DESTINATIONS ORLANDO | THE US
50 years w
“ elcome to your life, there’s no
turning back...” croon Tears For Fears when – whoosh – I’m
catapulted backwards into the galaxy at high speed with Star-Lord, Rocket, Gamora and Groot in tow on a mission to save the world. It’s safe to say the new Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind ride, which opened on May 27 in Florida’s Walt Disney World Resort, is a true baptism of stardust. Usually, I’m a big old scaredy-cat when it
comes to rollercoasters, but I was lucky enough to have a preview of Disney’s new reverse-launch omni-coaster, which has launched during the park’s epic 18-month-long 50th birthday celebrations, and I wasn’t going to miss the chance to test it out.
COSMIC THRILLS What I love about modern rides is that there’s always a story. In this instance, the cosmic generator gets stolen and the Guardians call on us Earthlings to help save the world, resulting in a high-octane chase through space for nearly four minutes. Because Cosmic Rewind is the first rollercoaster at Epcot, and it’s in Wonders of Xandar, Epcot’s first “other-world” pavilion, the story has to make
travelweekly.co.uk 7 JULY 2022
Walt Disney World Florida is celebrating half a century in
spectacular fashion, including throwback merchandise and a new Guardians of the Galaxy rollercoaster. Tracey Davies reports
sense, says Evan Miga, Disney Imagineer and the art director on Guardian’s of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. “The experience begins in the Galaxarium, a kind of planetarium that shows the differences and similarities between Andromeda and the Milky Way.” “In the queue, you get to learn about the Nova Corps and the Guardians. Then you enter the Nova Corps vessel that’s hovering above Terra (Earth) where we meet Nova Prime, played by Glenn Close, and Tal Marik, AKA Terry Crews, before being led onto the escape pods for the ride of your life.” Cosmic Rewind is just part of Epcot’s
transformation. Opened in 1982, Epcot – Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow – wasWalt Disney’s concept of a future city and had the reputation of being the “educational” park. But the arrival of Cosmic Rewind is proof that Epcot is a firm rival to the more ride-focused parks such as Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom. Other highlights include Soarin’, a flight motion simulator that takes riders around the world, and Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, a 4D ride that opened in October 2021 in the newly expanded France pavilion, which sees Chef Remy on a “daring culinary caper” around Gusteau’s restaurant.
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