EPCOT Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind attraction confirmed for Epcot

[Hawg G]

I'm told zero AA's...again, thanks to Chapek. Apparently ground work was done for them to be installed but they were axed.

No surprise. This ride has been an overhyped coaster in a dark box for years. Only the Diznoids thought it would be some next level Gringotts killer.

 

[Vegas Disney Fan]

The external structure of Space Mountain is easily (IMHO) the third most iconic image of Disney parks after the castle and SSE. It’s instantly recognizable by many people even those who aren’t huge Disney fans.

I’m not saying the ride will never be replaced but I would expect anything going there to retain the external architecture (ie at worse get the GMR to MMRR treatment). More likely is if they every replace it is it would be Space Mountain but “now featuring Wall-E” or such.

I can’t imagine them ever removing Space Mtn, at some point it’ll probably get a new coaster within the same building, but still in the dark and still themed to space, but that’s probably as major a change as we’ll see. It’s one of the top 5 most iconic Disney rides and has been duplicated in some form in Disney parks all around the world.

 

[MisterPenguin]

Diznoids

 

[MisterPenguin]

I can’t imagine them ever removing Space Mtn, at some point it’ll probably get a new coaster within the same building, but still in the dark and still themed to space, but that’s probably as major a change as we’ll see. It’s one of the top 5 most iconic Disney rides and has been duplicated in some form in Disney parks all around the world.

As the number of indoor coasters with launches and great theming and smooth rides increases, an old clanky and whiplashy basic coaster like SM, whose main theming is being mostly in the dark... certainly needs an upgrade for sure. Cosmic Rewind is going to be a better Space Mountain than Space Mountain.

Good thing Lightyear is coming out soon...

 

[ToTBellHop]

As the number of indoor coasters with launches and great theming and smooth rides increases, an old clanky and whiplashy basic coaster like SM, whose main theming is being mostly in the dark... certainly needs an upgrade for sure. Cosmic Rewind is going to be a better Space Mountain than Space Mountain.

Good thing Lightyear is coming out soon...

It needs a new track but I’d be rather irritated if they replaced it with a launching coaster next to a launching coaster. Give it the Disneyland treatment, though I’m sure you are correct to expect IP integration.

They do still build chain lift coasters. Just less clankety clank.

 

[tommyhawkins]

No surprise. This ride has been an overhyped coaster in a dark box for years. Only the Diznoids thought it would be some next level Gringotts killer.

I wasn't aware the ride had already opened and been universally reviewed as "not a Gringotts killer"

 

[ctrlaltdel]

 

[Brer Oswald]

As the number of indoor coasters with launches and great theming and smooth rides increases, an old clanky and whiplashy basic coaster like SM, whose main theming is being mostly in the dark... certainly needs an upgrade for sure. Cosmic Rewind is going to be a better Space Mountain than Space Mountain.

Good thing Lightyear is coming out soon...

Space Mountain is one of the few IP-less attractions that is marketable for the building alone. It’s like the Castle (nobody cares which Princess it’s themed to).

I don’t know how adding a character to one of the most popular rides is going to push the needle on attendance or merchandise, especially when that character calls an adjacent attraction (and a DHS land) home. Didn’t they have that idea with Stitch at his marketing peak? And they rejected it. Honestly, they’d be better off reviving that idea than “Lightyear Space Mountain” given that Stitch currently has no home in the parks (and he still sells plush toys & Knick knacks).

 

[Brer Oswald]

If you think Space is more iconic then Mansion or Small World, I think you’re allowing your personal preferences to color your understanding of general perceptions of certain rides. Here’s an easy test - compare the amount of Space Mountain merchandise to the amount of HM merchandise.

Space Mountain is certainly more iconic amongst the general public. It is the Disney ride/coaster that most normal people can name. If you ask them about the Haunted Mansion, some of them will ask “the Eddie Murphy movie”, some will confuse it with Luigi’s Mansion, and some will actually know the ride.

As for the merchandise, there’s only so much you can sell with a building on it as opposed to various characters. But I’ve seen quite a few Space Mountain T Shirts in the last few years.

 

[MisterPenguin]

Space Mountain is one of the few IP-less attractions that is marketable for the building alone. It’s like the Castle (nobody cares which Princess it’s themed to).

I don’t know how adding a character to one of the most popular rides is going to push the needle on attendance or merchandise, especially when that character calls an adjacent attraction (and a DHS land) home. Didn’t they have that idea with Stitch at his marketing peak? And they rejected it. Honestly, they’d be better off reviving that idea than “Lightyear Space Mountain” given that Stitch currently has no home in the parks (and he still sells plush toys & Knick knacks).

People seemed to like the Star Wars overlay on SM when it was happening.

The money to renovate is surely going to be tied into an IP.

 

[James Alucobond]

I'd honestly prefer something Lightyear-related replace Space Ranger Spin instead. Keeps the general IP, ties it more to the future, and differentiates it from Toy Story Land.

 

[MisterPenguin]

It needs a new track but I’d be rather irritated if they replaced it with a launching coaster next to a launching coaster. Give it the Disneyland treatment, though I’m sure you are correct to expect IP integration.

They do still build chain lift coasters. Just less clankety clank.

On a ride in which one is *launched* into space, the issue of propinquitous duplication be darned. The theme screams that it should be a launch... or two or three. The park still has three other lift-hill coasters.

Keeping the lift hill because one likes the mechanic or doesn't want to overuse it is verging on theming the ride as a roller coaster rather than a ride through space.

 

[Marc Davis Fan]

As the number of indoor coasters with launches and great theming and smooth rides increases, an old clanky and whiplashy basic coaster like SM, whose main theming is being mostly in the dark... certainly needs an upgrade for sure.

Agreed. And we already know how a well-executed "plussing" can do wonders:

Disneyland's Space Mountain is worlds ahead of WDW's Space Mountain.* It's minimalistic yet incredibly effective, with its "few simple tricks" going a long way to make it truly greater than the sum of its parts... most notably thanks to the outstanding retro-futuristic onboard soundtrack from Michael Giacchino.

If WDW's Space Mountain received a successful version of that treatment, it would hold it own against its more complex, story-driven brethren for years to come. And it would provide a good balance in that respect (minimalism vs detailed/linear storytelling), just as it already does at Disneyland.

*I'm sure there is somebody out there who objects or disagrees, but this appears to represent a general consensus among people who don't exhibit a strong general bias for one resort over the other.

 

[tommyhawkins]

this comes as no surprise. as i been warning people not to underestimate this ride

 

[Surferboy567]

this comes as no surprise. as i been warning people not to underestimate this ride

Beyond the whole “does this belong in EPCOT” thing, I have little reason to believe this won’t be among the best rides at WDW. The ingredients and concept are all there to make a great experience. That’s only going off the very limited concept and rare looks inside of the attraction we have seen.

I’m a little biased though since I’m a huge Marvel fan.

 

[dreday3]

Beyond the whole “does this belong in EPCOT” thing, I have little reason to believe this won’t be among the best rides at WDW. The ingredients and concept are all there to make a great experience. That’s only going off the very limited concept and rare looks inside of the attraction we have seen.

I’m a little biased though since I’m a huge Marvel fan.

I'm not a huge Marvel fan, but I am a huge GOTG fan. Sci-Fi is what I like, GOTG delivers.
To say I'm excited for this ride would be an understatement.

 

[ctrlaltdel]

Beyond the whole “does this belong in EPCOT” thing, I have little reason to believe this won’t be among the best rides at WDW. The ingredients and concept are all there to make a great experience. That’s only going off the very limited concept and rare looks inside of the attraction we have seen.

I’m a little biased though since I’m a huge Marvel fan.

Think the ride will no doubt be excellent and one of the most popular on property. Gotta say as a big coaster fan, the move towards more coasters this past decade by Disney and Universal has been really exciting and very fruitful with some incredible attractions.

 

[Surferboy567]

Think the ride will no doubt be excellent and one of the most popular on property. Gotta say as a big coaster fan, the move towards more coasters this past decade by Disney and Universal has been really exciting and very fruitful with some incredible attractions.

What’s funny is that I typically don’t do coasters. In fact, on my recent trip despite getting a virtual line I actually chickened out of Hagrid’s (which I hope to fix next time I head to Universal).

This being a Disney attraction though, and given the theme I hope this attraction can help break me out of my shell so to speak. As well as TRON (which in my opinion is another underrated movie). I’m much more willing to do a Disney attraction, since I more connected to the themes. Although, I’m also a big Harry Potter fan as well.

I have done most of the coasters at WDW except for two Rock and Expedition. Haven’t been able to get over my fear of those. It’s also been a while since I have done WDW’s Space Mountain. I am incredibly excited for this attraction though, the concept seems great for an attraction.

 

[_caleb]

He’s talking about us

 

[UNCgolf]

I have done most of the coasters at WDW except for two Rock and Expedition. Haven’t been able to get over my fear of those. It’s also been a while since I have done WDW’s Space Mountain.

I'm not a big coaster person for multiple reasons but Everest isn't really intense/scary. I've never been on Rock and have no interest in going on it, but Everest is fun.

The only real issue with Everest is the part where it goes backwards -- that gave me horrible motion sickness last time I was on it, to the point that I may not ever ride again.