Let’s talk about the elephant in the room—or, rather, the giant rotating roller coaster in the middle of EPCOT.
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind was supposed to be one of Disney’s biggest triumphs in recent memory. It opened in 2022 with incredible buzz. Fans were blown away by the backward launch, rotating ride vehicles, and that killer soundtrack that changes with every ride. It was new, it was thrilling, and it felt like the future of theme park attractions.
But now? People are starting to wonder if Disney’s latest star attraction might be struggling behind the scenes.
A Ride That’s Becoming Unpredictable
Lately, Cosmic Rewind has earned a reputation for being unreliable. We’re not just talking about brief hiccups or technical pauses—this coaster has gone down for hours, sometimes even the rest of the day. And these aren’t isolated incidents. It’s been happening again and again, with no clear explanation.
The issue reached a breaking point recently when the ride closed in the early afternoon and never came back up. EPCOT’s Vice President Matt Simon even sent an apology message to affected guests and issued automatic refunds for Lightning Lane purchases. That’s not something Disney does unless things are really off.
It’s Not Just About Refunds—It’s About Expectations
Guests are paying extra to ride Cosmic Rewind through Lightning Lane, sometimes planning their entire EPCOT itinerary around it. When the ride shuts down out of nowhere, it’s not just a small inconvenience—it throws a wrench in your entire park day. And even if you do get your money back, you’re still missing out on what many consider the crown jewel of the park.
Some guests have now experienced closures multiple times on separate visits. That’s… not a great look.
So What’s Going On?
Disney hasn’t said a word about what’s behind the outages. No announcements about refurbishments, no scheduled downtime, and certainly no explanation for the string of issues. But the speculation is wild. Could it be the rotating ride vehicles? A problem with syncing the music and projections? Maybe something with the launch mechanics?
Whatever the issue is, it’s enough to have fans scratching their heads and refreshing the My Disney Experience app a little more nervously than usual.
What To Do If You’re Visiting Soon
If you’ve got a trip to EPCOT planned, just know that riding Cosmic Rewind might come with a side of uncertainty. It’s still one of Disney’s most impressive creations, but right now, reliability isn’t exactly its strong suit. Be sure to have a backup plan, and don’t be too surprised if that Lightning Lane turns into a refund notification.
The ride could bounce back to normal anytime—but until it does, fans will keep asking the same question: why does Cosmic Rewind keep going down?
