Disney World’s Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind – What Should I Be Afraid Of?

Almost any Disney World regular will tell you that Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is a must-do. But what exactly might make it a scary ride? We've ridden Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind many times and understand the ins and outs of it like the back of our hands.

This is why we at MickeyVisit put together this comprehensive ride review of Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind so you have a clear idea of what to expect when riding it.

Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind Review

In an effort to clearly define just how scary a ride is, we developed an ultra-scientific backed-by-research rating system. We call it the Mickey Visit Ride Rating System – MVRRS for short (pretty clever, huh?) The MVRRS goes as follows:

• Wimp Proof: Not scary at all
• Wimp Proof-ish: Seems scary at first, but after, you feel it's nothing to worry about
• Scary but Survivable: Moderately scary
• Scary: Definitely scary, but you'll be able to sleep at night
• Bravest Riders Only: The scariest ride you'll find in a theme park

Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind Ride Overview

Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind takes you on a thrilling chase through space and time to save Earth from being destroyed.

Everything about this ride – including the queue and the pre-show – immerses you into its story. Your experience begins with a tour of the Galaxarium, a planetarium-like exhibition showcasing the Wonders of Xandar. However, just as you’re about to reach the end of your tour, everything goes sideways.

From here, you’re called to help Rocket, Groot, Gamora, and Star Lord on an urgent mission to save the galaxy. If you’re familiar with Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, you’ll be familiar with Guardians Cosmic Rewind’s smooth roller coaster technology.

If you’re familiar with Haunted Mansion, you’ll be familiar with Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind's rotating ride vehicle technology. Walt Disney Imagineers call these ride vehicles “OmniCoasters.” The ride vehicle technology combined with several other ride characters make for an incredible thrilling ride – more on this later.

Here’s some other important information to review before riding Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind:

• Access: Virtual Queue, Individual Lightning Lane, Rider Switch
• Height Requirements: Guests must be at least 42″ (107cm)
• Highest Speed: 60 mph
• Length: 3 minutes
• Highest Ride Height: Unknown (but there are no big drops)
• Loops: 0
• Other Features: Backwards Launch

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Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind Queue: What You Need to Know

Both the Virtual Queue and Individual Lightning Lane queue for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind start right at the ride’s signage.

The merge point for both queues happens right before being directed toward the pre-show room. The entirety of both queues is inside, away from the Florida heat. Upon entering the ride building, the queue goes through the Galaxarium, a planetarium-style space showcasing the planets and other wonders connecting Xandar and Earth.

The queue then continues to the Xandar Gallery, where you learn more about the Xandarian people, culture, and history. While the queue is dimly lit, there are plenty of elements of the queue that make it fun and interactive and keep the whole family busy.

Then comes the pre-show, where the actual ride story begins.

The first part of the pre-show is again in a dimly lit room, where you learn more about the Nova Corps. In contrast, the second part of the pre-show is in a different room, which contains strobe lights and dark elements, as well as the ride’s villain.

Lastly, it's important to note that there are 2 chicken exits available should you choose to skip the ride. The first is just after the pre-show. Simply ask a Cast Member to direct you as you exit the pre-show. The second is at the boarding area, where you can ask a Cast Member to walk straight through to the exit.

Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind Ride Vehicle Information

The ride vehicle for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind makes it a very unique experience for anyone.

After your ride pre-show, you’ll return to a queue before a Cast Member directs you to your designated seating area. You’ll then take a seat in what looks like a traditional roller coaster vehicle, with your feet on the floor and a lap bar in front of you.

As mentioned earlier, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind uses what Walt Disney Imagineers call “OmniCoaster” technology, which combines the Omnimover dark ride vehicle system with the smooth roller coaster technology seen in rides like Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. This ride vehicle slowly rotates 360 degrees as you approach speeds of up to 60 mph.

This ride vehicle makes for a very thrilling experience that Disney says is great for the whole family.

Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind: Ride Experience

Combine Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind's ride vehicle technology with its dark ride elements, and you’ve got an experience you’ve likely never had before.

Once you’ve boarded, your coaster begins it gradual ascent into the first showroom, where you first feel your ride vehicle turn 180 degrees. At this point, you’re blasted away in a reverse launch that sends you into space to save the world. From here, Guardians Cosmic Rewind is full of banked twists and turns and moderate drops. Along the way, your vehicle turns to direct your attention to different planets and screens showing your battle against Eson, the villain bent on destroying Earth.

Note that if you're worried about any jerkiness, your entire ride experience is very smooth. However, it’s important to note that because of the different screens you see along with the “OmniCoaster” ride vehicle technology, riders that are sensitive to motion sickness may want to consider skipping this ride.

Let's review the aspects of the ride that that make Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind thrilling and add to its MVRRS rating:

• OmniCoaster Ride Vehicle: As described earlier, ride vehicle is a smooth roller coaster that can also slowly rotate 360 degrees
• Indoor Dark Ride: Much like Space Mountain, the entirety of the ride is indoors and in the dark. For some, this may be a plus because you won’t be able to see how high you are or how fast you’re going. For others, this may be an issue for the exact same reason.
• Screens and Screen Projections: Along the ride are several screens showing your battle against Eson, as well as different screen projections of planets. For those that are sensitive to motion sickness, this may be a reason to skip the ride.
• Audio Effects: The ride’s dance-worthy soundtrack (which features 1 of 6 songs chosen at random) are synced with the ride to add to its overall storyline
• Backwards Launch Sequence: The launch sequence, unlike Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster at Disney’s Hollywood Studios or Incredicoaster at Disney California Adventure, sends you backwards on your ride adventure
• Speed: Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind reaches a top speed of 60 mph, making it the fastest ride at Walt Disney World
• Drops: In short, there are no big drops – just smaller, moderate drops
• Turns: Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is full of banked twists and turns, all which feel very smooth
• Length: At about 3 minutes, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is a little shorter than Soarin' Around the World, and about the same length as Expedition Everest at Disney's Animal Kingdom

Every single effect adds up to a very fun ride.

Favorite Moment of Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind

Here's why you need to ride Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind even with its thrill elements. The first time I rode Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, I knew what I was getting into. I read all about the ride technology and the features that make this ride unique. And of course, I knew about its reverse launch sequence. However, much like Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT!, my favorite moment quickly became the moment of silence just before the launch sequence. It’s not because of the high speed backwards start. It’s not because of the incredible visuals. It’s not because of the smooth turns and moderate drops. It’s because of the anticipation of what song I’ll experience.

Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind: Scary Verdict

So, how does our ride review of Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind stack up against our MVRRS?

MVRRS VERDICT: Wimp Proof-ish: Seems scary at first, but after, you feel it's nothing to worry about

Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind certainly has elements that make it very thrilling – certainly more thrilling than Test Track or Tron Lightcycle / Run. Its “OmniCoaster” ride vehicle technology combined with its speed, screen projections, and dark ride environment give it an element of scariness. However, its dance-worthy soundtrack combined with its smooth ride make it a very fun ride, fit for the entire family. Of course, if you’re wanting to ride Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind but are concerned about motion sickness sensitivity, you can always ask to sit in the front row. This makes its drops and turns much more manageable. Barring sensitivity to motion sickness, you will absolutely love Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind!

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