Five Things to Know About Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind

Since opening in May 2022, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind has been among the most popular rides at Walt Disney World. You’ll find a classic soundtrack paired with some ground-breaking tech as it transports you on a high-speed chase across the cosmos. To learn more, read on. To skip ahead to details about how to ride and where to find it, here’s a shortcut.

1. The queue for this quest is unique.

As you approach the entrance to the ride, you’ll pass an iconic Starblaster ship. Take time to read the plaque: “From our world to yours. This Starblaster is presented as a gift from the Nova Corps to the people of Terra. May it, like EPCOT, serve to inspire peace through understanding. Dedicated in the Terran year 2022, Nova Prime Irani Rael.”

The Starblaster and its plaque set up the premise for the queue. You’re entering a pavilion like those in EPCOT’s World Showcase. Those focus on the culture of other countries on earth, but this one is the first to display exhibits about another planet: Xandar.

When you enter the Galaxarium, displays showcase the connections between Earth and Xandar. A computer named Worldmind explains how Xandarians are learning about Terra (Earth) culture. As you proceed into the queue, you’ll pass several “exhibits”. There’s a projection model of Xandar, screens highlighting Xandarian culture, spaceships, and the uniforms of the Nova Corps officers. Interviews with the Guardians themselves are also featured. The queue doesn’t have any interactive features, but it’s possible to spend more than 30 minutes watching the full presentation from Worldmind.

2. What in the world (or out of it) are you in for?

At the end of the queue, you’ll find a pre-show. During the short presentation, Nova Prime Irani Rael (Glenn Close reprising her role) explains how Xandarians travelled to Earth via a Cosmic Generator. The generator creates “jumpholes” or shortcuts through space. You’re invited to visit a Nova ship to see how it all works.

Terry Crews, as the new character Centurion Tal Marik, welcomes you and prepares you to teleport. Safely aboard the Nova ship, the plot unfolds. Something is wrong (of course)! The Cosmic Generator has been stolen! We won’t spoil the whole thing, but you’re tasked to help the Guardians recover the Generator. To do this, you’ll load into evacuation shuttles (Star-Lord and Gamora promise to track your shuttle) and follow the thief through jumpholes.

At the end of the pre-show, the doors open, and you’ll proceed to the loading platform to climb into your Starjumper. The Guardians arrive and blast the generator from the thief, which opens a jumphole. This one takes you back to the Big Bang (get it? “Cosmic Rewind!”). You’re launched backwards, the soundtrack begins, the battles commence, and finally, the Guardians lock onto EPCOT’s location and return you to Earth. Whew! And all of this in just over three minutes!

It wouldn’t be a Guardians attraction without one of Peter Quill’s treasured playlists. Listen for: I Ran; Conga!; September; Disco Inferno; One Way or Another; and Everybody Wants to Rule the World.

Cosmic Rewind has a top speed of 60 mph, but the ride is very smooth, with no jerks or real drops. The coaster does have a reverse launch where you face backwards. And the ride is Disney’s first “Omnicoaster”, where your vehicle can spin towards the scenes to follow the story. The unique vehicle motion and length of the ride can cause problems for some. For more details: A Ride Chicken Review of Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind.

3. The History Rewind

The Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind ride was officially announced at the 2017 D23 Expo, although the name was not released. Just under a month later Ellen’s Energy Adventure closed on August 13, 2017, so construction could start. Two years after the initial announcement, at the D23 Expo in 2019, the name of the ride was finally made public. Originally, the opening was targeted for 2021, but due to the impact of the COVID pandemic, it was delayed a year.

Cosmic Rewind officially opened on May 27, 2022. The year’s delay worked out pretty well in the end; this date made it part of EPCOT’s 40th anniversary celebration. (And Disney World’s 50th anniversary year.)

4. Easter Eggs in space!

⭐ Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind was the first attraction at Disney World based on a Marvel property. But due to a 1994 contract with Universal Parks & Resorts, Disney can’t use the word “Marvel.”

⭐ In 2022, Disney ran a Christmas overlay with a new holiday mixtape comprising “a mashup of seasonal jams”. It hasn’t been repeated in later years, reportedly due to poor reception by guests who wanted to enjoy the original soundtrack.

⭐ Cosmic Rewind is the first roller coaster at EPCOT. And at 5,577 feet (that’s just over a mile), it’s one of the longest indoor coasters in the world.

⭐ Cosmic Rewind features Disney’s first reverse launch on a coaster. And the Omnicoaster vehicles rotate a full 360 degrees, making sure you’re looking at the action along the way.

⭐ The main building is big enough for four Spaceship Earths to fit inside; it’s one of the largest indoor ride structures Disney has ever built.

⭐ The ride used a Virtual Queue from opening in May 2022 until February 2025, perhaps making it the record-holder for the attraction with the longest time utilizing a VQ.

⭐ During the preshow, Star-Lord mentions that he visited EPCOT in the 80s when he was a child. He talks about wanting to visit again, to ride Horizons, see “the Energy dinosaurs”, and hear the “Veggie Veggie Fruit Fruit” song. These are references to the Horizons and Kitchen Kabaret attractions, which no longer exist – and neither does Ellen’s Energy Adventure with the dinosaurs, having been replaced by Cosmic Rewind!

⭐ And yes, there’s a hidden Mickey in the pre-show area. Look at the flooring in the Wonders of Xandar Pavilion, where one of the planet formations subtly resembles a Hidden Mickey. (There’s also a hidden reference to Figment from Journey into Imagination on one of the star charts in the Galaxarium.)

5. The Nuts and Bolts.

Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is in the World Discovery neighborhood of EPCOT. The queue is mostly indoors (trailing outside frequently), and the ride itself is indoors, so it doesn’t close in bad weather.

The ride vehicles are called “Starjumpers.” Each has two rows of molded plastic seats, sitting two in front and two in back. Each seat has its own lap bar, which we think is nice.

Guests must transfer from an ECV or wheelchair to the ride vehicle. In order that all guests can enjoy the attraction, Assistive Listening and Audio Description are available. Disney warns that you should be in good health and free from high blood pressure, heart, back or neck problems, motion sickness, or other conditions that could be aggravated by this adventure. Expectant mothers should not ride. You must be 42 inches tall to ride, and as with every height-restricted ride, Rider Switch is available. Service Animals are not permitted. If you’re prone to motion sickness, airsick bags are available when you board; ask a Cast Member.

Cosmic Rewind is open for Early Theme Park Entry and Extended Evening Theme Park Hours. You can board through the standby line or purchase a Lightning Lane Single Pass or Premiere Pass. (Note that the Lightning Lane skips the queue described above.) You can pretty much expect long lines all day; without Lightning Lane access, our advice is to ride during the first 30 minutes the park is open.

The Bottom Line.

We think Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is not to be missed. Despite using the whole “something’s gone wrong and you have to help our heroes fix it” trope, the attraction as a whole is groundbreaking in scope and technology. And it’s a whole lotta fun, too! After all, who doesn’t want to save the galaxy while listening to a great mixtape?

Are you looking forward to experiencing Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind on your next trip? Let us know in the comments!

(Originally published January 5, 2023. Updated/republished April 3, 2025.)