Disney Rejects Thousands From ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ Ride as Operations Cease

Walt Disney World Resort faced operational challenges this week as Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at EPCOT ceased operations, leaving thousands of guests without access to the popular Marvel-themed roller coaster. For many, the sudden closure disrupted plans, sparking frustration among parkgoers.

A Sudden Halt at EPCOT’s Star Attraction

On Wednesday morning, Walt Disney World Resort guests who had secured Virtual Queue and Lightning Lane Single Pass reservations for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind were disappointed when they arrived at EPCOT. The ride, which had already been operating at half capacity earlier in the week, did not open alongside the rest of the park.

Redditor u/mickyrow42 shared a screenshot of the My Disney Experience app, which showed the ride’s status as unavailable throughout the morning. Guests expecting to ride found themselves unable to access the attraction despite having valid reservations.

Guardians has yet to open today.

Guardians has yet to open today.
byu/mickyrow42 inWaltDisneyWorld

“I knew me being able to join the VQ AND get a LLSP for today was too good to be true,” commented Redditor u/spamgoddess.

Another guest, u/meinmyownhead502, wrote: “Threw a wrench into my opening day plans but this happens.”

Operational Struggles Earlier This Week

The closure followed days of reduced operations at Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. Earlier in the week, only one side of the dual-track coaster was functioning, causing significant delays. Early Boarding Groups were called late into the evening, with some guests waiting up to two hours to ride. Others, whose groups were never called, received messages informing them they could not be accommodated.

Lightning Lane guests faced delays of up to 90 minutes, an unusually long wait for the expedited access option.

Behind the Scenes of Cosmic Rewind: What’s Going On?

According to a Disney cast member who spoke with a guest, the breakdown may have been caused by a part overheating. The guest explained that technicians were working late into Tuesday evening to diagnose and resolve the issue, adding:

“They have been able to keep the ride running by sending out fewer cars at a specific interval until the part arrives and is implemented and fixed. (Hence running only one side right now, and how slow groups are being called).”

While Walt Disney World Resort has not issued an official statement on the matter, the cast member expressed optimism that the issue could be resolved by the end of the week.

“Of course, who knows if what he said was the full story or actual situation, but he seemed knowledgeable and hopefully time will show he was on point!” the EPCOT guest said.

As of this writing, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind remains closed, and there is no official reopening timeline. Follow Disney Dining for updates on this developing story.

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