How to Enjoy Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind with Accessibility in Mind
EPCOT’s Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is a thrilling dark roller coaster with fan-favorite actors and a nostalgic and variable soundtrack. There are, however, several accessibility considerations before riding.
Consideration: physical accessibility & transferring
The queue line is easy to navigate in an ECV or a wheelchair. Individuals must transfer into the ride vehicle in the boarding area. One design feature I particularly like is that each train’s last car has a wider transfer door. This makes transferring much easier. Having a transfer vehicle in each train also eliminates the increased wait time often experienced on other rides with fewer accessible cars.
Consideration: ride appropriateness & rider swap
As a dark roller coaster, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind will not be appropriate for all riders. Individuals under 42″ tall and/or individuals who experience motion sickness, have neck, back, or heart concerns, and/or limited upper body control should not ride. Individuals with a significant fear of the dark should consider avoiding this ride. There is, however, a convenient rider swap area with benches in the unloading area. If you will be using Rider Swap, check in with the Cast Members (CM) near the “DAS/rider swap assistance” sign outside the ride entrance before entering the queue.
Consideration: ride access
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind doesn’t offer a standby queue. You must secure a Virtual Queue (VQ) boarding group or purchase an Individual Lightning Lane (ILL) if you want to ride. Since virtual queues are free, they can go quickly (especially in the morning). If missing out on a Virtual Queue could upset someone in your group, I recommend purchasing the ILL. We’re passholders and very familiar with the VQ system, yet we still miss occasionally.
Consideration: ride preparation
I always recommend watching point-of-view videos before riding any attraction. While Cosmic Rewind’s movements are always the same, the music soundtrack is variable. With six potential songs, your loved one might be upset if the “wrong” song is played.
One way to prepare is by adding the six potential songs to a dedicated Guardians playlist. You could also sprinkle the tracks into a current favorite playlist. It can also help to associate the music with positive emotions, so play the songs while doing fun activities or eating.
Another way to approach the variety of songs is by providing a social story that explains the situation and models the expected behavior. Here’s a very simple example:
“I will ride Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at EPCOT. There are six songs I might hear. I will use nice words and nice hands for every song.”
Cosmic Rewind playlist
- “Conga” by Gloria Estefan
- “Disco Inferno” by The Trammps
- “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” by Tears for Fears
- “I Ran” by A Flock of Seagulls
- “One Way or Another” by Blondie
- “September” by Earth, Wind & Fire
“September” is played on a loop every September 21. That date is featured in the song’s lyrics.
Problem: pre-show anxiety
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind has two separate pre-shows, one of which provides an overwhelming amount of sensory input in a darkened room. It is themed so well that it can be an issue for individuals with sensory processing challenges. Noah loves the ride itself but is terrified of the pre-show. We’ve been making it work, but I’ve been actively looking for a workaround. On our last trip, I found it.
Solution: “Can I talk to your manager, please?”
If you know me, you understand how surreal it was for me to type that. On our last visit, Noah was already a little stressed out as we entered the pre-show areas from the ride queue. I explained the situation to the CM, how Noah has a DAS and loves the ride, but the pre-show is overwhelming due to his autism. The CM told me to ask for the manager (not to complain, but to plead our case for skipping the pre-shows). It is an option, but unlike Haunted Mansion, the frontline CM can’t authorize this and they don’t like to advertise it.
We waited to the side before the first pre-show room. In less than five minutes, a very nice CM arrived. It was a very brief conversation that didn’t feel at all intrusive. Noah was also clearly struggling to self-regulate, which tends to help explanations. Another CM escorted us through a series of doors and brought us to the room where the second pre-show funnels into the final queue line.
Consideration: safety & supervision
The ride vehicle seats two guests per row side by side. The lap bar locks securely into place. I have no concerns about safety and supervision for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind.
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind and DAS
If someone in your party has a Disability Access Service (DAS) and you used the Virtual Queue to ride, look for the signs that say “DAS/Rider Swap” and CMs with devices under umbrellas. The CM will verify the VQ and the DAS. They will then convert the VQ to a Lightning Lane pass to minimize the wait time.
Available accommodations: Disney Handheld Devices
Finally, individuals with vision or hearing impairment may want to use a Disney Handheld Device during the pre-shows for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. These devices offer the following technologies:
Audio commentary
Walt Disney World theme parks offer audio descriptions through Disney Handheld Devices for select attractions and entertainment.
Handheld captioning
Disney Handheld Device features Handheld Captioning—a portable captioning system that displays on-screen text in select theaters and attractions.
All Disney Handheld Device descriptions are taken directly from the Disney website.
Disney Handheld Devices are available at Guest Relations. They require a $25 refundable deposit and must be returned on the same day within the same park. Visit Disney World’s Accessibility page for more information.
Additionally, Guest Relations CMs recommended using cash or charging Disney Handled Device deposits to your room (if staying on property) to avoid potential holds on credit cards.
Summary
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is a thrilling, sensory-intensive dark roller coaster that brings the fun of the MCU to EPCOT. With planning and accommodations, it can be very accessible for individuals with sensory challenges who might also want to save the galaxy but prefer to skip the pre-shows.
Read more: Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind Might Make You Queasy
