Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, Walt Disney World’s newest roller coaster, officially opens to the public at Epcot on Friday (May 27). The ride is completely indoors, mostly in the dark and features a real spinning sensation through faux cosmos.
Here are five things to know before you go, including how the ride’s queue works.
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What’s the story?
The attraction is based on characters and elements from the “Guardians of the Galaxy” movie series, which stars Chris Pratt as Peter Quill aka Star-Lord. As the Disney World story goes, Quill visited Epcot as a boy, and the people of Xandar, a world on the other side of the galaxy, have established a pavilion at Epcot to show off their technological expertise.
The queue for the ride has displays about Xandar (and “Guardians” actors), including a trip through rooms and effects that lead riders to the Phase Chamber. That’s where things go wrong, specifically, the theft of the Cosmic Generator by Eson, a colossal Celestial. The characters recruit Epcot visitors to follow the villain using starjumpers (err, the coaster) for a chase through time and space to save the galaxy.
Where’s the ride located?
Cosmic Rewind is near the entrance of Epcot in the World Discovery section, formerly known as Future World East. The attraction begins in the building previously occupied by Universe of Energy, although the bulk of the actual ride is inside a new sky-blue building in what had been considered a backstage area. (You can see it from Epcot’s parking lot.)
What’s the intensity level?
Imagineers say Cosmic Rewind is a step above the mountains (Space, Big Thunder, Splash) of Magic Kingdom and a steppingstone to rides such as Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Expedition Everest at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The Guardians ride doesn’t go upside down or feature steep drops, but it does provide frequent swirling — possibly stomach-turning — moments.
What tricks does it do?
It’s spoiler alert time, so skip to the next Thing to Know if you’re hypersensitive to roller coaster reveals. It’s not really a secret because the company announced it long ago, but Cosmic Rewind has a reverse launch, a first for a Disney coaster worldwide. Think about the sudden, rapid acceleration of Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, but backward.
Another distinctive quality is the spinning ride vehicles that twist and turn along the rail as they moving forward. It’s a controlled motion, unlike the 360-degree mayhem caused by certain parties aboard the Wild Tea Party ride. On Cosmic Rewind, Disney aims passengers toward the action.
The coaster also has a defining moment when riders rotate around a moon and then are propelled into dark space again.
OK, where do I get in line?
Here’s where it gets all 21st century on us. There is no regular standby line for Cosmic Rewind now. Folks can’t wander up and get in a line. There will be virtual queue to join via the My Disney Experience app.
Here’s the routine. At 7 a.m., visitors with Epcot park reservations for the day and a valid ticket will be able to check for a boarding group and request access to the virtual queue on the app. (This can be done from hotel, home or elsewhere.) At 1 p.m. that day, there will be a second opportunity to join the virtual queue for those who didn’t make the 7 a.m. call. This time, it must be attempted from Epcot.
It’s similar to the system used for Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance when it opened at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Epcot-goers also could purchase Lightning Lane entry — an express lane — into the attraction via My Disney Experience app and the Disney Genie service on the day of the visit, but that’s subject to availability.
A final tip or two
After the ride, friends and family will ask two questions. One will involve how queasy the ride made you. The other will be about which song played during the coaster. There are six back-in-the-day-style selections, although passengers have no say in what plays. Make a mental note. Throughout the Cosmic Rewind previews, these have been the most frequently asked questions.
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