Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind – Tips for Plus-Size Riders and Accessibility Information

Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind was my first “new” ride this trip, and after Flight of Passage opening week, I had concerns to say the least. We arrived at EPCOT shortly after 1:30 pm, and the first thing I did once we scanned into the park was sign up for the Cosmic Rewind virtual queue. (That’s the first thing to note about Cosmic Rewind compared to TRON: Lightcycle/Run, which I shared about on 3/31. The TRON queue is gone within seconds of it’s 7 am and 1 pm releases. Cosmic Rewind tends to hang on a little longer, probably because it’s been open for a while now.)

We walked up to the Cosmic Rewind virtual boarding group queue and explained we had DAS and also needed to utilize Rider Swap for the toddler who was too short to ride. They scanned our tickets several times to convert them for us to use them separately in the Lightning Lane. My wife and the middle kid went first, and I ducked into the gift shop with the other two while we waited. I knew the minute I saw my kids face coming off the ride that we were in for an amazing time.

We traded spots, my wife and middle kid kept the littlest adventurer occupied as my Marvel-obsessed daughter and I ventured into the queue. I used my rollator the first time, but most of the queue is a long uphill walk with lots of twists and turns, so the next day when we rode it AGAIN (this time I rode with the middle kiddo, and my wife took the oldest) I had the park ECV I’d rented, and that made that long uphill climb a lot easier for me. ECVs can go through this queue ALL the way to the ride car, and there are elevators to get down at the end instead of taking the stairs.

When I got down to where they ask for how many in your party and start dividing you up by row, a wonderful cast member talked with me about some of the accessibility features on the ride. The whole queue is mobility device-friendly. The last seat on each train is accessible – if you aren’t comfortable standing for more than a few minutes while waiting to board, you are able to wait off to the side for that last car. You can either then transfer to the line when your party is next, or enter through a separate, wider door that is completely wheelchair-accessible and bring your device right up alongside the ride car. There is also a panel that cast members are able to remove from that ride car that allows for a wider space to transfer or board the coaster, and then put back on.

I also let her know that I had concerns about fitting on the ride, and she let me know that it all really depends on how sensitive you are to being squished. She said she’s seen people she thought wouldn’t make it on fit fine, and others who were smaller who couldn’t deal with the pressure on their waist. She recommended pulling down the restraint as you sit, with your belly over the lap bar if you’re able to do so.

In the end, I was able to fit perfectly. I *can* get into the rear car without the side panel coming off, but it is a bit trickier. If you’re determined to do so, I recommend going on your tip toes, and entering the car sideways. The seats are wider and roomy, and the lap bar isn’t too bad either. It’s similar to the lap bar restraints on Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, but much, MUCH more comfortable. No knee pain for me for this one!

The ride itself is WILD. It’s one of the most fun roller coasters I’ve ever been on in my life. Great music, lots of spinning, a total blast. That’s why we went back the next day! I’d ride Cosmic Rewind every single day if I could.

A final note: I don’t mess with stairs because I’m prone to losing my balance and falling on them. But even for people without a disability, be cautious on these stairs. They are STEEP, and several people have fallen and gotten injured attempting to go down them after riding. It’s a fast, spinny, dizzying ride, and those stairs are no joke. If you are at ALL wobbly or dizzy coming off this coaster, take the elevator. No one’s going to judge you, and it’s not against the rules. We’d all rather wait a few minutes for the car to unload and come back up than witness (or be involved in) a medical emergency because you were afraid you “didn’t need the elevator enough” or were afraid of somehow “taking something from someone who needed it more.”