While EPCOT’s International Food & Wine Festival draws crowds eager to celebrate global flavors, one of the park’s most recent attractions, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, became the focus of a less-than-typical guest experience earlier this week.
Cosmic Rewind, which opened on May 27, 2022, marked EPCOT’s very first roller coaster and remains a signature achievement for Walt Disney Imagineering. Located in the Wonders of Xandar Pavilion, the attraction introduces guests to Xandarian culture before recruiting them for a mission alongside the Guardians.
The adventure unfolds aboard Omnicoaster ride vehicles, which rotate a full 360 degrees and feature the first-ever reverse launch in a Disney coaster. With a runtime of nearly three and a half minutes, randomized appearances by Marvel heroes, and a soundtrack of ’70s and ’80s music—ranging from “Conga” to “September”—the ride continues to draw high demand more than three years after opening.
EPCOT itself has always been home to a blend of inspiration and thrills. From Living with the Land and The Seas with Nemo & Friends to recent additions like Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana, the park embraces innovation, learning, and discovery. At the same time, attractions such as Mission: SPACE, Test Track, and now Cosmic Rewind ensure adrenaline-seekers have plenty to enjoy.
Yet, as reported by Inside the Magic, even the most advanced rides can experience setbacks. A guest described a rare breakdown that began after a posted 75-minute wait stretched to 80 minutes. “Took 80 mins to get into the first room, and when the doors opened it was already half full…We all piled in,” they said. “Then the main room opened, and we packed in like sardines. It was flashing and doing its thing. The attendant was telling people to get out because there were too many of us.”
The report continued with an account of a sudden system failure: “Then everything turned off, and it went dark. The [cast member] pegged it through a door, like hundreds of us just stood in the dark, packed in.” Another visitor went outside to check in, returning to tell the crowd that two cast members were attempting to fix the issue.
The downtime extended for nearly 112 minutes. Guests recalled a loud bang and even a jolt beneath their feet before finally being escorted backstage through a concealed doorway and guided to the boarding area.
This isn’t the first time Cosmic Rewind has drawn attention beyond its thrills. Guests have debated the etiquette of filming inside the coaster, and some have even experienced the attraction with lights on, leading to mixed reviews—one compared its cavernous design to a “megachurch.”
EPCOT has undergone a remarkable transformation since its opening 42 years ago, and Cosmic Rewind continues to stand as one of its most ambitious feats. Even with the occasional hiccup, the attraction remains a highlight of Walt Disney World Resort.
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