Quick, name the one place where you can ride a Marvel coaster and then argue about it online. EPCOT’s Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is making headlines twice this season. First, it’s getting holiday songs. Second, a pre-show moment that guests used to hijack is gone, and the comment sections are loud.
Here’s the full rundown on both changes, plus a game plan for riding it during the busiest time of the year.
Santa Comes to the Omnicoaster
Scott Gustin dropped the news on X. “NEW: Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is getting a new holiday twist this year at EPCOT,” he wrote. “From Nov. 25-Jan. 12, 2027, riders can hear one of three seasonal songs.”
“It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” by Andy Williams
“Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24” by Trans-Siberian Orchestra
“Christmas Wrapping” by The Waitresses
NEW: Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is getting a new holiday twist this year at EPCOT. From Nov. 25-Jan. 12, 2027, riders can hear one of three seasonal songs:
• “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” – Andy Williams
• “Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24” – Trans-Siberian Orchestra
• “Christmas Wrapping” – The Waitresses
— Scott Gustin (@ScottGustin) October 6, 2026
That’s a cozy classic, a dramatic rock favorite, and a quirky upbeat track. Not a bad mix for a coaster that usually plays its own playlist.
Remember the Previous Mashup?
Most days, Cosmic Rewind plays a six song classic rock playlist with tunes like “September” and “Disco Inferno.” Previously, the Holiday Remix swapped that out for a custom mashup of seasonal songs. The lyrics were tweaked for the ride, so “Run Run Rudolph” became “Run Run Rocket,” and the medley also included snippets of “Jingle Bells,” “Deck the Halls,” “Go Tell It on the Mountain,” and “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.”
Everyone heard the same medley. This year, the setup is different, with three songs and a shot at hearing a different one each time.
Why This Could Get You Back in Line
Here’s our take. When there are three songs and you only hear one per ride, you’ll want to hear the rest. That could turn a single ride into a mini challenge, and honestly, that’s kind of fun.
One thing we don’t know is how the song is picked. Gustin’s post says riders can hear “one of three,” but it doesn’t say whether it’s random, rotating, or something else. Don’t assume you can choose.
The Long Line Factor
Cosmic Rewind opened in 2022 and is still one of the park’s biggest draws. It’s an EPCOT Lightning Lane Single Pass option and also included in the Premier Pass. Waits can get long, and during a recent September 21 event, standby hit 185 minutes at its peak. Cast members have also changed the pre-show exit process after it used to turn into a crowded scramble for hundreds of guests.
The Pre-Show Pause Is Gone
Now for the other change. In the pre-show, Nova Corps Centurion Tal Marik, played by Terry Crews, asks guests what they call themselves. There used to be a pause for an answer, and because EPCOT is known as the park for Drink Around the World, somebody would often shout “alcoholics” or something similar.
That pause has been removed. The video goes straight to Tal Marik’s next line. Disney hasn’t given an official reason, but the effect is clear: no more opening for shout outs.
Reddit Has Thoughts
A lot of fans are celebrating. “The last time I heard someone shout alcoholics, they sounded so proud of themselves while saying it, but then they were booed mercilessly by the room with one person going ‘YOU’RE NOT FUNNY,'” DrOddfellow wrote. Kenny_RogersRoasters said, “Finally. The amount of cringe that people would yell that they and only they thought was funny was out of control.”
Others brought up similar behavior elsewhere. FjordAhoy wrote that reciting the entire Haunted Mansion stretch room script “is actually annoying because it takes everyone else out of the moment, no different than someone saying the lines in a movie to prove they’re big fans.” SittinByThePool added that it’s always funny to see people “who yell and think they’re so cool for being obnoxious for what could be many people’s first or only time riding the ride.”
Not everyone is convinced. Admiral_Austinfinity wrote, “This isn’t going to make a difference. In fact it just means the same people who shout something out are now going to actively talk over Terry and confuse others even worse.”
How to Tackle the Holiday Rush
The overlay runs from November 25 through January 12, 2027. That covers Thanksgiving week and goes past New Year’s, so expect big crowds. Want to hear more than one song? You’ll probably need more than one ride.
Check wait times and Lightning Lane options in the My Disney Experience app, and decide how much of your day you’re willing to spend on a repeat ride. Early mornings and late evenings might help. Details can change, so confirm everything before you go. Bringing a group? Turn it into a contest to see who hears which song.
First time riders may also notice a quieter, smoother start to the pre-show now that the pause is gone.
Sound Off
Which holiday song are you hoping to hear, and was removing the pre-show pause the right call? Tell us in the comments, and let us know if you’re planning to ride more than once to catch all three.
