It was a tough day at EPCOT for guests hoping to blast off on Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. The high-speed indoor coaster went down unexpectedly in the early afternoon—and never reopened.
For many guests, especially those who paid extra for Lightning Lane access, the sudden closure turned into a frustrating turn of events. The good news? Disney stepped in with automatic refunds for those affected. The bad news? For anyone who planned their day around this top-tier ride, the disappointment was hard to miss.
A Personal Apology from EPCOT Leadership
As guests realized Cosmic Rewind wasn’t coming back online, they were met with more than just a generic app update. EPCOT Vice President Matt Simon sent out a message personally addressing the situation. In the note, he apologized for the ride’s unavailability and encouraged guests to enjoy the rest of EPCOT’s offerings.
It was a nice gesture, sure—but for families who had mapped out their day around this marquee attraction, a heartfelt apology didn’t replace the missed opportunity.
Lightning Lane Refunds Triggered Automatically
Disney quickly issued refunds to those who had purchased Lightning Lane access for the attraction. It’s standard policy when a ride experiences an extended outage, but that didn’t make the experience any less disappointing.
And this isn’t the first time this has happened recently. Over the past several weeks, Cosmic Rewind has had more than a few hiccups—some lasting an hour or two, others stretching through an entire park day. With its popularity and the cost associated with access, the ride’s inconsistency is starting to concern returning guests.
Why Cosmic Rewind Keeps Going Down
When it debuted in 2022, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind quickly became one of Disney’s most advanced—and most talked-about—coasters. Between its rotating ride vehicles, backward launch, retro soundtrack, and immersive visuals, the experience is a sensory thrill from start to finish.
But with innovation comes complexity. The ride’s cutting-edge technology relies on perfect synchronization between vehicles, screens, music, and track systems. If even one component fails, it can throw the entire operation off. That seems to be what’s happening more often than anyone would like.
What Guests Should Know Before Their EPCOT Visit
If you’re heading to EPCOT soon and have your heart set on riding Cosmic Rewind, here are a few tips:
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Keep an Eye on the App – The My Disney Experience app is the best way to see if the ride is currently running. While it won’t explain the reasons for downtime, it does show real-time availability.
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Don’t Put All Your Eggs in One Basket – If your day at EPCOT revolves around this coaster, have a backup plan. When it works, it’s incredible—but right now, it’s not always a sure thing.
- Explore Other EPCOT Favorites – From Frozen Ever After and Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure to Soarin’ Around the World, there are still plenty of top-tier attractions to enjoy, even if the Guardians aren’t saving the galaxy during your visit.
Looking Ahead
Disney has yet to comment on what’s causing the repeated closures. It might be standard maintenance, lingering technical issues, or something more significant behind the scenes. Whatever the case, fans are paying attention—and hoping the ride regains its reliability.
At the end of the day, Cosmic Rewind is still one of the most thrilling attractions in all of Walt Disney World. But if the ride can’t stay open consistently, Disney may have to address the situation more directly—before too many guests start to feel like they missed out on something they were promised.
