by Joe Tracy, editor of Theme Park Magazine
Walt Disney World Resort is launching a new type of coaster experience on May 27, 2022, at its EPCOT theme park. Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind will be one of the longest indoor roller coasters in the world and will be able to move forward, backward, and change the direction of the coaster cars. The coaster will be the first coaster ever at EPCOT and the first Disney coaster to have a reverse launch. It is being designed as a family-friendly roller coaster experience.
The ride system for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is called an OmniCoaster and has some roots in a classic Disney ride system known as the Omnimover.
Disney: From Omnimover to OmniCoaster
Patented in 1971, the Omnimover is a ride system created by WED Enterprises that allowed guests to sit in ride vehicles that could swivel 360 degrees in order to direct the attention of guests onto a specific scene. It is a popular concept and system for advanced dark rides.
The Omnimover was created by Roger E. Broggie and Bert Brundage and named by famed Walt Disney Imagineer Bob Gurr. In essence, the Omnimover gives ride makers full control over the line of sight throughout the ride.
The most popular use of the Ominimover is Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion. One of its earliest debuts was Disneyland’s former Adventure Thru Inner Space ride.
Other Disney rides, still operational, featuring the Omnimover system include:
- Haunted Mansion (Disneyland, Magic Kingdom, Tokyo Disneyland, Disneyland Paris)
- Buzz Lightyear Astro Blaster (Disneyland, Magic Kingdom, Tokyo Disneyland, Disneyland Paris, Shanghai Disneyland)
- The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Undersea Adventure (Disney California Adventure Park, Magic Kingdom)
By understanding the Omnimover, it is easier to understand the concept behind the OmniCoaster.
While the OmniCoaster is a roller coaster that can go forward and backward, it’s the design of the ride vehicles that puts the “Omni” in “Coaster.” Each ride vehicle on the OmniCoaster has the ability to rotate 360-degrees, directing the guest to the desired line of sight for the experience.
In its simplest form, Disney describes the OmniCoaster as “a storytelling coaster.”
In 2020, Disney Parks released a 25-second clip featuring the OmniCoaster concept being tested outdoors:
From the video, one can see that the movement of the coaster and turning of the car is very smooth and fluid.
According to a Disney Parks Blog post in 2019:
“Each individual cab in the attraction’s OmniCoaster ride system will direct your eyes to the story happening around you. Instead of whizzing by the action, the system will fully immerse you in the attraction’s story from the minute you take off.”
For this adventure, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind will tell the story of Xandar in a rather interesting way…
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind Story
Xandarians have built a Wonders of Xandar pavilion on Earth and it happens to be at EPCOT! Guests are invited to tour the pavilion to learn more about Xandar, its people, and its technologies. Guests enter the Wonders of Xandar pavilion to embark upon their tour. However, shortly after the tour begins, everything goes haywire, and guests are asked to help the Guardians of the Galaxy in a vital space pursuit. The adventure will feature Rocket, Groot, Drax, Gamora, Star-Lord, and other Guardians of the Galaxy characters.
Glenn Close is reprising her role as Nova Prime, who is the leader of Xandar and the commander of the Nova Corps.
In an Instagram post by Walt Disney Imagineer Zach Riddley, he describes the story experience as follows:
“Guests will get a chance to step aboard a Nova Corps ship and load into their Starjumper vehicles to take off with the Guardians of the Galaxy on a race through time and space!”
An important element to the story, of course, is the design of the attraction.
Making the Magic
One thing that Walt Disney Imagineering excels at is attention to detail which helps immerse guests in the story being told. A lot of detail went into Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, starting with a massive full-size version of a Xandarian ship known as the Starblaster. Walking past the ship, guests enter the Wonders of Xandar pavilion featuring a massive queue area, the main part being “The Galaxarium.”
The Galaxarium is one of the showcase areas of the Wonders of Xandar pavilion where guests learn about all elements that make Earth and Xandar similar as well as elements that make them different. Guests will also be able to view the Xandar Gallery which features displays and projections about the culture, history, and people of Xandar.
Both the queue and ride area are massive, fitting inside a new show building large enough to completely contain four Spaceship Earths.
As far as design details go, Riddley posted the following in an Instagram post on March 11:
“Angular designs, striking use of colors, and materials all help tell the story of a Nova Corps facility. The railings, station gates and floor markings (yes, the floor is pretty cool too 😊) are all used to convey the experience in ways that might not be as obvious or apparent, but every detail is a choice that supports our story. And much of Nova Corps designs are inspired by their star symbol and that symbol makes several appearances in the space in striking illuminated graphics.”
OmniCoaster Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind Ride Details
Concept/Design: Walt Disney Imagineering
Manufacturer: Vekoma
Coaster Design: OmniCoaster (new technology)
Coaster Type: Steel
Theme: Coaster dark ride using Guardians of the Galaxy IP.
Height Requirements: Minimum 42 inches.
The OmniCoaster concept is likely to inspire several new ride ideas at other Disney parks.
Explore More (Videos)
Explore More (Resources)
Article: First Look at Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind Ride Vehicles (Disney Parks Blog)
Instagram Post: Unveiling of load station for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind (Zach Riddley)
Instagram Post: Description of design elements for the ride (Zach Riddley)
Disney Patent: Roller coaster with passenger compartment motion powered through stored onboard energy (Google)
