It’s save the galaxy time. Again. The first roller coaster to come to Epcot in Walt Disney World is a big one and features some of your kids favorite Marvel superheroes. You KNOW they will be asking if they can go on it! But they’ll have questions- does it go fast? Does Cosmic Rewind go upside down? Does it spin? Since it’s an indoor coaster, it may be a little harder to judge if the Guardians of the Galaxy coaster is kid-friendly and ok for your children. This parents ride guide will help you decide if Disney’s Cosmic Rewind is too scary for kids in your household. Affiliate Links may be included in this post.
This Parents Ride Guide is part of a series focusing on the elements of Disney World and Disneyland attractions that might be unexpectedly scary for your kids. This post will mention details that could be considered spoilers, so please read cautiously.
Table of Contents
About Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind At Disney World
From the Walt Disney World Website:
Take off on an intergalactic chase through space and time with the Guardians of the Galaxy. (GOTG)
This attraction is located at Epcot in Disney World and opens on May 27, 2022.
Disney calls this a family-thrill attraction, but what does that mean? Is it fast? Does Cosmic Rewind go upside down? Does it spin? Are there big drops on Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind?
Is Cosmic Rewind too scary for kids? Here’s what families need to know before riding this all-new attraction at Epcot.
Does Cosmic Rewind Have A Standby Line?
Not at this time. You will NOT be able to walk up and ride this attraction.
The only two options for riding GOTG Cosmic Rewind will be through Genie+ Individual Lightning Lane purchase OR by joining the virtual queue for a boarding group.
This post provides information on using Genie+ and Individual Lighting Lane at Epcot.
Read this post for the hacks to joining Cosmic Rewind virtual queue boarding groups.
Is Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind Too Scary For Kids? Parents Guide To Rides At Disney
As always, you know your child best.
Disney doesn’t try to make rides that are too scary for kids, but some children may react unexpectedly to certain experiences at Disney World or Disneyland.
This parent ride guide to GOTG Cosmic Rewind will inform you about elements that kids may find concerning or scary before you get in line.
In this series, we’ll run down the ride basics to include if there are flashing lights, loud noises, spins, drops, jump scare elements, dark moments, scary themes, and overall general speed or intensity.
What Does The Ride Vehicle Look Like For Cosmic Rewind’?
This is a traditional roller coaster train that is anything but traditional. More on that in a minute.
There are five ride vehicles per train, with two rows seating two people each. The ride vehicle for Cosmic Rewind is called a Starjumper.
If you want a less intense experience, we suggest asking for the front of the train. If you want as wild a ride as possible, kindly and politely request the back row.
If the cast members cannot accommodate you, please know that every row is an excellent experience at this attraction!
The Starjumper is roomy enough for pooh-size folks and has individual-locking lap bars.
You feel secure and safe for your adventure through space.
Darkness May Make Guardians Cosmic Rewind Too Scary For Some Kids
The attraction is essentially a coaster that takes place inside a planetarium.
If your child has been on Rock N Roller Coaster or Space Mountain and found the dark element of the attraction too scary, this may not be the ride for them.
The entire coaster track runs through “space.” While the projections and props you “fly” past will shed some light on the attraction, it is still a very dark ride.
There is also a moment in the pre-show where the entire room is plunged into darkness. It is an abrupt transition, but it also only lasts a few seconds (10-15 or so).
This could cause kids’ anxiety to spike if they are already concerned about riding the GOTG roller coaster.
Tall Heights In Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind
Cosmic Rewind may be too scary for kids who do not like heights or the feeling of being far up.
This one is a little harder to explain, but the coaster track has the vehicles flying through space, and you do feel like you are in a spaceship surrounded by the stars.
Most Toddlers are not at the 42-inch height requirement, so they won’t be able to ride this attraction.
If they are, however, this is one of those cases where being tall enough doesn’t always mean “ready enough.”
Is Cosmic Rewind Too Scary: Jump Scares, Loudness, And Bright Lights
There are no true jump scares in this attraction.
Cosmic Rewind is A LOT when it comes to sounds and lights. It may be too scary in this sense for children who do not like loud noises or flashing lights.
It starts during the two pre-show rooms, where there are some moments where flashing and loud whirring noises could be a bit too much for some children.
Consider covering their ears, using headphones, or closing their eyes if it is too intense.
On the GOTG roller coaster, you will hear loud rock music and chatter from the Guardians as you fly through space.
There are six song choices you may experience on the attraction from Star-Lord’s Awesome Mixed Tape:
- Disco Inferno
- I Ran
- September
- Everybody Wants To Rule The World
- Conga
- One Way Or Another
You do not get to choose your song; the ride randomly provides it.
Are There Big Drops In Cosmic Rewind?
Not exactly, but there are some changes in elevation during the ride.
You go up and down, but there is no traditional roller coaster drop to worry about.
This is a reverse launch coaster.
Think Rock N Roller Coaster or Incredicoaster- but going up the initial hill backward. There isn’t a drop, however, immediately after the launch.
Does Cosmic Rewind Go Upside Down?
No, the GOTG roller coaster at Epcot does not go upside down or have any inversions.
Will My Child Experience Motion Sickness On Cosmic Rewind?
Cosmic Rewind mimics a space flight adventure around the galaxy.
You dip and swirl around in your Starjumper with quick rotations from your individual ride vehicle. This is unlike any other roller coaster Disney has created.
Tummy tickling can happen at certain moments (there’s one big corkscrew turn around the moon that got us every time!).
We rode it multiple times in one day and did not experience motion sickness in our party.
However, many people *are* experiencing motion sickness from this attraction. If your child has a history of motion sickness, this may not be the ride for them.
We’d suggest kids Dramamine or other motion sickness aids if this is a concern for your family. Check with Epcot’s Baby Center to see if they sell these items.
We think the potential is there for motion sickness, particularly if you focus on the screens.
But closing your eyes or looking at the general space around you vs the screen with action sequences may help.
Motion sickness tip for Cosmic Rewind: stare at the roller coaster track rather than the screens. This seems to really help some folks.
Scary Themes
This ride does have a villain who we are chasing through the galaxy.
He’s not particularly scary (he’s a robot-looking guy), but he is trying to go back in time and erase all of humanity.
That’s a scary concept!
But once the ride starts and you listen to the music and fly through space, we think the “scary” factor melts away and shouldn’t bother most kids.
This attraction is pure joy! Think of it as a floating cosmic dance party.
Is Cosmic Rewind Too Scary For Kids: Speed
This ride is fast and thrilling and has a decent level of speed to it. Cosmic Rewind can reach speeds up to 60 miles per hour.
While it’s fast, Cosmic Rewind has a super smooth track and a rotating ride vehicle that doesn’t make it feel like you are going too fast.
While we *know* it’s got some speed (check out the hair flying in the picture!), it doesn’t feel like an incredibly scary attraction from this point of view.
Age Rating: What Ages of Kids Can Ride Cosmic Rewind?
This is one of those your mileage may vary situations. You know your kid best. An anxious child may have a hard time riding this one.
Cosmic Rewind’s height requirement is 42 inches, about the size of an average 6-year-old. Kids under six probably aren’t tall enough to ride, no matter how fearless they may be.
If you have a thrill-loving first-grader, they won’t have a problem on this ride.
However, if your 6-year-old is still more comfortable with the Barnstormer vs Space Mountain, you’ll want to wait a bit for this one.
Due to the rotating, intensity, speed, and darkness, we’d suggest sticking to kids eight and up for this attraction.
Will There Be Rider Swap For Kids Who Do Not Wish To Ride?
Yes! The Rider Swap program will be available for families with children who do not meet the height requirement or do not wish to ride.
Ask a Cast Member at check-in for assistance.
Do My Kids Need To Watch The Guardians of the Galaxy Movies Before Riding Cosmic Rewind?
The Guardians are featured in the attraction, but knowing their background is not 100% necessary to enjoy this ride. You do not need to watch the movies beforehand.
Is it helpful to watch Guardians of the Galaxy (Vol 1 or Vol 2) before riding Cosmic Rewind?
Absolutely. Disney loves telling a story and this roller coaster comes with one that loosely ties to the movies.
Knowing why certain jokes and reactions from the characters will enhance the love of this thrill ride at Epcot.
But the Guardians movies are rated PG-13 (mostly for language and violence) so you may want to skip them if your family is sensitive to either issue.
Watch The Full Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind Ride Through
We always suggest YouTube videos of attractions to prepare yourself or your child.
Here is one for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at Epcot you may enjoy. The actual ride portion starts around 9:24.
Parents Ride Guide Tip Sheet
Parents Ride Guide: Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
An immersive coaster that brings you into space as you fly around the galaxy with Marvel’s Guardians. Located in Epcot at Walt Disney World and opens on May 27, 2022.
- Dark Ride
- Adventurous theme
- Heights
- Loud noises and bright lights
- Fast and rotating at times, with dips and turns that can cause motion sickness
- 42-Inch height requirement
- Seats 2 people in one row of the vehicle, 10 rows per vehicle
- No big drops
Have More Questions?
Join the No-Guilt Disney FACEBOOK Group
More Disney Tips You’ll Love
How To Get Your Photos From Cosmic Rewind
Is Soarin’ Too Scary For Kids? Parents Ride Guide
Is Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure Too Scary For Kids? Parents Ride Guide
Is The Haunted Mansion Ride Too Scary For Kids? Parents Ride Guide
Is The Gran Fiesta Tour Ride Too Scary For Kids? Parents Ride Guide
Tips For Disney World With Toddlers
Hack Your Way To A Guardians Of The Galaxy Cosmic Rewind Boarding Group At Epcot
Disney Packing List For 2023 | Printable PDF
What NOT To Take To Disney World In 2023
The Big List of Disney Abbreviations and Acronyms
Where Can You Eat Outside At Disney World?
How Do You Get To Disney World From The Orlando Airport?
5 Hacks To Max Out Genie+ At Disney World
Patty Holliday has been running Disney since 2011. She knows just about every tip, trick, and hack there is to cover the runDisney Magical Miles at Disney World and Disneyland. She knows every mile isn’t *always* magical- but with training, tips, and a little bit of pixie dust, they can be a lot of fun! You can also find her at noguiltlife.com and noguiltfangirl.com
LeAnn
Saturday 3rd of February 2024
My 4 year old daughter met the height requirement and rode it twice. She absolutely loved it! However she is fearless!! I think this is good advice in this article and testing them on the others first is the way to go!