Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind Pre-Show Backstory and Impressive Effect Description

    As more Cast Members are able to test ride Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at EPCOT, we’re learning more details about the pre-show area and attraction backstory. As with our ride detail and first impression article, the information in this article is second-hand, and not something that we’ve experienced ourselves. That said, the details shared here are trusted and expected to be accurate.

    For more details about the ride experience, check out our article below. It should probably go without saying, but this article and the one linked below are filled with spoilers, but you knew that when you clicked in.

    Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind First Impressions and Ride Experience Description
    Walt Disney World news, photos, and reviews! We provide you with daily news from the Walt Disney World theme parks and beyond
    blogmickey.com

    Galaxarium

    Our adventure starts in the Galaxarium, a vast room that offers a look into space via projections on the ceiling. This is the introduction to the Wonders of Xandar Pavilion, which is essentially like other World Showcase Pavilions in the sense that it is used to share the culture of the Xandarian people with guests of EPCOT.

    This room is vast, and we’re told that the vibe here is quite calming. Various scenes will play overhead, but you won’t be required to actively pay attention if you don’t want to. Both standby and Lightning Lane queues will utilize this room. While it’s likely that guests utilizing standby will fill the room, Lightning Lane is expected to walk through this room quickly, so there are no major story elements to consider here.

    The next room that we know about is the Xandar Gallery. Here guests will learn about the Xandarian people and culture, including their heroes such as the Guardians of the Galaxy.

    As you can see in the concept art below, there will be scale models of Xandar and the Starblaster that guests passed on the way into the attraction. We’re still technically on earth, so this “other-world” Showcase Pavilion plays into the existing conceit of EPCOT – that is, showcasing cultures and people.

    First Pre-Show Room

    There will be two pre-show rooms for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. The first pre-show room takes place on Earth (Terra) and Glenn Close reprises her role as Nova Prime Irani Rael in this first pre-show room.

    In this first pre-show room, guests will get to learn more about the technologies that Xandarians are planning on sharing with the people of Terra. One technology is the Starjumper vehicle that we will later board during the attraction.

    Terry Crews also shows up in this first pre-show room as the newly named Centurion Tal Marik, Commander of the Starcharter and close advisor to Nova Prime. Crews’ reportedly informs guests that they will have to put away their phones for the transport experience in the next pre-show room, among other things.

    Second Pre-Show Room (Transport Room)

    The second room is, reportedly, the room where an amazing effect will take place. This second room takes place in two parts. First, guests are walked into a circular room and our attention is drawn to the ceiling, not unlike Haunted Mansion (although the Haunted Mansion stretching room is a much smaller space). Nova Prime informs guests that they will be transported to a Nova Cruiser to continue their tour. We shared the detail about the Nova Cruiser in an earlier article, confirmed by Disney.

    The transport takes place similar to how a link is established on Flight of Passage. That is, lights flash in an attempt to reset your pupils as the transformation of the room takes place. Eventually, the room goes dark and the transport takes place. So, what happens? The walls that created a circular room have been removed and you are suddenly standing on the Nova Cruiser in a larger room than the circular transport room that you were in seconds earlier. We’re told the effect is not unlike the effect that takes place in the Journey Into Imagination With Figment finale, but on a grander and more impressive scale.

    After a brief moment of taking in the fact that you are now on a Nova Cruiser, the conflict is put into action. Eson appears and comes to the conclusion that humans must be wiped out. There is probably a bit more backstory here, but the gist of it is that Eson has positioned himself as a villain that is looking to wipe out humanity and you are there to witness it.

    Eson, the Celestial, wants to take Thanos’ work of wiping out half of all life a step further and wipe out life completely to start over again. It’s probably not completely clear if the Eson we’re facing in the attraction is the same Eson as seen in the movies, but here’s a look at Eson in the first Guardians of the Galaxy movie wiping out an entire planet.

    The teleportation technology is then stolen and instead of transporting between space, we’re going to transport back in time to try to stop Eson.

    Of course, Nova Prime can’t allow Eson to wipe out Terrans after striking a deal with them to create an “other-world” showcase at EPCOT, so she turns to the galaxy’s best – the Guardians of the Galaxy. We’re then recruited by the Guardians of the Galaxy to try and help save life as we know it!

    A brief introduction to the ride vehicle takes place before we leave this second pre-show room and head into the load area.

    Again, we want to stress that this is second-hand information, so there could be inaccuracies. With previews beginning this Sunday for Annual Passholders, we’ll be able to bring you more information (and video) of the Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind attraction at EPCOT.

    For more on the attraction, check out our description of the ride below!

    Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind First Impressions and Ride Experience Description
    Walt Disney World news, photos, and reviews! We provide you with daily news from the Walt Disney World theme parks and beyond
    blogmickey.com

    As always, keep checking back with us here at BlogMickey.com as we continue to bring you the latest news, photos, and info from around the Disney Parks!

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