Disney's 'Guardians of the Galaxy' Coaster Under Fire, Closed off to Guests

Disney’s Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind coaster has become a must-visit attraction at EPCOT in Walt Disney World since its opening in May 2022.

This thrilling ride stands out not only for its exhilarating experience but also for the unique circumstances that allow Disney to incorporate the Guardians of the Galaxy characters into their theme parks despite Universal Studios holding the rights to most Marvel characters for their theme park attractions.

The crux of the issue lies in the intricate licensing agreements that were established before Disney acquired Marvel in 2009. Universal Studios retains the rights to use Marvel characters in their theme parks east of the Mississippi River, which notably includes the Orlando area. This agreement has prevented Disney from featuring a significant number of Marvel characters in their own Orlando parks.

However, the Guardians of the Galaxy characters are a notable exception. The loophole exists because these characters were not part of the original licensing agreement with Universal, allowing Disney to develop and feature them in their parks without breaching any contracts.

Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is an indoor roller coaster that has been lauded for its innovative ride experience and storytelling. The coaster is one of the longest fully enclosed coasters in the world and features a unique rotating ride system that allows the vehicles to spin and face different directions during the ride, creating a dynamic and immersive experience.

The ride begins with a pre-show featuring beloved characters from the Guardians of the Galaxy films, setting the stage for an epic adventure through space and time.

The storyline of the ride involves a cosmic chase through the galaxy as riders join the Guardians to save the universe. The combination of high-speed thrills, state-of-the-art special effects, and an engaging narrative makes for an unforgettable attraction. The coaster also features a custom soundtrack with classic hits from the 70s and 80s, which adds to the fun and excitement of the ride.

In addition to its technical prowess, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is also a visual spectacle. The queue and pre-show areas are filled with detailed theming and Easter eggs that fans of the franchise will appreciate. The ride vehicles themselves are a marvel of engineering, designed to enhance the storytelling by rotating to focus riders’ attention on key scenes and moments throughout the ride.

Despite its popularity, experiencing Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind requires a bit of planning. Disney currently offers access to the ride through a virtual queue system or by purchasing an Individual Lightning Lane pass. This system helps manage the high demand and ensures that guests can enjoy the attraction without enduring long wait times in a physical queue.

The virtual queue opens at specific times throughout the day, and guests must be quick to secure a spot, as these slots tend to fill up rapidly during busy days in the Disney World park.

The Individual Lightning Lane option allows Disney park guests to purchase a reserved ride time, providing more flexibility for those who are willing to pay a premium for the convenience. This system has been effective in managing the guest flow and providing a more enjoyable experience overall, though it has sparked some debate among park-goers about the fairness and accessibility of the ride.

Just recently, a post on X went viral calling for the end of the virtual queue.

I just showed up 7.5 hours late to my Cosmic Rewind Virtual Queue time.

Cast Member, “Oh wow, you are really late.”

Me, “Yeah, I know.”

Cast Member laughs and says “it’s fine we don’t care.”

And then I kept walking in the queue until almost the 3rd room. Unless something goes…

— Tharin White (@TharinWhite) July 8, 2024

In the post, Tharin White shares that he showed up more than seven hours late for his virtual queue boarding group, but he was still allowed to experience the attraction.

This experience, of course, has left many wondering if there’s any point in having the virtual queue system. Some say that Cosmic Rewind would be overwhelmed if it opened to a standby line, but opponents to that argument say that Disney Imagineers should have planned better if that is the case.

Others point out that only being able to experience the attraction once through the virtual queue system and then having to purchase Individual Lightning Lane passes to ride it again is a severe disadvantage for those who do not get to visit Walt Disney World Resort often.

Those vacationers who are not familiar with navigating the My Disney Experience app can also become discouraged from trying to book the attraction, especially if they visit during peak times of the year and are unable to secure a boarding group.

Though Cosmic Rewind remains closed off to guests joining the line without a reservation, there is some backlash seemingly forming around the attraction’s current system. It will be interesting to see if any changes are on the horizon for Disney World in this regard, or if Cosmic Rewind will continue function the same as it has since its 2022 opening.

Walt Disney World Resort did tease a potential change to Cosmic Rewind previously, but nothing has come of it as of yet.