EPCOT Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind attraction confirmed for Epcot

[ToTBellHop]

That's a true statement - but since they're spending nearly half a billion dollars on the Guardians Coaster, and none of the exterior elements are in any way dazzling, the inside had better have brain-busting show elements AND be massively fun to make sense of the price tag.

Otherwise, what was all that money FOR?

Paint.

 

[Surferboy567]

It’s going to be close and a long shot but FINGERS CROSSED for it to be in previews for Springtime Surprise weekend.

 

[ToTBellHop]

It’s going to be close and a long shot but FINGERS CROSSED for it to be in previews for Springtime Surprise weekend.

That feels too soon but fingers crossed for you, regardless!

 

[MisterPenguin]

Paint.

It's the Gabriel's Horn of attractions.

 

[Surferboy567]

That feels too soon but fingers crossed for you, regardless!

I appreciate it!

 

[SplashJacket]

Attractions like Guardians and Toy Story Mania can punch far above their weight because they are super fun. RSR is substantially higher quality, and arguably better than Mission Breakout, but it would be hard to argue it is more fun. That's the disconnect with building attractions. You can make fun attractions, you can make high-quality attractions or attractions that are both high quality and fun. In the end, we go on vacation and to theme parks to enjoy ourselves. I loved Mission Breakout when I rode it back in 2017, and I also loved RSR. Variety is the spice of life.

 

[celluloid]

Otherwise, what was all that money FOR?

Cost of making sure IP looks to the standards of IP and inflated egos surrounding(mostly the gatekeeping) it. Also so budgeting powers can't in the future say you built this great attraction with less, so they like to inflate and justify and then if it costs some less, but still enough they can say it came in under budget.

 

[yensidtlaw1969]

Attractions like Guardians and Toy Story Mania can punch far above their weight because they are super fun. RSR is substantially higher quality, and arguably better than Mission Breakout, but it would be hard to argue it is more fun. That's the disconnect with building attractions. You can make fun attractions, you can make high-quality attractions or attractions that are both high quality and fun. In the end, we go on vacation and to theme parks to enjoy ourselves. I loved Mission Breakout when I rode it back in 2017, and I also loved RSR. Variety is the spice of life.

But this is what's perplexing about Cosmic Rewind - it's set to be the most expensive attraction on Disney Property, and yet there's no evidence so far that it's because that money was lavished upon tremendous production value.

It's fair to say a ride doesn't NEED tremendous production value to entertain the guests . . . and if they decided to go that route with this attraction, well, that's a valid choice if it does score high on the fun barometer.

But if that's the case . . . why is it so expensive?? Is the backwards launch and set of spinning coaster cars 4.5 times more expensive than Expedition Everest? Because I don't think so . . .

That's why I say this attraction had better have amazing show elements. Not because they're *necessary* for a fun ride, but because there's simply no other way to make sense of the bloated budget for this coaster than that it's secretly filled with cool toys.

 

[TikibirdLand]

I haven't been on Mission: Breakout, but I did feel a bit this way about Carsland in general. I went within a year of it opening and it was the big new thing at the resort that everyone was talking about. It is well-done, but as Cars is one of the Disney/Pixar IPs I am most indifferent to I didn't really connect with it.

Despite Pandora also being well-done, I feel a bit the same about that due to my indifference to Avatar. I really wish they would stop building single IP lands.

I LOVED the Cars movies, including the one that featured Japan -- forgot its name though. I haven't been to DLR for a LONG time. So, I've never experienced the lands nor California Adventure. But, the videos I've seen of Cars Land look incredible. Loved how Mater and McQueen drove around and chatted it up with guests. I can't wait to experience it.

Pandora? Not a fan. I AM a fan of FoP however. But, that ride could have been themed to something else have been just as good, IMO. Just like GE, Pandora is missing "life". it's missing live movement and characters to interact with.

Maybe I'm more a fan of live entertainment, in any form.

 

[SplashJacket]

Staunch believer that Disney's park budget is bolstered by a money-laundering scheme.

 

[Brer Bear]

I have heard soft opening could be possible by April. No idea how limited they would be, however.

Man that is great news! My family and I are heading down starting June 11th for a week. It sounds like if everything goes to plan this might be open. Once we heard "Summer Opening" for the ride we all were crossing our fingers.

 

[Bocabear]

but in Disney Speak, doesn't "Summer Opening" usually mean the first part of September?

 

[Hawkeye_2018]

Would it make sense to have it open around same time as Tron to spread out the crowds a bit?

 

[mattpeto]

I have heard soft opening could be possible by April. No idea how limited they would be, however.

I'd like to think the quicker GoTG opens, the quicker we get TRON, but it still feels like 2023 to me.

@tommyhawkins - 10 months from first panel installation matches up with the Shanghai construction progress, correct?

 

[fgmnt]

Would it make sense to have it open around same time as Tron to spread out the crowds a bit?

and wait until 2025? (kidding(?))

 

[Stupido]

I'd like to think the quicker GoTG opens, the quicker we get TRON, but it still feels like 2023 to me.

@tommyhawkins - 10 months from first panel installation matches up with the Shanghai construction progress, correct?

I mean, that's how things seem to be going. As one project wraps up, others take off running. The only hitch is that Disney might be trying to prioritize EPCOT for the 40th, and these workers might bounce over to Moans or Connections Cafe.

 

[UNCgolf]

I like GotG a great deal and don’t particularly like Cars at all. In my opinion, Breakout is pretty good (but if you don’t like screens, you’re not going to love it) while RSR is an absolute masterpiece. I’d actually use it as a prime example of the fact that IPs don’t matter that much compared to the core ride experience. After all, I respect but don’t love the original Twilight Zone, but I think ToT remains a better ride then RotR, part of a franchise I do love.

I agree with this in general -- I don't think you need to have familiarity with or interest in an IP for a great ride to be great. NRJ (not that I'm calling it great, but it's a good C ticket) is one of my favorite attractions they've built at WDW this century, and I've never even seen Avatar. I'm sure Flight of Passage applies for a lot of people as well (and I like FoP too, just not as much as other people).

However, if a ride relies heavily on the IP and you don't like or care about that IP, I do think it can drag the experience down. Since I've never even watched a video of RSR I don't know if it's true there, but if there are a lot of AAs of Cars characters etc. it would be hard to get too invested. It could turn a great ride into just a solid one if the overall setting does nothing for you. As I said, it's the inverse of IP propping up a bad or mediocre attraction (like Frozen Ever After) where people are just happy to see those characters.

 

[ToTBellHop]

Would it make sense to have it open around same time as Tron to spread out the crowds a bit?

They are opening it to spread crowds out. They want crowds to go to Epcot.

The two projects are at very different stages in their construction. Cosmic Rewind is getting finishing touches.

 

[Vinnie Mac]

Not just that, but there is a *titanic* solar farm on the west side the resort property, which provides a significant amount of power to the entire resort. The concept of "ride on sunshine" was perfect for Universe of Energy when it debuted, but now solar cells have achieved enough of a mainstream usage that a rooftop display wouldn't really have much of an impact, particularly given the power needs of the new attraction. I doubt anyone at Disney PR is going to be pushing any Energy-related content here, aside from a nod to the original attraction.

If Disney really wanted to, they could make it seem like the launch (which I assume is going to be some form of time traveling hence the name Cosmic Rewind) requires the suns energy (solar panels on roof). Idk, just an idea.

 

[Vinnie Mac]

However, if a ride relies heavily on the IP and you don't like or care about that IP, I do think it can drag the experience down.

I don't necessarily think this is true. I think being familiar or being a fan of the IP will improve the experience but not liking or caring about the IP won't detract from the experience. Star Wars and Avatar are two franchises I've never really cared about but I loved the lands and rides that are associated to both franchises.

Then you got Harry Potter. People who love it will obviously have a better experience because some fans literally cry upon seeing Gringotts Alley or the Wizarding World. I never really cared about the HP franchise either but the Wizarding World absolutely blew my little 8 year old mind and still impresses me to this day.