by Ray Keating
Review
DisneyBizJournal.com
May 15, 2022
Okay, let’s just state this right upfront: Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is the greatest roller coaster I’ve ever ridden.
Cosmic Rewind in Walt Disney World’s EPCOT pulls together everything one could ever want in a thrill ride. Though it doesn’t officially open until May 27, 2022, annual passholders were able to take early rides. My family had a slot on Sunday (May 15), and I was perhaps never so happy to have my annual pass.
First, it offers a story that not only makes sense, but integrates Guardians of the Galaxy characters in such a way that this theme park ride fits in neatly with the movies. Characters from the movies appear, as does a delightful addition. The ride captures the same feel of adventure and humor.
Second, great music is such an important part of the Guardians movies, in particular, in the story of Peter Quill, or Star-Lord. The imagineers who created the ride wisely understood this, and music is central to the Cosmic Rewind ride. When saying that this ride rocked, it literally rocks. My adventure played out to Earth, Wind & Fire’s “September.” Have you ever wanted to sing along while riding a roller coaster? I did on Cosmic Rewind. It was pretty much perfect. The other five songs in the mix (riders are unaware which tune they’ll ride to) are “Disco Inferno,” “Conga,” “Everybody Wants to Rule the World,” “I Ran” and “One Way or Another.”
Third, this is an incredibly smooth roller coaster ride – even as you're twisting, turning, ascending and descending in one of the largest indoor coasters in the world. For good measure, riders are being rotated 360 degrees to keep their focus on the action. And yes, the special effects riders travel through are immersive. And it all flows together beautifully.
Fourth, given that this was a special event for annual passholders, the wait was not as long as would normally be the case, but what I took in while traveling through the queue was delightful – expanding on the story undergirding the ride.
Did I have any complaints? Just one: The merchandise store was not yet open. If it had been, I likely would have emerged with my wallet considerably lighter.
What will happen when May 27 rolls around? Disney explains, “When Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind opens, a virtual queue will be in place. Guests will need to use the My Disney Experience app to enter the attraction. A standby queue will not be available. Each Guest can enter the virtual queue no more than once per day.”
Bottom line: When you visit Walt Disney World, you must ride Cosmic Rewind.
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Ray Keating is the editor, publisher and economist for DisneyBizJournal.com, and author of the Pastor Stephen Grant novels and assorted nonfiction books. Have Ray Keating speak your group, business, school, church, or organization. Email him at raykeating@keatingreports.com.
The views expressed here are his own – after all, no one else should be held responsible for this stuff, right?
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