A brand-new “Guardians of the Galaxy” attraction has blasted off at Walt Disney World as of May 2022. Officially dubbed Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, the thrill ride reunites fans with Star-Lord and his colorful crew of unlikely heroes from the Marvel films.
A creative collision of Disney Imagineering, mixtape-worthy tunes and plenty of the series’ signature action and attitude, Cosmic Rewind is an indoor, reverse-launch roller coaster located in Epcot’s World Discovery neighborhood. More than another adrenaline-spiking ride, the attraction spins an original “Guardians” tale that sees guests recruited by Nova Corps to help Peter Quill and company stop a towering Celestial from erasing humanity from existence. So, no pressure.
Whether you plan on heading to Epcot to save the galaxy or you’re simply excited to see Groot and the gang land in the Disney park, the following “Guardians” items provide a great way to celebrate Cosmic Rewind’s opening.
You needn't be on the next flight to Walt Disney World to celebrate Epcot's latest thrill ride. Thanks to the artistic skills of longtime Disney Consumer Products collaborator Eric Tan, "Guardians of the Galaxy" fans and theme park enthusiasts alike can add this awesome matted print to their collection. Whether you have it professionally framed or slap it on the wall with a few strips of Scotch tape, this stylized interpretation of the Marvel/Epcot mash-up will level up any geek cave.
Spoiler alert: Guests of Cosmic Rewind might be invited to travel through time, help the Guardians battle a galaxy-obliterating baddie and maybe even save humanity. Those are some tall orders, so why not tackle them with a ton of confidence (and a bit of snark) with this “So ... we're saving the galaxy again?” T-shirt?
Featuring Star-Lord, Gamora, Groot, Rocket Raccoon and Drax, this versatile hoodie allows you to keep comfy while supporting your favorite galaxy-saving misfits. Of course, if you're headed to Orlando to check out Cosmic Rewind, a heavy sweatshirt won't do you any favors in the Florida heat. Thankfully, this design can also be customized in a variety of styles — including T-shirts — and color options.
Want to display your geek love for Groot while also being environmentally responsible? This 100% Recycled Groot tote bag that's actually crafted of 100% natural material has got you covered. Plus, if you're making the trek to Walt Disney World to experience Cosmic Rewind, it's perfect for carrying all your travel necessities and "Guardians" souvenirs.
Featuring 1980s hits from the likes of Blondie, Tears for Fears, Flock of Seagulls and more, Cosmic Rewind enthusiastically embraces Star-Lord's affection for his awesome mixtapes. Fans can do the same with this box set containing the "Guardians of the Galaxy" Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 soundtracks. Brimming with nearly 30 tracks, the bundle provides the perfect way to get your head bobbing in preparation for the attraction.
Baby Groot and his beloved catchphrase are easily two of the most popular things to come out of the "Guardians of the Galaxy" franchise, and the fan-pleasing pair perfectly collide in this emoji-inspired “I Am Groot” design. Perfect for kids, adults and even Groot-loving grandmas, this one's also available in a variety of T-shirt, zip sweatshirt and pullover hoodie styles and colors.
If baby Groot's just a little too cute for you, this similarly styled Rocket Raccoon shirt may be a better fit for your brand of "Guardians" fandom. Perfect for those feistier members of your travel party, it sports the same emoji-like design but trades the adorable tree-like character for everyone's favorite “Trash Panda” and his signature attitude.
The only thing more dangerous than Cosmic Rewind's civilization-wiping Celestial is the Florida heat you may endure before actually facing the big bad. Thankfully, this 24-ounce water bottle will allow you to stay hydrated in the ride's queue while simultaneously showing your love for Drax, arguably the Guardians' most underrated member.
Whether thwarting evil from behind his dual quad blasters or hurtling through the stars from the cockpit of the Milano, Star-Lord's heroics are usually accompanied by his own personal soundtrack — courtesy of his beloved Sony Walkman. This toy-like take on the classic cassette player would make a great addition to any Peter Quill cosplay or kid's "Guardians" collection. The latter camp will also appreciate the device's MP3 compatibility, voice recording features and old-school headphones.
$52.20 $39.94 at Amazon
Love the idea of participating in an original "Guardians of the Galaxy" adventure but don't have the stomach for roller coasters? Well, you can still help Star-Lord and his ragtag crew save the day from the comfort of your couch in Marvel's "Guardians of the Galaxy" game. Available on a variety of platforms, including PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, the action-packed offering spins a brand-new Guardians tale that doesn't require travel to Orlando.
The series' intergalactic military force Nova Corps plays a significant role in Cosmic Rewind. In fact, Nova Prime Irani Rael (once again played by Glenn Close) makes a grand return to guide guests through the story-driven roller coaster. With that in mind, you may want to appropriately suit up for the galaxy-saving adventure with this awesome Nova Corps logo-emblazoned gear.
The first thing Epcot visitors will spy when approaching Cosmic Rewind is a full-scale replica of a Nova Corps Starblaster. Fans of the iconic, space-faring craft can take one of the ships home with this 196-piece Lego set. Perfect for collectors or kids looking to relive the films' epic battles, the set also includes minifigures of Star-Lord and a Nova Officer as well as an enemy Sakaaran and its ship.
Much like Disney's new attraction, the "Guardians of the Galaxy" films are as defined by their infectious soundtracks as they are their day-saving protagonists. If you love the movies' 1980s mixtape-inspired music as much as the heroes and stories, you can proudly showcase that adoration with a T-shirt style that trades the standard character-focused designs for one that places Star-Lord's beloved cassettes in the spotlight.
Disney princesses tend to get most of the love, but we're also fans of Gamora, the Godslayer sword-wielding character. Gamora's biggest fans can celebrate the green-skinned warrior with this epic “dangerous” design that shows her doing what she does best.
$12.99 $9.09 at Amazon
Whether you're snapping selfies in front of Cosmic Rewind's massive Starblaster or simply looking to protect your smartphone from life's misadventures, this case will add plenty of "Guardians"-inspired style to your gadget. A cool callout to Star-Lords's love of awesome mixtapes, this sturdy detailed shell mimics the look of an old-school 1980s audio cassette tape.
The opening of a new Disney theme park attraction is often bittersweet, as embracing a fresh ride or show can also mean saying goodbye to a beloved classic. If your excitement for Cosmic Rewind is somewhat tempered by the fact it's taken over Epcot's old Universe of Energy pavilion, this majestic matted print might help soothe that nostalgia-fueled sting. Better yet, display it side by side with the
first entry on this list to show your love for Epcot past and present.
Find out which credit cards CNN Underscored chose as its?best travel credit cards of 2022