Disney Scraps Park Pass Reservations During New Coaster Previews

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spaceship earth

Credit: Inside the Magic

If you are excited to ride Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, we have some good news.

Disney just recently dropped the registration for both Disney Vacation Club and Annual Passholder previews beginning next month for the attraction. Incase you missed that coverage, please click below to register!

COSMIC REWIND GLENN CLOSE
Credit: D23

DVC Registration 

Annual Passholder Registration 

When signing up for our Passholder previews, we did notice something interesting. At the moment, Disney Park Pass reservations are needed to enter any Disney Park, on top of your valid ticket for entry. So, that means if you want to enter any Walt Disney World theme park, you must first have a valid entry ticket, and then, you will need to score a Disney Park Pass reservation. Depending on if you are a Resort Guest, a theme park ticket holder, or an Annual Passholder, there is a different amount of allotted Park Passes for each group.

Cosmic Rewind concept art
Credit: Disney

Related: Annual Passholders: How to Get Help with Disney Park Pass

In 2020, Chairman of Parks, Experiences and Products Josh D’Amaro indicated that the newly implemented Park Pass system is a “new normal” that isn’t going away anytime soon, if ever, so seeing the calendar extend into 2024 isn’t too surprising, but how do fans truly feel about this?

We already knew that the Disney Park Pass system had mixed reviews from Disney World Guests, but seeing the system extend even further is sparking quite the debate between fans.

cosmic rewind
Credit: Disney

But, when Guests sign up for their Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind preview, it is noted that a Park Pass is not needed, just a valid ticket for entry. Considering Disney has been incredibly strict with their Park Pass system, not allowing Guests in without one, and turning some away if the Park was “full” for new Guests, while Park Hoppers were still allowed to enter, allowing thousands into the Park without a reservation is a big change for Disney. It will be interesting to see if EPCOT reduced Park Pass availability on these days, or if things will remain the same.

For a closer look at what is noted, JodiCab (@Jodicab22) took a screenshot of the site for note.

Heads up. Incase you don’t read like me. No park ressies necessary.

Disney has noted that Park Passes are going to be around for a while, and with Guests already booking through to 2024, this situation seems like more of a one time acceptance to the rule.

Again, keep in mind, as Disney has shared in the past, if you want to visit a Walt Disney World theme park, such as Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, or Disney’s Animal Kingdom, you will need a Park Pass along with a valid ticket. At this time, there is no reservation required for Disney Springs — Disney World’s outdoor shopping and dining district.

  • You’ll need a My Disney Experience account, as this is where your Walt Disney World Resort plans are stored and managed.
  • You’ll also need a valid theme park ticket or Annual Pass that’s linked to your My Disney Experience account.
  • If you have a Disney Resort hotel reservation, be sure to link it to your My Disney Experience account beforehand, as well.
Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind
Credit: Marvel Studios

The state-of-the-art roller coaster rotates 360 degrees and has the first-ever reverse launch on a coaster in Disney history. Disney Imagineering spoke on the story of the attraction, and how it makes sense and fits into EPCOT quite perfectly. Of course, we know it is located to Mission: Space and Space 220, which works great, but it seems that this attraction will actually bring an all-new pavilion into the theme park, as mentioned by Disney! The people of Xandar have come to World Discovery, which is where our coaster story begins! Now, Guests will be able to enjoy the World Showcase pavilions and see the details of the countries, as well as see Xandar brought to life as the planet and its Nova Corps have decided to establish EPCOT’s first “Other-World Showcase” pavilion.

Disney has explained the video by explaining the play by play of what we have just seen:

  • Someone shouts, “This is an SOS from Nova Corps … Our outpost on Earth’s EPCOT is in danger!” The Nova Corps is Xandar’s peacekeeping team serving as protectors of their planet and the broader Andromeda Galaxy, which is where Xandar is located. This must be a Nova Corps officer alerting us to an urgent situation.
  • Clearly the Xandarians have come to EPCOT to oversee the Wonders of Xandar pavilion. I can tell because Spaceship Earth is visible outside the window, gleaming in all its glory. Oh, and because it says “EPCOT – Walt Disney World Resort” right there on the screen (nothing gets by me, I tell ya). But something is amiss because …
  • Someone who appears to be a Nova Corps soldier shouts out, “Everything is disappearing!” And, yep, we see things – people, clouds, you name it – literally zipping backward out of existence. Rewinding, perhaps? Hmm …
  • The officer is holding up a viewscreen communicator, and then we flash to the other end of that line … to the familiar confines of an M-Ship cockpit, where Peter Quill, a.k.a. Star-Lord, and a few of our other favorite Guardians of the Galaxy are relaxing between missions.
  • Rocket is absorbed in apparently trying to “fix” Quill’s Awesome Mix tape. Thankfully, Groot is at least paying some passing attention to what’s happening on the screen in front of them and unmutes the volume – just in time to hear a distress call …
  • “Help the galaxy – before it’s too late!” the officer urges – and then she, too, disappears … along with Spaceship Earth! Now we have Rocket’s attention, too, even if Star-Lord is peacefully snoozing away. (He’s been asleep this whole time? Typical.)
  • Always considering himself the captain of the ship anyway, Rocket promptly takes the controls and decides to blast off for EPCOT. Because, as he says, “It’s save the galaxy time – again.”
  • This is where we’ll come in, I think. As Rocket fires up the ship, we see other people zooming around the screen in Starjumpers, a type of Xandarian spacecraft. And just as the clip ends, Rocket takes the M-Ship into a jump point – the technology that allows Xandarians to travel vast distances of space in mere moments. And that’s it!
cosmic rewind gift shop
Credit: Zach Riddley

At the moment, EPCOT is now celebrating the International Flower and Garden Festival, and tons of construction is going on! Spaceship Earth now has the new Beacon of Magic lights illuminating the sphere and Future World is on the road to completion. Club Cool and the new Creations Shop is open to Guests as well as Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure in the France Pavilion! Plus, you can enjoy the stunning Harmonious show each evening!

World Showcase will soon also be joined by World Celebration, World Nature, and World Discovery. The construction on these three lands has been ongoing, and now, we are beginning to see certain aspects of the theme park taking shape.

How do you feel about Disney’s Park Pass system? 

Let the expert team at Academy Travel help you plan your next magical vacation to Disneyland Resort, including Disneyland Park, Disney California Adventure, and the Downtown Disney District. Or what about Walt Disney World Resort’s four theme parks — Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios — and the Disney Springs shopping and dining district!

Directed by James Gunn, Guardians of the Galaxy stars Chris Pratt (Peter Quill/Star-Lord), Vin Diesel (Groot), Bradley Cooper (Rocket Raccoon), Zoe Saldana (Gamora), and Dave Bautista (Drax). The popular Marvel Cinematic Universe series has a planned third film Guardians of the  Galaxy Vol. 3 expected to be released in 2023 and two spinoffs coming to Disney + in 2022 in The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special and I Am Groot, which is a series based on the beloved character Baby Groot and his origins.

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