Guardians of the Galaxy Ride Coming to Epcot!
UPDATE: Walt Disney World has announced that a Guardians of the Galaxy roller coaster is coming to Epcot, with the popular Marvel characters getting a big budget ride replacing Universe of Energy.
The project is now under construction with an anticipated opening date of Fall 2021. You can see progress on the gigantic show building in our monthly updates on the biggest construction projects at Walt Disney World.
Beyond that, not many official details are known about the ride. It’s expected to be a hybrid coaster, and if the show building’s size is any indication, it’ll be massive.
Note: what follows is info from prior to the official announcement, including a rundown of the rumors and permits about the Guardians of the Galaxy attraction…
As outlandish as this sounds, the rumblings of late have been that Guardians of the Galaxy would be replacing Ellen’s Energy Adventure, in a totally new build, or a partial expansion of the existing building (not exactly sure how that would be accomplished). There were even height balloons spotted, giving further credence to the ‘new build’ rumors.
Additionally, Disney filed with the South Florida Water Management District to re-route the canal behind Universe of Energy, and create two new retention ponds. The permits reason for the work is “for possible future changes to parking capacity and back of house areas.”
You might be thinking: “a water permit, so what?” That’s definitely one way to look at it. Even if the Guardians of the Galaxy project were dead, it’s possible Disney would still go forward in filing this permit. However, the permit mentions the addition of construction trailers, and contains a huge boundary (see below) that includes the Universe of Energy building.
Disney is well aware that fans are watching the construction permits it files, and after having the gondola story leak out before Walt Disney World was ready to announce it, it’s also possible the company is getting (even more) vague with permits.
It’s also possible that is for a project other than Guardians of the Galaxy. Universe of Energy is well past its prime and due a replacement regardless, and this could be setting the table for whatever is to come. As we reported in our 8 Huge Epcot Rumors post, a lot is on the table right now for the park, and Imagineering seems to be in “Blue Sky Overdrive” for a reimagining of the park.
Whatever is happening with Universe of Energy, I do not think it’s some simple canal work. This is the precursor to something bigger. Hopefully we’ll hear what that “something” is at the D23 Expo in a couple months.
My Reaction
I don’t care how much lipstick you put on it or layers of backstory are flung onto the walls of the queue and post-show, a Guardians of the Galaxy roller coaster has no place in Future World. These characters are an inorganic fit for Future World, and any attraction featuring them necessarily will be shoehorned into Epcot.
If what follows sounds familiar, it’s because this is becoming somewhat of a refrain from me with each rumor or announcement that amounts to thematic denigration by management that either doesn’t understand or care (or both) about the distinct, overarching themes of parks and lands.
I can already anticipate the responses defending the addition of this roller coaster (or any potential Guardians of the Galaxy attraction): that Ellen’s Energy Adventure is stale, that Future World is stale, that the edutainment component of the original EPCOT Center has failed. I would agree with all of those premises.
However, before I agree to any conclusions that might follow from said premises, I’d add more to that: Disney ignored Epcot for decades, shoehorning things where they didn’t belong, and letting the park stagnate. As such, my ultimate conclusion would not be that Epcot needs thrill rides or a new mission statement to be relevant.
Future World stopped being “relevant” when Disney started ignoring its mission statement, not due to that mission statement being broken. The problems Epcot faces today were not caused by its lofty ambitions, but of Disney “updating” it by shoehorning in characters and going the cheap route on keeping the park fresh. A Guardians of the Galaxy roller coaster is not the solution to Epcot’s problems, it’s another symptom of them.
Despite what many claim, Epcot’s mission statement is not obsolete, and learning has not suddenly become “boring.” An estimated 135 million people, including 45 million in the U.S., watched “Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey,” hosted by Neil deGrasse Tyson. Americans are fixated by SpaceX’s every move, and CEO Elon Musk is treated like a rock star wherever he goes. The tech companies of Silicon Valley rank as some of the world’s most admired companies. Pop culture has made being geeky cool, and information is more accessible than ever.
No, CSPAN isn’t the most popular network on television, but most people do like to learn. If educational subjects are presented in ways that makes them fascinating, they are well received. Which, as it were, was the whole point of “edutainment” in the first place. In their heyday, the original EPCOT Center attractions resonated with guests, who learned something while being entertained.
Focusing on innovation through edutainment is not dead as a viable concept for a theme park, just as learning and being entertained are not “dead.” What isn’t viable is trotting out woefully outdated attractions, shoehorning characters into existing attractions in a half-baked manner as a bandaid, and spending hundreds of millions of dollars on new attractions that are just flat out weak.
Above all else, it’s the execution that matters for an individual attraction, and how that attraction is integrated into the larger thematic tapestry of a land and park. Imagineers could make a strange attraction about a green martial artist, talking raccoon, and humanoid tree, and it could be awesome. It just depends upon the execution. Ironic that the very envelope-pushing, creative movie that proves this true is going to further obliterate Epcot’s theme as more franchises are shoved into Epcot in a way that is an inorganic fit (which is also to say that franchises could work in Future World).
The possibility of a Guardians of the Galaxy roller coaster in Future World is indicative of there being no vision for Epcot. Management has its eye on the next few years–and this coaster will undoubtedly be a marketing draw the first few years it’s open–with no concern for the long-term. The net result is that 10 years from now every park will look the same: like a hodgepodge of attractions not designed with theme in mind, but on the basis of which franchise could fit where in any given year. Expedition Everest needs a big refurbishment next year? Well, good news! Cars 3 has a mountain in one of its backgrounds, and it did well in the Asian markets, so it’s a perfect fit for an overlay in Asia at Disney’s Animal Kingdom!
For fans, I know it might be easy to accept attractions that are poor fits, especially in Epcot, as the park has been neglected for so long. I also know there’s not exactly any love lost for Ellen’s Energy Adventure, which is long overdue for a replacement. However, that does not mean we should just gladly accept whatever. Theme still matters, and adherence to theme is part of what will be necessary to get Epcot back on track. After years of stagnation, the answer to Epcot’s problems does not lie with quick shots in the arm, but with a comprehensive vision that re-establishes its unique identity in ways that entertain and capture the imaginations of guests.
The reason so many of us are fans in the first place is because of the “Disney Difference,” or the high standards to which Disney held itself that differentiated its parks from the rest. After years of neglect, there is a lot in the pipeline right now for Walt Disney World (more on this soon…), just because we have been starved for anything new in the past does not mean we should lower our standards for what it means to be a Disney theme park.
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Your Thoughts
Do you agree or disagree with my take on Guardians of the Galaxy rolling into Epcot? Is Ellen’s Energy Adventure such a snoozefest that you just don’t care? Or do you “trust in Disney” to do a good job making any concept fit? Hearing from you–even if you disagree with me–is half the fun, so please share in the comments!
Might putting the Tron Lightcycle ride from Shanghai make more of a logical fit for the Energy Pavilion building? The buildings seem the same size, or thereabouts, and it would fit better into the overall theme of Future World, not to mention adding another unique thrill ride…
This is why I fundamentally disagree with Pandora in Animal Kingdom. It belongs, as this attraction belongs, in the Studios, where movies are celebrated. I know everyone is excited for it, but IMO that is where it should be. When my family went to Disney World for the first time, we followed the guide’s suggestions and did EPCOT first (this was in the 80s). All four of the kids on the trip said that EPCOT was their favorite park. That wouldn’t be the case today. I only spent half a day in EPCOT during my recent trip to Disney. (I had intended to do a second day, but I was just too exhausted and I couldn’t really think of anything I would be super upset to miss by not going back). I love Disney World, but it is a hugely expensive trip, and I think that I won’t be back again until after the revamp of the studios is done. Hopefully, once they are done with Pandora, and the studios, they can put some real effort into EPCOT, and bring it back to what it used to be. It seems to me that EPCOT suffers in part for the business model that they set up for it, with every attraction basically having to be sponsored, unlike the other parks. They’ve been struggling for years to get countries to invest in having their rides and/or experiences updated, and Future World has also suffered in part due to trouble with finding sponsors.
Preach it! I wish they’d do a Martian style pavilion, not based on the movie, but on the scientific ideas of how humans could actually live on a planet like Mars. That’d be so totally cool. Or if they really want a roller coaster we could try to visit Jupiter. That’d be a wild ride.
This is one of the worst ideas for Epcot that I’ve heard! My daughter is 9 and really could care less about most of the rides. Epcot has been one of her favorite parks because of the education aspect. She loved the Piggy Bank adventure, Storm Struck, the fire house because they were hands on and she got to learn something. She is very sad that they have closed (or are closing) all of them. Her favorite ride is Living with the Land and she loves the Behind the Seeds tour. She also loves the historical aspect of Spaceship Earth. I know some people think the younger generation wants only thrill rides, but that is not the case. If it was, we wouldn’t go to Disney World. We would just go to Six Flags or something like that. Disney World is different. It is the themes, atmosphere, etc. that draw people in. Look at Universal. It was pretty much all thrill rides, but when they put in the real theme part (Harry Potter) it really drew in the crowds. This shows that clearly people want the immersive lands and themes and not just some quick 30 second thrill ride.
Agree 100%! My 9 year old loves edutainment as well. Disney is doing a disservice to younger generations if they assume kids only want thrill rides.
Ugh. What’s next, shoving Ant-Man into Animal Kingdom? Perhaps replacing “It’s Tough to be a Bug?”
I’m so disappointed with Disney’s decisions of late. It’s not just that these new attractions aren’t to my personal taste, it’s that their decisions have been so short-sighted that for the first time I’m worrying about the lasting power of Walt Disney World as a whole (and Disneyland, for that matter).
I just joined DVC and I’m a bit worried about the future of Disney.More
And more they seem to be going for the quick fix and the easy money, low hanging fruit, rather than being pioneers in development of long term beautiful imagineering. Walt was not this way. He had a vision and would never compromise it for bottom line profits only.
I appreciate the investment into Epcot, but does no one have the vision to continue to explore the final frontier? Do we really think we have nothing else to explore in the Future? Are we really such moderns, to where we have no more imagination or sense of wonder?
Unbelievable. 100% crap.
I think with properties like Wall-e and Inside out just to name a couple, there is so much more the could do, than just throw up a coaster with a GotG theme and think it fits because it takes place in outer space. I loved the movie but it doesn’t belong in Epcot. Save it for another phase of Hollywood Studios.
I think I might be the only one that won’t mind this addition. I think there’s a way they can do it right. There’s a way they can preserve Epcot and give the learning a little more spunk (like test track). Hopefully there’s a learning component to the coaster using the guardian characters and world as the “future” aspect. Idk I believe they can make it work without discrediting the mission or cheapening Epcot authenticity.
This is not the attraction Epcot needs. I wholeheartedly agree with you, Tom. Epcot is a favorite of my family and guardians of the Galaxy does not belong there! Walt is rolling over right now.
I, for one, agree with Tom. I can’t see how that roller coaster, or GoG in general, fits into Epcot. It doesn’t even matter to my family that so much is dated in Epcot. My kids are much too young to remember the “good ol’ days” but would still say Epcot is their favorite of the 4 parks (well, maybe my 11yo would say it ties with MK). If people don’t like the edutainment aspect, they’re kind of missing the point, and there are 3 other parks with thrill rides anyway.
I agree with everything you’ve written. But if this attraction comes to Future World–and it seems more and more like an inevitability every day–the theme of EPCOT Center will be dead and gone forever. It will be time to pack it in and go home. As you mentioned, despite not making sense, a GotG coaster will draw big crowds and the meaning of the park will be completely lost. Most of the classic attractions are already gone. Maybe spaceship earth will hang in there, but it’s just a matter of time before everything else will fall away in favor of other disney-owned IP (like at the Seas).
This is pretty much the nail in the coffin. Given how much EPCOT meant to me as a kid (and still), it’s hard to express how disheartening this is to see. But it seems like pretty much a done deal. All that’s left are the memories.
I have nothing much to add – I just wish we could print this and paste it to the walls of Imagineering and the VP of Epcot. I don’t want to see MK, DHS, and Epcot all end up looking the same.
My mother still remembers being on the monorail with us after a day at Epcot Center and I said I was tired because “my brain was full”. Epcot was my favorite park and I loved all the learning. I don’t think kids of today are really that different.
I don’t know what to say. How can future world be that ride, I could see an energy theme coaster. People want thrill rides and that could draw them into the park. I get sad that every day more and more of the learning part of the park is going away. Iger is just turning Disney into a place to make money.
But on the shareholder side everyone will be excited because that will increase dividends. But they are killing the overall feel of the park.
I couldn’t agree more. I don’t dislike the idea of the coaster, but I completely agree it doesn’t go in Epcot. I have always loved Epcot as a testament that one need not have thrill rides and roller coasters and what not to enjoy a great day at a theme park. Most of the older things at the park do a great job educating while entertaining. I was disgusted when Frozen took over Malestrom though and this sounds absolutely terrible. If they could combine the characters/movies and education a bit better, they’d be on point. I think the Seas having a slight Nemo overlay does this well. While Ellen’s Energy Adventure needs to be demolished, let’s hope this is not what goes there.
I totally agree with you, what an awful idea! Still missing “Wonders of Life” and the we don’t even bother with the Imagination Pavilion anymore, it’s just a shadow of it’s former self.
I agree with you on everything except that I’ll really be missing Ellen’s. It is outdated, can’t deny that, but it still has my favorite videos of any ride. I use “What is who is it?” more than I should. “The ding dang? The piggy bank?”
Also the real problem I have if this rumor is true is that they’re removing one of the rides about an issue that’s still very current and needs more education. Energy usage and sources is a hot topic that should be discussed more. I’m not naive, but I’d much rather see an update with a continued focus on energy.
I know it’s silly, but the amount of times my parents and I have been on this ride, digested big meals from Garden Grill on this ride (and maybe napped on this ride) would make me really consider a short trip for a few final rides before the official closure. I hope they’d give advanced notice.
I’m with you 100% Tom, the draw of Disney World (to me at least) is the varied missions of each park, and a coaster for GotG does nothing to align with that at Epcot. Coasters in general aren’t a problem, but doesn’t this sound like a perfect fit for HS instead?
Read any of the Disney hotel forums and you’ll see one third of the questions are about how to back the thermostat in the rooms to go below 65 ,degrees. And you think people want to sit thru a ride about energy use? Dream on.
When I was there this time, they had a sign on the door encouraging you to turn the thermostat up to 74 when you left the room. I did, because of course, I’m not going to be in there all day, why have a room that is 65 with no one in it. Inevitably, when I would get back to the room, they had dropped the temp down below 70 when they cleaned it. And I was still in the room one morning when they came by to clean. It couldn’t have been much past 9. Which means that the temp was only lowered for an hour or two most days.
I totally, whole-heartedly agree with you! I HATE the total concept of Guardians coming to Epcot!! I would love to see, instead, using the crazy amount of money to build one ridiculous concept and update/enhance so much of what is already wonderful in Epcot.
I have bookmarked many Disney fan/news sites. This one I visit every day; it’s one of my favorites. However, due to the rant above, I feel you’re getting too uptight.
I have no issue with people disagreeing with me; to the contrary, I welcome respectful debate as a healthy challenge to my own beliefs. However, I think that requires elaboration–an element of “why.”
How is Tom expressing his opinion of how HE would like to see the progression of EPCOT uptight? I think he brings some valid points to the theming of EPCOT- I would love to see more thrill rides, but maybe not at the cost of losing the integrity of why EPCOT was originally built. Great article! It’s always nice to see both sides of the opinion coin!
Gee, what is next a penny arcade!
actually, i wish they’d bring back the penny arcade that once graced Main Street in the Magic Kingdom. You bent down to look through the view-finder, cranked the handle and got to witness the flickering beginning of motion pictures. There might have been something for sale at the walls but the central appeal was in the perceptual return to another era. It was nostalgia coupled with a hands-on engagement with retro technology and good old lazy afternoon fun. Something like that but future -oriented would better fit the ambitions of the Epcot project,.. the problem is that we now actually possess those very entertaining devices that were once promised to wide-eyed Future World visitors,..