Disney Unveils Height Requirements For ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ Coaster

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Epcot

Walt Disney World Resort fans are anxiously awaiting the opening of the all-new Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind roller coaster coming soon to EPCOT.

The state-of-the-art roller coaster that rotates 360 degrees and has the first-ever reverse launch on a coaster in Disney history is rumored to be opening on Memorial Day weekend. Disney executive Geoff Morrell may have accidentally leaked the date just a couple of weeks ago when he tweeted out that the coaster would be opening during the weekend. He swiftly deleted the Tweet and changed it to “opening soon.” 

Now, we’ve got new information to pass along about the coaster.

Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind

Twitter user @DrewDisneyDude recently shared the height requirements for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at EPCOT will be 42 inches.

As mentioned in the Tweet, the height requirements for similar coasters like Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (40 inches), Expedition Everest (44 inches), and Slinky Dog Dash (38 inches) are all in about the same range.

Walt Disney Imagineer Zach Riddley recently shared the first close-up photos of details inside the line queue of the attraction and said this on Instagram:

Recently we revealed our first-look at the bold and colorful design for our load station at Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind – coming to EPCOT this summer.

One of the ways that we help tell the story is by infusing details into all the various functional items that make up an attraction and this one is no different. And I’m excited to show some close up photos of these details.

Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind

Angular designs, striking use of colors, and materials all help tell the story of a Nova Corps facility. The railings, station gates and floor markings (yes, the floor is pretty cool too 😊) are all used to convey the experience in ways that might not be as obvious or apparent, but every detail is a choice that supports our story. And much of Nova Corps designs are inspired by their star symbol and that symbol makes several appearances in the space in striking illuminated graphics.

Seen in these new close-up images of our station gates have a weight and scale to them to help convey the industrial nature of the area. Handrails made from stainless steel give a sturdy and durable feel and show the precision craftsmanship of the Nova Corps.

An attraction of this scale includes many thousands of design details that work together to create mood, place and action – and these are just a few of the many you’ll see here. Thank you to everyone working hard to put our finishing touches on this experience – inside and out.

Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind

Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind Set to Open Summer 2022 at EPCOT

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Epcot

At Destination D23, Disney Parks, Experiences and Products Chairman Josh D’Amaro revealed Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind will open summer 2022 at EPCOT as part of the Walt Disney World Resort 50th Anniversary celebration. This thrilling new family-friendly coaster matches the “grandosity” and fun of the blockbuster “Guardians of the Galaxy” films in what will be one of the longest fully enclosed coasters in the world. 

Josh made this exciting announcement with a little help from a friend … check out the video below to hear from Academy Award® nominee Glenn Close, who for our attraction will reprise her role from “Guardians of the Galaxy” as Nova Prime, the leader of Xandar and commander of the Nova Corps.

Guests will see Nova Prime in the new Wonders of Xandar “other-world” pavilion at EPCOT, which the Xandarians are currently constructing in the park’s newly renamed World Discovery neighborhood. It’s here Guests will learn more about Xandarians and their advanced technologies, which they’re bringing to us here on Earth – or Terra, as they call our planet.

In these new renderings Josh shared this morning, Guests can see the Xandar Gallery, home to Xandarian models, artifacts and other treasures from their culture, including their heroes like … the Guardians of the Galaxy! It’s all well and good until they show up, though, and adventure ensues in an intergalactic chase through time and space.

Here’s a teaser image for the attraction, also unveiled this morning by Josh. There’s a lot to unpack here, so let’s take a closer look:

  • First off, we have those lovable cosmic misfits bursting right out at us – Rocket (look at that mischievous smirk on his face … he always has a plan, right?), Groot, Gamora, Drax and Star-Lord brandishing his beloved cassette player.
  • Swooping past the Guardians are Guests aboard the innovative new ride vehicles for this coaster, which are unlike anything else in the galaxy.
  • Just below Gamora is Star-Lord’s ship. If the Guardians are around, it’s a good bet they’re aboard.
  • And speaking of ships, let’s take a look at the Starblasters in the upper left. These Nova Corps vessels are emerging from a jump point, the Xandarian method for crossing vast distances of space in mere moments. Who knows what’s on the other side?
  • I am Groot.

Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind Opening in 2022

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Epcot

Shared by Zach Riddley on the Disney Parks Blog:

What a week this is for EPCOT! Tomorrow we’ll mark the official grand opening for Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure and La Crêperie de Paris in the newly expanded France pavilion in World Showcase. And then tomorrow night we’ll see the grand premiere of our new nighttime spectacular, “Harmonious,” on World Showcase Lagoon.

And while I’m so excited for you to discover all those new experiences, there’s even MORE in store as we continue to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Walt Disney World Resort over the next 18 months. This morning, I announced our next major attraction, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, will debut in 2022. That’s right, our friends from Xandar will open the first “other-world” showcase pavilion at EPCOT next year, inviting us on an intergalactic chase through space and time!

Today my fellow Imagineers Tom Fitzgerald (left) and Scot Drake (right) gave us a new look inside the Wonders of Xandar pavilion currently under construction. Here you see them in the Galaxarium, which when completed will feature a planetarium-type presentation where the Xandarians show us their world, their people and their advanced technologies.

Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is a family-friendly adventure, featuring a totally new type of roller coaster experience we’re developing just for this attraction – it’s a storycoaster that rotates 360 degrees so you’re always focused on all the action as you help the Guardians save the galaxy. Not only that, but Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind will also feature the first reverse launch on a coaster in Disney history and is one of the longest enclosed coasters in the world. It’s a massive experience that will match the scale and adventure of the Guardians of the Galaxy films.  

As part of the ongoing transformation of EPCOT, we’re infusing this park we love and cherish with more ways to dream, to be inspired and to connect with our world – or other galaxies, in this case. Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is going to be a big step in that direction, and we can’t wait for you to experience it.

Cosmic Rewind in It’s Final Stages

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Epcot

It’s no secret Walt Disney World Imagineers are hard at work transforming EPCOT’s Future World into a whole new experience. Of course, the buzz lately has been surrounding what’s going on over in EPCOT’s World Showcase portion of the Park including the new Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure attraction and new nighttime spectacular, “Harmonious” – both set to debut on October 1 for Walt Disney World Resort’s 50th Anniversary Celebration. While many Future World classics are staying put, several experiences are getting an upgrade. Club Cool featuring Coca-Cola has been reimagined, along with EPCOT’s new flagship shop called “Creations” – both scheduled to open “soon”. Future World’s newest restaurant, Space 220 is scheduled to open this month with no exact date just yet. We’ve even seen EPCOT’s Spaceship Earth undergo a transformation as it prepares to become a Beacon of Magic. One of the theme Park’s projects that seems to have been placed on the back burner during COVID-19 has resurfaced in discussion as Walt Disney Imagineer, Zach Riddley provides an update for EPCOT’s first-ever coaster in its “final stages”.

While announcing the addition of Rocket and Groot to Disney’s Fab 50 character sculptures, Zach Riddley shared on Instagram the following Guardian’s of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind” update: “We are deep in the final stages of preparing our first Other World Showcase pavilion at EPCOT with our Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind attraction! This stunning new addition to EPCOT will feature some firsts for the Park – our first roller coaster attraction, a brand-new storytelling coaster technology, and one of the longest indoor coasters in the world! This is a story and a set of characters that expand EPCOT’s strong legacy of real science brought to life in fantastic ways – discovering the wonders and mysteries of our galaxy and galaxies beyond. We are excited to soon welcome Rocket, Groot, and other members of the Guardians of the Galaxy to EPCOT and to take us on an adventure that’s truly out of this world!! I cannot wait to see this statue in EPCOT for #DisneyWorld50!”

Construction for the EPCOT coaster was scheduled to be completed in the fall of 2021 so that the ride’s debut would coincide with the kickoff of WDW’s 50th-anniversary celebration. Unfortunately, it’s looking like a 2022 opening seems much more likely at this point. We’re thrilled however to hear the words “final stages”! While we can’t get enough of Rock n Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith at Disney’s Hollywood Studios or Expedition Everest at Disney’s Animal Kingdom – EPCOT is due for a coaster! Hopefully, we’ll be able to experience the galaxy roller coaster at EPCOT soon enough.

Filming Has Yet To Happen for EPCOT’s Guardians Of The Galaxy Attraction

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Epcot

We’ve all been eagerly awaiting the arrival of EPCOT’s newest coaster attraction, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. Initially, the expected opening date for this attraction was to be in 2021… in time to celebrate Walt Disney World’s 50th Anniversary. Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, construction is still in the works and it’s looking like we can expect the attraction to open in 2022. Further confirmation that the attraction is in early to mid stages of development came from a tweet posted by Guardians of the Galaxy Director, James Gunn.

Much like many of Disney’s attractions, filming is key in the storytelling of the attraction. Take Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance for example, and the filming involved in that attraction. Well, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is expected to tell a story as well, and the filming has yet to happen. As reported by ComicBook.com: “Guardians of the Galaxy director James Gunn shared some insight about these upcoming projects and confirmed he will be directing the footage produced for these new rides while talking on social media. The EPCOT ride themed around the Guardians of the Galaxy characters, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, is still under construction and is expected to open on an undisclosed date in 2022.”

We’re all so ready for this attraction to be complete that yes, it’s extremely hard to wait! We can’t wait to hear the filming is complete instead of “on the agenda”. In the meantime, we’re continuing to look forward to Walt Disney World’s 50th Anniversary on October 1, 2021 which will be celebrated over an 18-month time frame.