Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind opened on May 27, 2022, inside EPCOT’s World Discovery area at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. Built by Dutch manufacturer Vekoma, it became EPCOT’s first roller coaster and Disney’s first backwards-launched roller coaster, replacing the former Universe of Energy pavilion, which had closed in 2017.
The attraction pairs a Guardians of the Galaxy storyline with freely rotating, omnimover-style ride vehicles that spin riders to face the action in any direction as the train launches forward and backward through a fully enclosed show building. With an estimated construction cost around $500 million, it ranks among the most expensive amusement rides ever built and is one of the longest enclosed roller coasters in the world.
Stats at a Glance
- Park: EPCOT, Walt Disney World Resort
- Manufacturer: Vekoma
- Opened: May 27, 2022
- Height restriction: 42 in (107 cm)
- Top speed: About 60 mph (97 km/h)
- Length: About 5,577 ft (1,700 m)
- Inversions: 0
- Ride duration: About 3 minutes, 20 seconds
The Ride Experience
Riders board 360-degree rotating vehicles inside a vast, windowless show building designed to feel like the Guardians’ Galaxxy Gateway space station. After a scene-setting queue that leads through the station, the ride vehicle launches using linear synchronous motor (LSM) technology, sending guests forward and then unexpectedly backward as they help the Guardians battle a wormhole-related crisis, all set to a rotating soundtrack of classic rock songs chosen at random each ride.
Because the vehicles spin independently of the track direction, no two rides look exactly the same, and the coaster has no traditional lift hill, drops, or inversions, relying instead on launch speed and vehicle rotation for its thrills.
Design and Legacy
Cosmic Rewind marked a major shift for EPCOT, introducing its first Marvel-based attraction and its first roller coaster since the park opened in 1982. The ride was originally planned to debut in 2021 for Walt Disney World’s 50th anniversary but was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, ultimately opening as part of EPCOT’s ongoing transformation and the resort’s broader 40th anniversary celebrations.
Its enclosed, spinning-vehicle format places it among a small group of large-scale indoor coasters worldwide, and it has become one of the most popular attractions at Walt Disney World since opening.
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Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind FAQs
Does Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind go upside down?
No. The coaster has zero inversions; its thrills come from launch speed, direction changes, and the free-spinning ride vehicles rather than loops or drops.
How fast does Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind go?
The coaster reaches a top speed of about 60 mph (97 km/h) during its forward and backward LSM launches.
Where is Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind located?
It is located in the World Discovery area of EPCOT at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, near Spaceship Earth.
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Photo: elisfkc2 / CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.