EPCOT may be welcoming visitors with the flavors and festivities of its International Food & Wine Festival, but not every story from the park this week has been celebratory.
Known worldwide as one of Walt Disney World Resort’s most visited destinations, EPCOT has long balanced education with excitement. From classic attractions like The Seas with Nemo & Friends and Living with the Land to newer experiences such as Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana, the 42-year-old park continues to highlight innovation while offering thrills for every type of guest.
One of EPCOT’s most ambitious additions, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, remains a centerpiece. Since its debut on May 27, 2022, this first-ever EPCOT roller coaster has thrilled guests inside the Wonders of Xandar Pavilion.
Before launch, visitors explore the Galaxarium, an exhibit on Xandarian culture, before being called into action by the Guardians themselves. Riders board unique Omnicoaster vehicles that spin 360 degrees, feature Disney’s first reverse launch, and keep the action in view for nearly three and a half minutes. A soundtrack of rotating ’70s and ’80s hits like “Conga” and “September” ensures the experience is never quite the same.
But with high demand comes the occasional challenge. Earlier this week, one guest told Inside the Magic about an unusual breakdown that disrupted their visit. After waiting 80 minutes in line for a posted 75-minute queue, they entered the first preshow space only to find it already filled. “We all piled in. Then the main room opened, and we packed in like sardines,” they said. “It was flashing and doing its thing. The attendant was telling people to get out because there were too many of us.”
Moments later, the guest recalled, the attraction powered down: “Then everything turned off, and it went dark. The [cast member] pegged it through a door, like hundreds of us just stood in the dark, packed in.” Another visitor stepped outside to check on the situation and returned with an update—two cast members were working nearby to reset the systems, prompting applause from the waiting crowd.
According to the report, the downtime lasted nearly two hours. “Then suddenly there was a bang and the floor moved, [they] must have been trying to get the walls to fall with no success,” the guest continued. Eventually, cast members led guests backstage through a hidden door, finally reaching the ride’s boarding area.
Cosmic Rewind has faced a few other moments of notoriety since opening, including guests debating over filming rides and others who have ridden the coaster with the lights on—one even comparing the interior to a “megachurch.” Still, it remains one of Walt Disney World’s most popular thrill rides three years after launch.
Have you ever been caught inside a Disney attraction during a breakdown? Share your story with Ius in the comments.
