunately, getting a chance to launch through the galaxy isn't guaranteed and it can be a real challenge if you don't know how the current Disney virtual queueing system works.

Here's everything you need to know about riding Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind.

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What is Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind?

First things first, Cosmic Rewind is a high-speed, thrilling coaster in the dark that takes guests on an adventure through time and space alongside the Marvel Cinematic Universe's Guardians of the Galaxy.

Dubbed both a "storycoaster" and "omnicoaster," the ride's 360-degree rotating ride vehicles turn to direct riders' attention to the attraction's combination of screens and physical sets.

A highly immersive queue and pre-show starring the Hollywood A-list cast from Guardians of the Galaxy Vols. 1, 2 and (forthcoming) 3 kick off the experience. Guests then board "starjumpers," the ride vehicles, and reverse launch into what feels like one big intergalactic disco.

In Disney terms, think of it as Space Mountain with an added layer of next-level technology, a crowd-pleasing soundtrack of one of six upbeat hits from the '70s and '80s, and a smooth, swaying motion that really makes it feel like you're soaring (or dancing) through the galaxy.

The initial reviews are in and guests (including yours truly) are calling this the hands-down, most fun attraction Disney has ever created.

  View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Brooke Geiger McDonald (@brookegmcdonald)

Is the ride open for parkgoers?

After several weeks of previews for Walt Disney World cast members, annual passholders , Disney Vacation Club members and Club 33 members, Cosmic Rewind officially opened to all guests on May 27, 2022.

But, there's a catch.

There is currently no standby queue (aka old-fashioned line) available, so the only ways to experience this new ride are by joining the virtual queue and securing a boarding group or by purchasing an Individual Lightning Lane entry.

Both of these options are accessible only via the My Disney Experience app (see below for more info) and both are going to require you being at the ready at precise times. More on that shortly.

Where is the ride in the park?

Located in Epcot's World Discovery neighborhood, in the area of the park formerly known as Future World, Cosmic Rewind is housed within the Wonders of Xandar pavilion. The pavilion, which was previously known as the Universe of Energy pavilion and housed the opening-day attraction Universe of Energy, has now been dubbed Epcot's first "other-world" showcase pavilion.

The revamped pavilion's new backstory is that Peter Quill, aka Star-Lord (played by Chris Pratt both in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and in the attraction), visited Epcot as a child and suggested the people of the planet Xandar establish the Wonders of Xandar pavilion to showcase Xandarian culture to the Terrans (people of Earth).

The World Discovery neighborhood has rapidly grown into a vibrant hub with several of Epcot's latest openings , all part of a massive, multi-year transformation .

Two of Epcot's newest restaurants — Space 220 and Connections Café & Eatery — are just steps away from Cosmic Rewind's tapstiles, as is Creations Shop, the park's new flagship retail location. Other nearby World Discovery attractions include Mission: Space and Test Track.

Related: Why Epcot is now Disney World's go-to park

Who can ride Cosmic Rewind?

Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is described within the attraction queue as a "thrilling, high-speed, turbulent ride that goes forward and backward through the dark and includes sharp turns, sudden drops and stops."

The ride has a minimum height requirement of 42 inches and is not recommended for people who are pregnant.

The queue is accessible to guests in ECVs and wheelchairs but guests must transfer to ride vehicles to ride. Ride vehicles are accommodating to guests of a wide range of sizes, more so than some of the newer rides over at Universal Orlando.

Assuming they meet the height requirement, children under the age of 7 must be accompanied by a person age 14 or older. For groups with children who don't meet the minimum height requirement, Rider Switch is available and enables adults to take turns riding the attraction while the other adult waits with the child unable to ride.

Motion sickness concerns

Some guests prone to motion sickness and/or sensitive to screens might find this attraction nausea-inducing.

I ride all Walt Disney World and Disneyland rollercoasters without a problem but found that I struggled a bit on this ride if I paid too much attention to what was happening on the screens. After a few rides, I found that if I kept my head focused in the direction the vehicle was moving, rather than on the screens, I was able to ride without a problem.

Although the ride vehicles do rotate — at one point in the ride the vehicle turns a full 360 degrees — the rotation is definitely a controlled turn like that of Haunted Mansion rather than a high-speed spin like the Teacups.

Is it scary?

With a height requirement of only 42 inches, many younger children will be tall enough to ride, but parents might be wondering how scary the ride is -- especially given the PG-13 rating of the Guardians of the Galaxy films.

The main components that could bother some kids would be the darkness and speed of the coaster and the attraction's villain, a Celestial named Eson . My youngest son rode the attraction on his 6th birthday and said he didn't find it scary at all, but thought some kids might find "the big monster guy" a bit frightening.

For what it's worth, he also said Cosmic Rewind is his new favorite ride at any Disney park — and he's ridden them all.

My advice for parents is if your kids are comfortable riding any of the following rides: Expedition Everest, Space Mountain, Splash Mountain, Rock 'n' Rollercoaster, Tower of Terror, or Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: Breakout! at Disneyland, they should be fine to ride this attraction.

How can you ride Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind?

As previously mentioned, the only ways to blast off on this galaxy-saving adventure is by snagging a spot in either the virtual queue or by purchasing an individual Lightning Lane entry. Here's what you need to know about both options.

Virtual queue

The virtual queue is the only way to ride Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind without paying an additional cost on top of your park admission.

But, you should know that snagging a coveted boarding group via the virtual queue is far from guaranteed. In fact, boarding groups are getting snatched up in mere seconds for this high-demand attraction, so if you rely only on the unpaid virtual queue system, you run the risk of missing out on your chance to ride.

Guests with an Epcot theme park reservation for that day will have the opportunity to join the virtual queue via the My Disney Experience mobile app at 7 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Guests can attempt to join the virtual queue from anywhere at 7 a.m., but must have entered Epcot prior to 1 p.m. in order to join the 1 p.m. virtual queue. You can only secure a boarding group when the clock strikes either 7 a.m. or 1 p.m. as within seconds all of the available virtual queue spots are taken.

Snagging a spot in the virtual queue doesn't mean you won't spend any time waiting in the physical queue — but for Cosmic Rewind, spending a little time in line isn't a bad thing. Getting a boarding group via the virtual queue essentially secures a return time at which point you join the standby queue. While it can vary, guests typically wait only 15-30 minutes once entering the standby queue.

The queue for this ride is immersive and detailed. Old-school Epcot fans will especially love all the Easter eggs that nod to the park and pavilion's history. I'd actually prefer a little time waiting rather than skipping most of it as you do in the Lightinng Lane — at least the first time you ride it.

For more information on how to use Disney's virtual queue system and tips to secure a spot in line, check out TPG's full guide to the Disney virtual queue system .

Individual Lightning Lane

We've previously noted how quickly the virtual queue fills up for Cosmic Rewind, so if you want to improve your chances of getting to ride and you're willing to spend some money to do so, buying Individual Lightning Lane access is the way to go. But, there is a catch.

What is the Lightning Lane?

The Lightning Lane is Disney's new name for what used to be the FastPass queue. This is a shorter, fast-tracked line that skips much of the standby queue and sends you more or less straight to the pre-show. Purchasing an Individual Lightning Lane selection for Cosmic Rewind gets you fast-tracked entrance to the ride at a designated time.

Individual Lightning Lane entry for Cosmic Rewind costs between $14 and $17 per person plus tax and varies by day. You'll see the day's price confirmed before making your selection and confirming your purchase.

Who can buy an Individual Lightning Lane entry?

Technically, Individual Lightning Lane selections are available for purchase to all Walt Disney World guests.

However, only guests staying on property at a Walt Disney World resort hotel, the Walt Disney World Swan, Dolphin or Swan Reserve , or Shades of Green can purchase Individual Lightning Lane selections when they first become available each day at 7 a.m. All other guests can purchase their first Individual Lightning Lane selection at the park's opening time. And frankly, there may not be many -- if any -- available right now if you don't have that head-start on purchasing.

Unlike with the virtual queue, you don't need an Epcot Park Pass to purchase an Individual Lightning Lane, but if you're starting your day in a different park, you'll need a ticket or annual pass with park hopper access,. You'll also need to select a return time for 2 p.m. or later, which is when park hopping begins. You must have tapped into your first park where you had your park reservation before you'll be able to enter Epcot after 2 p.m. for park hopping.

Although Individual Lightning Lane selections aren't scooped up quite as quickly as virtual queue boarding groups (which often fill in as little as 3-5 seconds), they are still selling out quickly — sometimes within the first minute. However, we have seen Cosmic Rewind Individual Lightning Lane selections available for purchase as late as 8:20 a.m. and so keep trying if you miss the first drop of availability.

This does mean guests staying off property are unlikely to get the chance to purchase Individual Lightning Lane entry for Cosmic Rewind and will instead have to rely on the virtual queues that are available to everyone at the same time(s).

Extended hours for Deluxe Resort guests

Additionally, on nights when there are Extended Evening Theme Park Hours at Epcot for deluxe resort guests, registered guests staying at Disney deluxe resorts and villas as well as the Walt Disney World Swan, Dolphin, Swan Reserve (all three of which are bookable with Marriott Bonvoy points ) and Shades of Green, will have an additional opportunity to join the virtual queue at 6 p.m.

If they are successful, they will receive a boarding group to ride the attraction during the extended hours window after the park closes to day guests. Consult this list for participating hotels and schedule , which is subject to change.

Guests attempting to join the 6 p.m. virtual queue do not need to have a Park Pass for Epcot and do not need to have entered Epcot before joining, but they will need valid admission for the day and will need to have entered their first park where they hold a Disney Park Pass reservation before visiting Epcot during the Extended Hours window.

Deluxe resort guests who secured a 7 a.m. or 1 p.m. boarding group are still eligible to join the virtual queue a second time during Extended Evening Theme Park Hours.

Related: The best hotels at Disney World in 2022

Riding multiple times per day

It is possible to ride up to three times in one day — which is great news for hard-core fans since you can experience up to six different songs on the ride. Each song makes the ride experience a bit different, so you might want to ride multiple times.

In the morning, you can purchase both an Individual Lightning Lane selection and join the virtual queue. If you want to try for both, it's best to either split up and have one person in your party go for virtual queue and one person go for Individual Lightning Lane or, if only one person is making selections, it's essential to try for the virtual queue first.

Even when the Individual Lightning Lane appears to sell out right at 7 a.m., return windows typically reappear just after 7:10 and again at 7:20, as a result of purchases that timed out or weren't confirmed during the initial window. In other words, if at first you don't succeed, try again and you should be able to score Individual Lightning Lane entry so long as you begin trying at 7 a.m. or immediately after the 7 a.m. virtual queue fills up.

For guests who are staying at a Disney Deluxe resort with Extended Eventing Theme Park Hours access, you can also join the 6 p.m. virtual queue in addition to the standard virtual queue options and purchased Lightning Lane.

The merchandise collections for this Cosmic Rewind have to be some of the best we've ever seen, packed with throwback nods to the '80s and to Epcot's past. Find merchandise both in the Treasures of Xandar shop just outside the ride's exit and in the nearby Creations Shop.

My other favorite souvenir from Cosmic Rewind is an excellent on-ride Disney PhotoPass photo. Be sure to scan one of the 3D cube QR codes positioned throughout the queue so that you can link your ride photo to your My Disney Experience app.

I tried out the PhotoPass opportunity to help give riders a better idea of where in the ride the photo is taken for your best Insta-worthy pose:

Bottom line

It can be challenging to get a chance to ride Walt Disney World's best new attraction, but rest assured, this ride is more than worth it.

Cosmic Rewind is now my absolute favorite ride at Walt Disney World (as well as TPG editor Madison Blancaflor's favorite ride ) and it is most definitely not a one-and-done experience. Chances are you'll want to do it again and again, as I did after my first ride.

As a family that visits Walt Disney World a lot, we rarely purchase Individual Lightning Lane entry in an effort to not break the bank. We instead opt to rope drop the standby line when the park first opens or skip pricey rides with long waits altogether and save them for a future trip. That being said, I can't imagine a trip without Cosmic Rewind, so for the foreseeable future, our family will be purchasing Individual Lightning Lane entry and trying for the virtual queue every day (yes, this means booking Epcot Park Passes for every day of our upcoming trips — it's seriously that good).

Many guests relying solely on the standard virtual queue options are being met with serious disappointment. We've seen reports from frustrated guests who have repeatedly failed to get a boarding group . While no one likes standing around waiting all day, in the interest of a more level playing field, we do hope to see Disney switch to a standby queue sooner rather than later to give everyone who desperately wants to ride Cosmic Rewind the opportunity to do so, provided they're willing to wait.

After all, the Guardians need our help saving the galaxy, and none of us want to let them down.

Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind

• It’s Save the Galaxy Time!
• 42in (107cm) or taller
• Thrill Ride
• Attraction Photography

Rock Out on an Intergalactic Chase

A totally cool attraction located in world discovery at epcot, introducing a reverse-launch coaster, a world beyond belief, an extraterrestrial escapade.

Ready for an awesome quest across the cosmos to save the galaxy? It’s all up to you!

Request to Join the Virtual Queue

Boarding groups for a virtual queue are limited, subject to availability, and are not guaranteed. Not all boarding groups may be called to return, based on availability of the experience. View important information about the virtual queue.

Guests may also purchase Individual Lightning Lane entry for this attraction. Lightning Lane entry purchases are limited in availability, are subject to change or closure, may vary by date and are not guaranteed.

Related Activities

Purchase memory maker, space 220 restaurant, safety, accessibility and guest policies, use virtual queue or individual lightning lane only, times for guardians of the galaxy: cosmic rewind.

Disney World News: Entertainment Changes, Cosmic Rewind Previews, Restaurant Refurb

We’re back with another Walt Disney World news roundup. This one covers the latest extensions and additions to park hours through Summer 2022, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind Cast Previews, more charges to entertainment at Epcot and Animal Kingdom, an event at ESPN Wide World of Sports, Grand Floridian restaurant refurbishment, and more.

As usual, we’ll start with the latest release of new and modified operating schedules. All four theme parks have had hours for another week added to  DisneyWorld.com’s park hours , and the current calendar now runs through June 18, 2022. Here are the hours for the newly-added dates in Summer 2022:

• Magic Kingdom: 9 am to 10 pm
• Epcot: 10 am to 9 pm
• Hollywood Studios: 9 am to 9 pm
• Animal Kingdom: 8 am to 8 pm
• Typhoon Lagoon: 10 am to 7 pm
• Disney Springs: 10 am to 11 pm (11:30 pm on Fridays & Saturdays)

These are boilerplate hours that are simply a placeholder that’s subject to change if or when internal forecasts show higher attendance at Walt Disney World. With that said, there are a couple of interesting changes for the most recent week to be posted in mid-June 2022. First, Animal Kingdom extends its hours to 8 am to 8 pm, from a baseline of 9 am to 7 pm. Second, Typhoon Lagoon gradually extends its closing time from 5 pm to 7 pm, and adds the H2O Glow After Hours on top of that, which will end at 11 pm nightly.

In addition to these updated boilerplate hours for June 2022, there are also extensions to park hours for April 17-23, 2022. These are more or less the same extensions that’ve been occurring since the start of spring break season, and make beating the crowds much easier–so long as you don’t mind getting up a bit early!

Here are the current Walt Disney World park hours through April 23, 2022:

• Magic Kingdom: 9 am to 11 pm
• Epcot: 8:30 am to 9 pm
• Hollywood Studios: 8 am to 9 pm
• Animal Kingdom: 7:30 am to 8:30 pm

As of right now, these revert to normal on April 24, 2022. That might end up happening, but we highly doubt it. Even though that would normally be the end of spring break season, Disney Park Pass reservations are already filling for April 24-26, and those dates are still several weeks away. As such, we expect extensions more or less in line with what’s listed above for the foreseeable future.

UPDATE:  Walt Disney World park hours have now been extended through April 30, 2022. The same hours listed above apply through (at least) then.

It’s looking increasingly like attendance isn’t going to let up at Walt Disney World anytime soon. Even after spring break season ends, summer is right around the corner. With Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewinds likely throughout mid-May 2022 and its grand opening after that, there’s a decent chance mid-August 2022 will be the next sustained reprieve from crowds.

Honestly, as much as I’d like to enjoy some quiet days in the parks, I’ll happily take heavy attendance and the parks operating at full throttle once again. Seasoned Walt Disney World visitors know how to outsmart the crowds. What we cannot “outsmart” is Fantasmic, Finding Nemo: the Musical, etc. being dark.

To that end, we (once again) recommend checking out Genie+ v. Savvy Standby Strategy at Walt Disney World , which is the result of extensive ‘testing’ to determine the best and worst ways to beat the crowds. Genie+ is only the clear winner at Magic Kingdom. In the other 3 parks, there are superior strategies for saving time waiting in line.

Even Disney’s Hollywood Studios, which has a lot of popular rides with long lines, has better ways to beat the crowds. If you’re overwhelmed by all of the recent changes, crowd reports, and everything else, that’s the most succinct resource for current strategy.

In our latest Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind “preview watch,” registration for Cast Member previews will begin on April 11, 2022. While dates are not yet official, these are highly likely to begin in the second half of April and run through (very) early May 2022.

As covered yesterday, registration for the Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind D23 Preview is April 12, 2022. Given that, our expectation is that AP and DVC preview registration will open sometime next week. Again, we  strongly recommend trying for the D23 preview if you’re eligible, for the reasons discussed in that post.

In restaurant news, Narcoossee’s at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort will close starting June 18, 2022 for a lengthy refurbishment that currently does not have an end date. Citricos will operate daily beginning June 26, 2022 to accommodate the displaced Cast Members and provide needed dining capacity.

As you might recall, Citricos opened from its own Mary Poppins “reimagining” last year. That plus a new menu resulted in it jumping up our restaurant rankings. (See Citricos Reimagined Restaurant Review for thoughts, food & interior photos, recommendations, etc.) If it’s anything like that, we’re cautiously optimistic about the Narcoossee’s reimagining.

This also comes as rumors swirl about room and lobby refurbishments at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. We’re decently in the loop when it comes to construction at the resorts, but we haven’t heard anything from credible sources about this project, its scope or scale. With that said, we have been stressing the urgent need for this (particularly in hotel guest rooms) and the likelihood that it’s on the horizon.

Even without knowing anything about the veracity of these Grand Floridian rumors, our expectation is that it’s an inevitability at some point this year or in 2023. Then again, we would’ve said the same thing about an overhaul of the Grand Canyon Concourse and absolutely nothing has happened there. So who knows. We have a lot more thoughts on what needs to happen (and what absolutely does not) at the Grand Floridian, but we’ll save those until an actual announcement is made beyond this.

Next, as part of Walt Disney World’s support for military service, the ESPN Wide World of Sports will host the 2022 Department of Defense Warrior Games from August 19 to 28, 2022. The DoD Warrior Games celebrating the resiliency and dedication of wounded, ill, and injured active duty and veteran U.S. military service members.

ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex is being donated for use and will host the DoD Warrior Games for the first time. If you have deja vu reading this, it’s because the 2021 Department of Defense Warrior Games were originally scheduled to take place at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex last September before being cancelled due to the Delta variant.

Walt Disney World will also host the 2022 Veterans Institute Summit presented by Disney Institute August 19-20, 2022 at ESPN Wide World of Sports complex. The summit is designed to empower companies to build effective veteran hiring, training and support of their own. The two-day forum will include speakers from Disney’s Heroes Work Here  initiative, U.S. government officials, veterans and military spouses, among many others.

Next, a flurry of entertainment updates. Let’s start with Animal Kingdom, which will soon see updates to the cult-favorite KiteTails. According to Walt Disney World, here’s what’ll happen: “we’re shifting the focus of the show so guests will be able to experience ‘Disney KiteTails’ from anywhere around the Discovery River Lagoon, with shorter and more frequent performances throughout the day.”

I’m mixed on this news. From my perspective, the only reason KiteTails “works” is because of the energetic performers who hype up the crowd, near-misses as the kites graze the water and unpredictably swing around, and the epic up-close crash-landings. This will eliminate two of those things.

However, I also understand that KiteTails might underwhelm casual audiences who take time out of their day and stake out spots to see a show. While we love it, KiteTails doesn’t deliver in the “traditional” ways one would expect of a Disney entertainment production. The only way this would be a net-positive for everyone is if the kites just start crashing at random, everywhere around the park. Make it a truly “immersive” kite crashing experience, Disney.

@disneyparks It…is….time 🐵 Tumble Monkeys are making their return this Summer #Disney #DisneyParks #DisneyWorld #AnimalKingdom #FestivalOfTheLionKing #Monkey ♬ original sound – Disney Parks

Walt Disney World has also announced that a certain group of high-flying primates are making their return to Festival of the Lion King this summer. That’s right, the delightful Tumble Monkeys be back to their acrobatic hijinks and the show’s iconic birds will once again soar above the stage. Now this is unequivocally good news. (Honestly, we were worried a little that once these cuts happened, they’d never be undone.)

In addition to that, Disney teased that Finding Nemo: The Big Blue… and Beyond is opening “in the coming months” at Animal Kingdom. This was more or less known, but it’s somewhat significant that the opening date still hasn’t been set. Our expectation is around Memorial Day.

In other entertainment news, pianist Carol Stein announced on her Facebook page that she will be moving from the United Kingdom Pavilion to the American Adventure Rotunda to debut a new musical presentation this Sunday, April 10, 2022 at 11:30am. Some of you may better know her as the “Hat Lady” in Rose & Crown, but recently, she’s been playing outside in the UK bandstand. She performed her last set at the United Kingdom Pavilion yesterday, concluding her run in fitting fashion with “When You Wish Upon A Star.”

This might seem like an odd move, but students of the American Adventure are undoubtedly aware of the country’s rich history of stealing from the British–it’s covered right in the attraction! Joking aside, the Voices of Liberty will still perform in the rotunda, and it’s expected that an announcement will come soon about a replacement act in the United Kingdom.

When green is all there is to be, who’s better to celebrate Earth Month with at EPCOT than @KermitTheFrog himself! 🌎 #DisneyPlanetPossible pic.twitter.com/eZyGWlaQXt — Disney Parks (@DisneyParks) April 8, 2022

Finally, in other Epcot entertainment news (sorta), Walt Disney World invited a celebrity to the park for Earth Month and shared their visit on social media. That’s right, I’m talking about lead Muppet, Kermit the Frog!

This actually isn’t really news–to my knowledge, no new Beacons of Magic segment is debuting for Earth Month–but it’s an excuse to raise Muppet awareness, so I’ll take it. As a reminder, the “Colors of the Wind” segment continues to run on Spaceship Earth nightly. It’s a great enhancement, and we love to see seasonal additions like this–the little things make a big difference. Nothing’s going to top the Muppets, so we might as well wrap up this week’s Walt Disney World news roundup here.

Planning a Walt Disney World trip? Learn about hotels on our  Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews  page. For where to eat, read our  Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews . To save money on tickets or determine which type to buy, read our  Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets  post. Our  What to Pack for Disney Trips  post takes a unique look at clever items to take. For what to do and when to do it, our  Walt Disney World Ride Guides  will help. For comprehensive advice, the best place to start is our  Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide  for everything you need to know!

YOUR THOUGHTS

What do you think about all this Walt Disney World news? Pleased to hear more entertainment updates for Epcot and Animal Kingdom? Hope more is on the horizon? On pins and needles waiting for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind previews? Thoughts on the reimagining of Narcoossee’s and potential changes to the lobby and rooms at Grand Floridian? What about extended hours v. crowds at Walt Disney World? Do you agree or disagree with our commentary? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!

Written by Tom Bricker

Using your advice, I did early entry for HS during the ridiculous spring break crowds. Kiddo and I were one of the first 12 on Rise due to the unofficial opening and we were off by 10 minutes before early entry officially began. That first hour of the day was absolutely the best for us. Otherwise it was so insane. Needed to hit the race expo, so we chewed up time waiting for our Lightning lanes by riding Disney transportation to and from the expo. 🙂

Thank you for this blog and love your writing style. Information you provide, it’s not only helpful for planning visits for us out-of-state travelers, but also, enjoying to read.

Hi Tom thank you for the updates. Any idea on when they will release park hours for July 2022? We will be there the week of July 4th and I was wondering if the holiday would change the extended evening hours? Since it is on a Monday would they switch extended hours that night to MK instead of Epcot?

That image of the updated rooms at Grand Floridian – beautiful! Every detail is perfect. Now, if they’d just return the orchestra to the lobby, I’d quit hating that hotel.

I’m excited to see Narcoossee’s get some love, it’s one of our go-to restaurants for a non- park dinner. Also, Kite -tails is campy and fabulous, both my husband and kids loved it when we were there in November and we watched from the Yak-n-Yeti area. We will watch 9/10 times.

Hi Tom, My son will be moving to Florida this June and wanted to know when Florida Annual Passes, other than the Pixie Pass, will again become available. Any word yet?

They’ve been replaced by the Weekday Florida Resident Ticket. The company has to prioritize the tourists who spend the big bucks—tickets, merchandise, genie+, dining, etc. Crowding is the worst it’s ever been in history. Florida is full.

Citricos is one of my most memorable dining experiences. I still dream about that citrus-cured hamachi, and, unlike in my other dreams, it stays a delicious piece of fish and doesn’t morph into my dad making fun of me for my letterman’s jacket I got from being the basketball team’s equipment manager. Citricos is also memorable because I jumped up so fast when they called my name for my reservation that I face-planted on the Mary Poppins-inspired rug. I weathered a good deal of “safe travels!” and “watch your step!”s when I left, but the food was well worth the sarcastic farewells. Citricos is delicious, is my point, and it’s good to see some expanded access. I also have mixed feelings over the proposed Kite Tails changes. I am not a Disney shows guy, but on my last day at Animal Kingdom I believe I watched that show five times in a row (3 Lion King, 2 Jungle Book, 3 “water landings” total, all of which I failed to think to sarcastically shout “safe travels!” until I was already back at Wilderness Lodge and thought over everything while eating a Geyser Point burger. By then, of course, the witticism was far too late, and I’d had yet another slip-and-fall mishap in the nearby lake (no crocodile or snake encounters, and all charges were dropped.)) I think Disney is really missing the appeal of kites and/or people smacking into cold water unexpectedly and if they only knew, they would order more of it.

Entertaining writing, Darren!!

Waiting for the update on Dining Plan. Hopefully it will be in June

Any clue when Kite Tails is changing? We are going in a couple of weeks and I was really looking forward to front row seats for crashing kites!

So bummed that we are this far into the 50th Celebrations and we still are quite a ways from still being normal and anyone who planned a trip years ago to be there for this “monumental” event still isn’t getting what we should be able to experience. It’s getting better but disappointed. Disney has the money and means to have contractors working around the clock to at least get the shows back before now. Bummed about Guardian and Tron but I totally understand that was delayed because construction halted due to Covid, but I just don’t understand the other aspects. Monkeys returning in the Summer to Lion King, why can’t they return sooner??? Anyone who is going prior to Summer (including me) is really getting less than they should adn shouldn’t be paying the same price as people who will be there when it’s back to 100% normal. Are Prices lowered because we aren’t getting the full 50th Celebration? of course not. Disney needs to get on track with the vision instead of the bottom line.

“There’s a decent chance mid-August will be the next sustained reprieve from crowds.” Nice try but not only will it be crowded but steamy hot Hellish miserable weather. I suggest everyone stay home from Aug 12th to Sept 4th Better still wait till stagflation hits later this year and turns into a recession in 2023 for your best deals since 2019. Oh yes I’ll be there but outside the WDW gates like Kevin McCarthy trying to warn people to turn their cars around.

Unfortunately, we’ll be missing the reopening of Hoop Dee Doo by a week. Now we’re anxiously awaiting any news about Fantasmic being brought back by June.

We’re in the same exact boat. Crossing our fingers for Fantasmic and/or Nemo.

We happened upon the end of a kite-flying performance and it was sufficiently entertaining. But I don’t think I would’ve wanted to wait and stake out a “good” spot to see it. More frequent, and hence seemingly-spontaneous shows seems like an improvement.

I’m surprised that the new magic band 2.0 hasn’t been released. I’ve been looking forward to them! There’s so much “coming soon” I almost forget what will be new next month when we go!

I just gave in and ordered ones I needed for July so NOW m sure they will come out seeing i just spent $130 LOL

Agreed, I was hoping because the selection of magic bands were so limited it meant magic band + were being released. I will be so disapointed if they are released just before my trip. I was running out of time for ordering one so had to make a decision and get one.

For what it’s worth, the limited selection of MagicBands is not a sign that MagicBand+ will be debuting soon. (Regular MagicBands are not being discontinued anytime soon.)

To the contrary, the root cause of the former is also a big part of why the latter has not yet debuted–and doesn’t even have a date. Unless there’s some hangup with programming the features that I haven’t heard about, lack of supply is what’s delaying the release.

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