As we look towards the future of Epcot, we wanted to create a single space for you to be able to reference for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. On this page you’ll find facts, descriptions, and photos of not only what the experience will look like, but also a current look at the progress made from on-the-ground reporting from Epcot. (Updated May 16, 2022)
Table of contents
First rumored all the way back in June 2016, a Guardians of the Galaxy attraction has been in the works for Epcot for quite some time now. While the family roller coaster has been in development for years, it was only given an official name at the 2019 D23 Expo.
Over the years, we’ve covered the construction of the attraction from the first piece of steel to go vertical (STORY), to the first coaster supports (STORY), to the first section of track installation (STORY), to the first look at interior track installation in the former Universe of Energy structure (STORY), it’s been a fun ride so far watching the construction progress.
Along the way, we’ve learned that Cosmic Rewind will feature the first-ever backwards launch for a Disney roller coaster (STORY). This will be a crucial part of the “story-coaster” element as guests are sent back to the Big Bang (STORY). We’ve also learned that the queue will contain Edutainment elements (STORY) as Imagineers look to retain some of the things that made Epcot Center appealing when it opened.
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind Review
Check out our full review of Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at EPCOT!
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind Concept Art
There have been a few pieces of concept art put out throughout the years, starting with this exterior look at the former Wonders of Life Xandar pavilion.
Here’s a closer look at the Nova Corps Star Blaster that will be parked in front of the attraction. We’ll get into the story of the attraction as we get down to the teaser video.
Other pieces of concept art included a look inside one of the pre-show queue rooms containing the Milano ship that the Guardians of the Galaxy travel throughout the universe in. Also, it was noted in the 2017 D23 Expo that the entire reason that the Guardians of the Galaxy are even in Epcot is because a young Peter Quill visited Epcot in the 80’s. Disney released a polaroid of Quill when he was visiting during his youth.
After announcing that the roller coaster will spin to turn guests toward the action as they ride one of the longest indoor roller coasters in the world, Disney released a look at the Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind ride vehicles (STORY) as well as a new piece of concept art.
This latest piece of concept art shows a different angle of the attraction facade as well as the FastPass+ and Standby entrances to the attraction.
Disney released the following pieces of concept art during the 2021 Destination D23 event in November. The queue will be an exhibition space for the Xandarian culture.
Here’s our first description of the ride from Cast Member previews!
Opening Date
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind will open May 27, 2022 at EPCOT after missing the previously announced opening timeline of being open in time for the start of Disney World’s 50th Anniversary.
Current Progress and Latest News
With Annual Pass previews underway, we have our full review below!
On April 26th, a leaked video showed off the first scene and backward launch.
It was announced that Terry Crews would star in Cosmic Rewind.
April 18 – Disney confirmed the song list for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind.
We learned a little bit more about the backstory that will likely be told throughout the queue.
Eson was named as the main villain for the attraction!
We got our first look at the Cast Member costumes for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind.
Cast Member previews will start on April 11th and run through early May.
On April 4, 2022, Disney announced an opening date for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind after Disney PR head Geoff Morrell prematurely announced a Memorial Day Weekend opening timeframe.
Disney also announced a multitude of preview events, although dates and details weren’t available.
Just a few days after initial work began, crews completed the installation of the 51-foot-tall ship.
In late Janaury 2022, Disney began the installation of the Nova Corps Starblaster that will sit at the front of the attraction.
In December 2021, Walt Disney President Jeff Vahle shared that he participated in a test ride of the roller coaster.
In early December 2021, the attraction entrance was installed.
In November 2021, Disney announced that Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind would open in Summer 2022 at EPCOT.
In October 2021, filming of actors for the attraction begun.
In September 2021, Disney officially announced that Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind would be delayed until 2022.
In November 2020, Disney shared a look inside the gravity building where most of the roller coaster action will take place. Here are a couple of stories (STORY, STORY) that explain the photos below.
Also in November 2020, we spotted the first bit of work taking place for the entrance to the attraction (STORY).
As of October 2019, most of the work that has taken place so far has been on the inside of the former Universe of Energy pavilion as well as the newly constructed “gravity building” that houses the bulk of the roller coaster. As you might know, the load and unload areas will be in the former Universe of Energy pavilion, along with the entire queue. The roller coaster will launch (backwards) into the gravity building and back to the Big Bang (STORY), where they will likely be on a “mission” for Rocket Racoon.
- August 2017 – Farewell to Ellen’s Energy Adventure
- May 2018 – Guardians of the Galaxy Roller Coaster Goes Vertical
- August 2018 – First Look at Guardians of the Galaxy Coaster Supports
- November 2018 – First Section of Track Installed for Guardians of the Galaxy Roller Coaster at Epcot
- November 2018 – First Look at Guardians of the Galaxy Ride Vehicles
- August 2019 – First Look at Interior Track Installation, Launch Tunnel, and More
- September 2019 – Official Look at Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind Ride Vehicles
- November 2020 – First Look Inside Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
- January 2021 – Disney Scrubs Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind from List of 2021 Openings
Attraction Poster
Here’s the attraction poster for the Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind attraction as seen in The Epcot Experience. The poster showcases the rotating “story-coaster” that will literally direct guests’ attention to the action. We can also see that the roller coaster appears to be coming from a Jump Point in the upper left of the poster. A Jump Point is essentially a wormhole that allows ships to jump between two points in the universe much quicker than traditional travel. These Jump Points are part of the Universal Neural Teleportation Network used by the Guardians of the Galaxy within the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
We can also see the obvious figures of Rocket Racoon and Groot, as well as the outlined figure of StarLord’s mask and the Nova Corps Star Blaster.
We can see one of those jump points in the construction photo below.
A second attraction poster was released during the 2021 Destination D23 event.
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind Location
As seen in concept art and multiple press releases, the Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind attraction will take place in the former Universe of Energy pavilion and an all-new “gravity building” behind the attraction to house the majority of the roller coaster.
In late March, Disney updated their digital map showing the attraction in the World Discovery neighborhood.
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind Model
As part of the expansive model at The Epcot Experience, a stylized version of the Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind building can be found. In addition to the model in the Epcot overhaul model, there is a ride vehicle model (STORY) that we’ll take a look at took.
Teaser Video
As part of the larger 12-minute video preview of the Epcot overhaul project inside The Epcot Experience, the Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind gets a roughly 90-second segment.
Here’s a transcript.
Narrator: Next up, our first intergalactic pavilion is coming to Epcot and it is out of this world. Let’s go take a look.
Xandarian: Greetings terrins, on behalf of all Xandarians, may I say that we are extremely pleased and excited to be coming from our world to your Disney World. At our Xandar installation, which we understand will be the first otherworld showcase pavilion… [Rocket Racoon rudely interrupts]
Rocket Racoon: Boring! Rocket unplugs you and starts things rocking!
*We Want the Funk plays*
Xandarian: …now you know the secret of the universe. We look forward to meeting you in person, when the pavilion opens at Epcot in the near future.
The Bigger Picture
This might be considered the most obtrusive of the announced changes to Epcot when compared to the original ideals of the theme park. Placing an Intellectual Property (IP) like Guardians of the Galaxy into Epcot and trying to weave a believable backstory for the attraction in the greater Epcot storyline is quite the tall order. That said, this is the future of Epcot. From Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure in the France pavilion, to an all-new exploration trail inspired by Moana, IP will be found throughout the four Epcot neighborhoods.
Of all the announced parts of the Epcot overhaul project so far, we anticipate that Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind will be the top attraction at Epcot when it opens and for years to come.
I can’t wait to ride on the Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. And the Vehicles of the Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind looks awesome and I’m so Excited for this ride for the 50th birthday of Walt Disney World Resort.