Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind opened in EPCOT’s World Discovery area in May 2022 as one of the longest fully-enclosed coasters in the world, inside one of the largest show buildings ever constructed for a Disney theme park at the time. Like most other new attractions opening at the time, it opened without a standby line. Instead, the only ways to ride were through a virtual queue (which is essentially a lottery system utilized by the Disney World app) and with the purchase of an Individual Lightning Lane (now called Lightning Lane Single Pass), which allows you to select an available time period to ride for a fee. However, Disney announced on February 18, 2025 that the virtual queue for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind would be converted to a regular standby line a week later, on February 25, 2025. As expected, this change caused a major shift in wait times throughout EPCOT, as the line for Cosmic Rewind stretched for what seems to be miles. So, how can you ride EPCOT’s most popular ride without standing in a 150 minute wait?
As previously mentioned, the only way to avoid the standby line at Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind currently is to purchase a Lightning Lane Single Pass in the Disney World app. Although there is a price for this option (one that fluctuates due to projected demand) and the amount of sales per day is limited, the process is a relatively easy one. It all starts with the Disney World app, which you can get from your smartphone’s app store.
For most vacationers, those with reservations at Disney Resorts Collection Hotels can make Lightning Lane purchases for their entire stay seven days prior to the check-in date for your hotel reservation. Those not staying at a Disney Resorts Collection Hotel can purchase Lightning Lanes three days prior to the date of your park visit. Regardless of where you stay, each guest must have a valid theme park ticket for the specific date before you can purchase a Lightning Lane for that date. To begin your Lightning Lane purchase, log into your Disney World app and tap the Purchase button in the Lightning Lane Multi Pass / Single Pass section.
From the next screen, tap the date you are looking to purchase your Lightning Lane. If your visit straddles months or starts at the beginning of the following month, you can tap the arrow next to the month to move ahead.
Once the date has been selected, you will be presented with the list of parks for which you can purchase your Lightning Lane. Since you are reading this blog post, you want to ride Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, so you want to tap EPCOT since the ride is located in this park.
At this point, you will be asked about which Lightning Lane purchase you want. Note that Cosmic Rewind is only available as a Lightning Lane Single Pass. You cannot purchase a Lightning Lane Multi Pass and select Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind as an option. Therefore, select the Lightning Lane Single Pass for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind option. The cost per Lightning Lane will be displayed. This cost is date dependent, as Disney utilizes dynamic pricing to determine each day’s specific price for Lightning Lanes. Tap the Continue button to continue.
The next screen allows you to select the people in your party who will be included in this Lightning Lane purchase. Be sure to select everyone who plans to ride with you.
It is at this point where you can choose exactly when you want to ride. The app will display the earliest available time slot by default. You can accept that time slot, or you can tap Modify Time to select another time of day to ride.
If a time frame you are looking for is not displayed, it is because they have sold their allotment of Lightning Lanes for that time period. Tap on the time frame that works for you. This is the time frame during which you can return to the ride and hop aboard! Tap the Save New Time button to lock in your selection, then tap the Continue button.
You will then be taken to a confirmation screen. If the purchase looks correct, tap the Continue button once again and enter your payment information. Payment is due immediately, and Lightning Lanes are nonrefundable as well as nontransferable, so keep that in mind.
You’re all set! You will receive confirmation on the following screen, and a receipt for your purchase will be emailed to you. All you have to do now is show up to Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind on the date and time frame you’ve chosen, then enter the Lightning Lane entrance of the ride to bypass the standby queue. You’ll be ready to save the galaxy in no time… and remember to pose for that on-ride photo!
For more tips and tricks like this, stay tuned to MouseHouseNews.net. We will continue to bring you the latest Disney Vacation News and Reviews for Disney Adults!
