While Marvel Studios is undoubtedly making a serious push for content releases throughout 2021, which expands even further in 2022, Disney is taking advantage of this success with its numerous theme parks across the world. Most recently, this manifested with Avengers Campus at Disney's California Adventure in Anaheim, CA, which is skyrocketing in popularity.
This new area unofficially began when the ride formerly known as Tower of Terror had a Marvel makeover into "Guardians of the Galaxy - Mission: BREAKOUT!", which debuted shortly after Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 came to theaters in May 2017. Using one of the MCU's most unexpected hits has done wonders for the theme park, and it set the stage for the franchise to see more real-world face time with fans.
Walt Disney World in Florida is hopping aboard the Guardians train as well with the "Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind" ride, which is currently deep into development and will release sometime in the near future.
Excitingly, news is giving a more precise timeframe for that launch while teasing new details about the ride.
New Details On Marvel's Cosmic Rewind At Epcot
The Disney Parks Blog released new details about Epcot's upcoming "Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind" ride based on the MCU's Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy. The ride was also confirmed for a 2022 opening in Orlando, Florida.
The ride was described as a "family-friendly adventure" in the form of a "storycoaster that rotates 360 degrees" to help riders focus on the action at all times. The ride is also said to utilize "the first reverse launch on a coaster" on any rollercoaster in Disney Parks history, and it will be one of the "longest enclosed coasters" on Midgard/Terra/Earth:
"Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is a family-friendly adventure, featuring a totally new type of roller coaster experience we’re developing just for this attraction – it’s a storycoaster that rotates 360 degrees so you’re always focused on all the action as you help the Guardians save the galaxy. Not only that, but Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind will also feature the first reverse launch on a coaster in Disney history and is one of the longest enclosed coasters in the world. It’s a massive experience that will match the scale and adventure of the Guardians of the Galaxy films."
The posting also included an image of Disney Imagineers Tom Fitzgerald and Scot Drake inside the area known as the Wonders of Xandar pavilion, which is currently being constructed. This will feature an immersive presentation similar to those in planetariums where the Xandarians explore the depths of their planet.
The Guardians Making Their Epcot Debut
While California Adventure's Guardians-centric ride features the classic accelerated drop ride-action (although it's jam-packed with Guardians decorations throughout the building), "Cosmic Rewind" looks to bring the immersive experience to a whole new level.
The 360-degree storycoaster is something reminiscent of the "Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey" adventure at California's Universal Studios, in which riders sit in a pod on a massive mechanism that allows for the full rotation inside the ride. Considering how expansive the Guardians' playground is in the MCU, this will only help heighten the experience for Disney World's first MCU-based ride.
The attraction will also feature new exclusive scenes from director James Gunn and the MCU's Guardians actors, which they are developing during production for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. There's even a chance that Thor: Love and Thunder director Taika Waititi is contributing his own footage to the ride, as he is using the Guardians in his own quadquel as well.
No matter what specific footage makes it into the ride, fans are already pumped to see a new take on the Guardians in Disney Park attraction form. With the ability to use material from their appearances in Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, along with their two Phase 4 movies and potentially their Disney+ Holiday Special, this experience will have no shortage of fun.
"Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind" is set to open in Disney World's Epcot sometime in 2022. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 will debut in theaters on May 5, 2023.
