A top ride at Walt Disney World has increasingly become an ongoing testing ground for multiple experimental protocols as a result of Disney attempting to control guest behavior. Another new process has now been tested following earlier changes and other updated rules across the parks. Operating any theme park requires its leadership to continually monitor how guests go about their day and to test and adjust new procedures to improve guest satisfaction and safety.
In a new test, Disney World is modifying a queue protocol at a popular ride. We have confirmation from Disney on the timing of this test, plus details on how it may affect guests’ experience. Mickey Visit brings you the latest Disney news and planning resources, including a rule change at a popular Disney restaurant and Disney World’s Candlelight Processional Dining Packages selling out fast.
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Procedure Changes at Guardians of the Galaxy Roller Coaster
Before guests board their ride vehicles on Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at EPCOT, they shuffle through multiple large rooms, 2 different preshow scenes, and a final portion of waiting in a long hallway and down a ramp. Then finally, it’s time to ride.
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The ride’s operations teams have made many short-term and long-term changes this year to how guests interact with the ride’s complex queue. This has included more structure, a crowd control test, and a video change to prevent guests from screaming “alocholics”.
Disney has now been testing another change this week. This new procedure addresses guests holding places in line for other members of their party, who join them later by shuffling through the queue and skipping other guests.
This situation is not exclusive to Cosmic Rewind, but they are testing a change in protocols to address it.
In the test that wrapped up yesterday, guests in line for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind must have their entire group together at certain checkpoints in the standby queue. A Disney official told Mickey Visit that this test has been ongoing for the past week, but is not a permanent change at this time. This test of the change now complete, but we may see it implemented fully in the future.
In the test, as guests head into the main building from outside, a cast member is stationed to inform guests that there is no meeting up allowed beyond this point. Guests must be together with their entire party by the time they reach this part of the queue. Another cast member reiterates this inside, just before the “exhibit” portion of the queue, by the exit doors displayed in the photo below. This is just before the switchbacks that take you up into the exhibit.
The one exception is if a guest needs to leave the queue to use the restroom. These cast members are also there to ensure that guests are able to reconnect with their party in what is a pretty winding, and confusing queue to meet up with your group.
The change was observed in the park by @CoasterK24 on X, who also confirmed more details to us that they witnessed.
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The cast members stationed at the checkpoints might also help decrease the number of guests who are lying about meeting up with someone and using that excuse to skip the line. Generally we are pleased to see some more strict rules put in place around line-skipping.
The change could affect guests who applied for Disney’s Disability Access Service (DAS), but were denied. In such cases, cast members sometimes suggest these guests send a family member to wait in the main line and for the denied DAS applicant to meet up with them later. We assume that this would be addressed on a case-by-case basis.
Disney significantly restructured DAS in 2024 in an effort to curb overuse, misuse, and other issues that had begun to weaken the program’s effectiveness. As a result, many guests who were previously eligible for these accommodations became ineligible after the changes.
The new line-skipping protocol follows other changes that Cosmic Rewind’s operations teams implemented earlier this year. The second preshow room, which sets up the plot point of the Celestial villain, has been a problem area. Many guests hover near the doorways on the far right of the room to be the first to enter the next part of the queue once the doors open. This mass of guests then often funnels through into the successive hallway rather quickly, creating a crowd safety issue.
Disney has attempted various fixes. Briefly last spring, the preshow room was divided into different sections and dismissed individually.
More recently, we’ve seen Disney block the middle of the 3 doorways, creating more organized traffic lanes rather than a blob of people.
Just past the doorways, stanchions maintain the lanes, and a cast member stands with a glow wand to keep guests moving in an orderly fashion.
Earlier this month, Disney changed Cosmic Rewind’s first preshow video. The updated video removed a pause during which many guests previously shouted out non-family-friendly remarks. See more about this change here.
As the holiday season approaches, Cosmic Rewind will reintroduce a special version of the ride with a new twist. Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind – Holiday Remix will operate from November 25, 2026, through January 6, 2027, replacing the ride’s usual setlist with a new randomized selection of holiday tunes. See the full song list and more details here.
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