It’s almost time for “Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind” to make its debut at EPCOT. The fences are now down, cast members are doing previews, and finally, the exterior lights have been turned on for night viewing.
Walt Disney Imagineer Zach Riddley posted the first photos, and then Disney Parks posted a video via its social media.
For fans waiting for this ride to open, this is like Clark Griswold plugging in the Christmas lights for the first time:
@disneyparks ?FIRST LOOK!? #GuardiansOfTheGalaxy: Cosmic Rewind is lit ? #Disney #DisneyParks #DisneyWorld50 #EPCOT #RollerCoaster ♬ original sound – Disney Parks
But that’s not all the news that’s been released recently.
Let’s be honest…you can’t have a “Guardians of the Galaxy” ride without some great music, and Disney Imagineers have whittled the track listing from over 100 to an “Awesome Mix” of six songs.
They are:
“September”
“Disco Inferno”
“Conga”
“Everybody Wants to Rule the World”
“I Ran”
“One Way or Another”
According to Imagineer Riddley, “We had to find that perfect balance for the song choices with fun energy, a flow that matched the major movements of the ride, and (where we could) lyrics that gave a fun nod to the story of our attraction…You won’t know which of these six songs you’ll get on each ride, which invites you back for multiple trips across the galaxy.”
Disney Parks also offered this short behind-the-scenes look at creating sounds for the attraction:
@disneyparks Which song are you most excited to hear on #GuardiansOfTheGalaxy: Cosmic Rewind? ? #Disney #DisneyParks #DisneyWorld50 #EPCOT #Imagineering #DisneyCastLife #Music ♬ original sound – Disney Parks
On Earth Day, Disney Parks released the information that the Xandar uniforms worn by the cast members are made with 70% recycled content fabric, while the red insignias are made from 95% recycled PVC. The metal accents sewn into the shoulders are also made from 75% recycled metal. Very cool!
Finally, we also know who the big bad of the ride will be…Eson, the Celestial. He once wielded the Infinity Stone known as the Power Stone, and placing it inside his staff, used it to destroy a planet.
This stone was later found by Kree warrior Ronan the Accuser for Thanos, and after a battle…and a wicked dance-off with the Guardians in the first movie, the stone was placed with the Nova Corp on Xandar for safe keeping.
Which brings us to EPCOT’s Wonders of Xandar pavilion, where the attraction resides. It’s likely Eson the Searcher is again looking for the Power Stone and thinks it might be on Earth, which is why the Guardians get a distress call to come here.
This isn’t the first time the Guardians have run up against a Celestial, either. Ego, who we find out in “Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 2” is Quill’s father, was a Celestial, too.
I guess we’ll find out Eson’s true purpose in arriving at Earth when “Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind” opens to the public on May 27.
The attraction is currently in cast previews, which will continue into May. Some annual passholders will also get an advance look in May, too. I’m hearing from cast member friends that the Starjumper seats are very size-friendly, which is a plus.
Are you excited to ride the “Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind” coaster? Do you have a song choice you hope gets played? Let us know in the comments.