There are certain rides at Disney World that feel like they’re in a league of their own, and at EPCOT, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is definitely one of them.
It isn’t just popular. It’s the ride people build their entire day around. Guests wake up early for it, talk about it while they’re eating lunch, and spend the rest of the afternoon debating whether they should ride it again or just accept the fact that their stomach can only handle so much spinning.
But lately, something has been happening inside Cosmic Rewind that’s making the experience feel noticeably different, and it’s the kind of thing that’s hard to ignore once you’ve seen the ride at its best.
Guests have been reporting that one of the biggest pre-show effects — the teleportation moment — has been broken for weeks. That means instead of getting that dramatic transition where the room shifts and the story “moves” you into the Nova Corps ship, guests are basically walking straight through like it’s just another hallway.
And honestly, that’s a big deal.
Cosmic Rewind isn’t the type of attraction where the pre-show is just filler. It’s not one of those rides where you roll your eyes and think, “Okay, get to the coaster already.” Disney built this queue like a full Marvel experience, with multiple rooms, a detailed story setup, and that huge moment that’s supposed to make you feel like you’ve left EPCOT and stepped into space.
When that moment doesn’t happen, it doesn’t just feel like a small technical issue.
It feels like the ride is missing a key piece of its identity.
The coaster itself is still a blast. The launch still hits hard, the ride vehicles still spin smoothly, and the random soundtrack feature still makes every ride feel a little different. That’s part of what makes Cosmic Rewind so addictive. You never know exactly how the ride is going to feel depending on which song you get.
But the build-up matters.
And when guests don’t get that iconic pre-show payoff, the entire experience feels rushed, like you’re being pushed through the story instead of being pulled into it.
For a ride that’s considered one of the best in all of Disney World, it’s surprising this effect has stayed down this long. And it has left guests wondering how long it will take before Cosmic Rewind feels fully “complete” again.
