The Fall of Disney World's Beloved 'Guardians of the Galaxy' Ride

Opened in May 2022, the ride serves as a flagship attraction of modern-day EPCOT (by which we mean: Disney’s new IP-ified EPCOT), blending adrenaline-pumping thrills with the humor and energy of Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy franchise.

This state-of-the-art roller coaster features a reverse launch—the first of its kind at Disney—and ride vehicles that rotate 360 degrees, ensuring riders are always immersed in the action. Located in EPCOT’s World Discovery area, it introduces visitors to the Wonders of Xandar Pavilion, a gateway to the fictional world of Xandar from the Guardians films.

The ride’s story begins with a peaceful display of Xandarian culture, but things take a cosmic turn when Eson, an ancient Celestial, threatens Earth. Riders join the likes of Peter Quill/Star-Lord (Chris Pratt), Gamora (Zoë Saldana), and Drax (Dave Bautista) to stop Eson’s scheme in an intergalactic chase across time and space.

Featuring a soundtrack of iconic hits like “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” (the superior choice, if we do say so) and “Disco Inferno,” the attraction captures the film’s vibrant, retro spirit while delivering high-speed thrills.

As EPCOT’s first proper roller coaster, Cosmic Rewind pushes the boundaries of what a theme park ride can be. Its innovative technology creates a seamless blend of storytelling, music, and movement, earning widespread acclaim from fans and critics. Still operating under a virtual queue system, Cosmic Rewind is forever in high demand.

However, much like another highly-praised Disney World attraction (shoutout to our problematic fave, Rise of the Resistance), the ride has also faced its fair share of issues, which have become increasingly apparent in recent months…

Water Damage

New projectors introduced to the ride in November illuminated a concerning issue: water damage on the ride’s walls.

Looks like Cosmic Rewind got some new projectors, looks great!

And honestly, it’s about time.

Of course it’s about time. Have you not been paying attention?

However this water damage has been here for well over a year and only gets worse. pic.twitter.com/QrpePrpgQE

— Belle (@FiBelleFi) November 21, 2024

A video highlighting the damage went viral among Disney fans, with some blasting it as proof of Disney’s recent lapse in quality. This damage has reportedly been present for over a year, with Disney yet to remedy the issue.

Ongoing Breakdowns

The first week of December was plagued with breakdowns for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. Guests reported that half of the ride was broken, leading to smaller groups than usual being allowed into each section of the queue experience.

Virtual Queue wait times allegedly hit as high as two hours, with one guest taking to Reddit to note that “my husband made it as far as having his lap bar lowered when they shut down (around 1:30?) and it didn’t open again until close to 8:00. Ended up getting a refund for the [Lightning Lanes] we bought.”

As the issues continued, EPCOT actually ended up opening without the ride for one day in December. It ultimately remained shuttered into the afternoon. One guest claimed to have spoken to a Disney cast member, who said Walt Disney World Resort technicians had worked late into Tuesday evening to try and resolve the ride’s issues.

“He said that a part was overheating or something to that effect and they have been able to keep the ride running by sending out fewer cars at a specific interval until the part arrives and is implemented and fixed,” they wrote on Reddit. “(Hence running only one side right now, and how slow groups are being called).”

This isn’t limited to December. As we’ve noted in the past, guests have complained that the ride “seems to be down on an almost daily basis.” (However, it’s worth noting that, in comparison to Rise of the Resistance, it’s endlessly reliable).

Rogue Items on the Tracks

A more specific explanation behind the ride’s recurrent breakdowns comes down to the same thing that makes the ride so popular. As far as Disney rides go, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is pretty wild. As is often the case on thrill rides, loose items can (and do) fly free if not secured.

According to an alleged Disney cast member on Reddit, a hat that flew off during the launch sequence caused significant issues in December. The item became lodged in the track, leading to that same overheating we mentioned earlier, plus sparks, which prompted the ride’s safety systems to shut it down.

While one rogue hat is easily resolved, the same cast member revealed that this could become a much bigger problem with time. Part of the ride includes a fiberglass tunnel, which has reportedly collected numerous hats over time.

Although the tunnel is designed to be durable, the cumulative weight of these items could strain its structural integrity. If left unchecked, this accumulation might lead to severe damage or even catastrophic failure, emphasizing the importance of proactive maintenance.

Recovering these items is nearly impossible without dismantling substantial sections of the ride, a process that is both time-consuming and impractical (especially considering how attraction-lite EPCOT is right now).

Unreliable Teleportation Effects

During the final pre-show of the ride, guests enter the Teleportation Chamber, which takes them from the Welcome Center on Earth to the Nova Corps ship. There, they witness a demonstration of the Cosmic Generator. Lighting effects and a fast-moving wall give the impression of actual movement.

There’s a delay in the teleportation chamber and it timed out, leaving us left in darkness for the time being.

There’s a delay in the teleportation chamber and it timed out, leaving us left in darkness for the time being. pic.twitter.com/ysEqKAhrnx

— ParkTwister🎡 (@ParkTwister) March 1, 2023

While the ride boasts a B-Mode that features a digital air-lock opening to reveal that you are in “space,” it’s a much less immersive experience than the actual Teleportation Chamber. Unfortunately, it’s had to be used whenever the Teleportation Chamber is acting up, which is relatively often. This was especially the case in the ride’s early days when guests were left trapped or stuck in the dark on multiple occasions.

Have you experienced issues on Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind?