Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind construction update from EPCOT as the project enters its fifth year

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Guardians of the Galaxy construction - July 18 2021

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Posted: Tuesday July 20, 2021 9:48am ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

The return of the EPCOT monorail gives us a new view of the Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind construction site as the project enters its fifth year of construction.

Guardians of the Galaxy construction - July 18 2021

Progress on the exterior continues at a sluggish pace, with a few more roof slats installed since our last look a few weeks ago.

Guardians of the Galaxy construction - July 18 2021

The view from the monorail does offer a look at the concrete base where the Star Blaster ship seen in the concept art will sit.

Guardians of the Galaxy construction - July 18 2021

Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind concept art

Also seen from the monorail is a look at the area just outside of the main buildings. A lot of work has been happening behind walls here, and from these pictures, it appears to have been chiefly utility work so far.

Guardians of the Galaxy construction - July 18 2021

Originally announced in July 2017, the more than $400 million coaster is now entering its fifth year of construction. Disney has yet to give an opening date, but expectations are that it will open in 2022.

Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind show scenery and push-pull testing of ride vehicles

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gerararFeb 25, 2025

The VQ system has finally ended today for GOTG: CR! Standby line starts tomorrow Tuesday, February 25, 2025. The VQ system was reportedly supposed to end multiple times during some lull periods, but never came to fruition. It went through 2 hurricane closures, but nearly 3 years later after the ride opened May 27, 2022, the VQ has concluded and standby is finally here. Scatterplot of every single VQ data point collected for the past 1002 days. Here's my final update for it and wrap-up post:

Andrew25Feb 24, 2025

I for one hope that one day they can find a way to add railings within the pre-show spaces to reduce the pain point that is the funnel at the end. Ideally, it would be tiered "rows" within the preshow space where a CM then can release each section one by one instead of the mass release. I also think Disney should really enforce kicking people out of line who exit the preshow early to get a headstart.

Professortango1Feb 24, 2025

I am aware. I was speaking more to the concept of the room rather than the function.

Agent HFeb 24, 2025

The stretching room is not an elevator in Florida

Professortango1Feb 24, 2025

HM also has a trained CM in the elevator with us, so they can manage the emergency release if an incident were to occur.

lazyboy97oFeb 24, 2025

Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts also has an elevator scene in the queue. Florida Fire Prevention Code, NFPA 101 12.4.9.2.1.3 allows designs that “confound the egress path” when combined with “approved directional exit marking that becomes apparent in an emergency”. Section 12.4.9.6.2 also requires an Emergency Action Plan approved by the local fire department. The big thing to do when designing these spaces is to ensure systems fail in a safe manner. In a situation where the door is obscured the easiest solution would be for the default, no-power position to be that the door is open with signage visible when open.

Agent HFeb 24, 2025

Hm I didn’t think about that. maybe the haunted mansion is just sort of grandfathered in because there’s not really a way to change it?

PurduevianFeb 24, 2025

Guessing that might be a fire code issue? I have no idea how the HM stretching room gets away with having no visible windows and doors from a legal/code standpoint

Agent HFeb 24, 2025

That’s really cool but maybe we also need doors that can’t be pushed open so easily?

PurduevianFeb 24, 2025

There was apparently supposed to be an impressive AA figure on the opposite side of the room from the doors (on the left). It would naturally spread the crowd out a lot better. Sure there would still be a group of people that will squeeze up against the doors to the ride. However, a lot of people would drift to the left to see the AA. When the preshow ends, the group is already more spread out and it wouldn't be as much of a crunch. Kind of like the HM stretching room. People that know, stand under the parasail girl for an easy exit, however, most people don't know where the exit is, and thus spread out.

JohnDFeb 24, 2025

I traveled with a family of three almost a year ago. I told them we were going to hold back and that they didn't want to be squeezed in. Much better being among the last in the group. Yes, the next group comes in behind us but we're almost into the main loading area by then.

vikescaperFeb 24, 2025

That’s exactly how I feel, too. Plus, we usually request rows 9 and 10 so it doesn’t really benefit us rushing out as we will have to wait regardless.

Agent HFeb 24, 2025

How would that have solved the problem? Don’t get me wrong of course they should have done that but how would it have solved this problem?

JohnDFeb 24, 2025

When I'm in the teleportation room and everyone goes right, I go left. You go rush those doors and squeeze yourselves in like sardines. I'm good back here. What am I going to lose. Another minute?