Credit: elisfkc2, FlickrWalt Disney World Resort is reportedly testing new pre-show protocols on Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. The overnight updates follow years of complaints from EPCOT guests about everything from other riders’ loud outbursts to crowding near the doors to the next portion of the queue.
There are multiple pre-show rooms inside Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at EPCOT. The first room, where Lightning Lane and standby guests merge, is a spacious area with several sets of doors at the front.
Television screens play a pre-show video featuring Terry Crews, who asks what the people of EPCOT call themselves. Disney Park guests have developed a controversial tradition in response: yelling “alcoholics!” in reference to the popular “Drinking Around the World” trend.
When the first pre-show doors open, guests flood into the second pre-show room, where they’re instructed to stay away from the walls. Guests are supposed to spread out evenly in the circular room, where they magically “hyperjump” to Xandar–the room goes black, and when the lights turn on, the walls have disappeared to reveal an advanced spacecraft looking out at the galaxy.
Instead of spreading out, though, Disney Park guests often flock to the right side of the main pre-show room, where the doors to the final ride queue are. Everyone wants to be the first to board the roller coaster, making it difficult for Disney cast members to control crowds and safely guide everyone through the line.
Now, according to WDWMagic, Walt Disney World Resort is testing a new pre-show protocol that segregates paid Lightning Lane and standby guests in the pre-show areas.
Disney cast members stand in the middle of both rooms, keeping standby guests on the left side and Lightning Lane guests on the right. This means that Lightning Lane guests are given priority entrance to the final queue before the boarding area, and standby guests must wait instead of rushing to the doors.
Walt Disney World Resort has not shared any public information about the test and whether it plans to continue the procedure or install more permanent barriers that keep guests from rushing to the right side of the teleportation room.
Disney Parks fans disagree on the fairness and effectiveness of this protocol. Some blame Walt Disney World Resort for building a pre-show that encourages dangerous crowding in the first place.
In response to the news, theme park journalist Scott Gustin (@ScottGustin on X, formerly Twitter) shared original concept art for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind pre-show. Walt Disney Imagineers originally planned to build animatronics of Groot and Rocket Raccoon in the teleportation room, but the figures didn’t appear in the final version of the attraction.
you want people to look to the left? I have an idea
you want people to look to the left? I have an idea pic.twitter.com/OoPZsB3fcQ
— Scott Gustin (@ScottGustin) September 29, 2025
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