Guardians of Galaxy Cosmic Rewind D23 Preview

D23 is hosting a sneak preview event for the Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind roller coaster at Epcot in May 2022. This post shares dates, details, and whether we’d recommend booking this preview before Walt Disney World releases Annual Pass and Disney Vacation Club preview opportunities.

Let’s start with the details, directly from D23. Their announcement offers the opportunity to “take off on an intergalactic chase through space and time as D23: The Official Disney Fan Club invites you to be among the first to experience the all-new attraction, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind!” D23’s preview event for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind will be held on Sunday, May 15, 2022.

Tickets will go on sale on Tuesday, April 12, 2022, at 10 a.m. PT / 1 p.m. ET. and will cost $35 per person plus a $5 processing fee. Due to overwhelming interest and demand, D23 Gold Members will be limited to two tickets per member to allow more people the opportunity to attend the Cosmic Rewind preview event. Both Gold Primary and Affiliate members may purchase up to two tickets each with a Gold Duo Plan.

D23 Gold Members will be able to experience the attraction before opening day, and this event also includes even more fun so you can make the most of the Walt Disney World 50th Anniversary celebration.

First, you’ll check in at the main entrance, where you’ll receive your after 4 p.m. park admission to Epcot and a commemorative credential. You’ll have some free time to stroll and sample the 2022 Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival with a dining card. Then, D23 preview guests will gather around the World Showcase lagoon for reserved viewing for the new nighttime spectacular, Harmonious.

As the Epcot closes, D23 preview event guests will head to the new World Discovery neighborhood where you’ll embark on an all-new journey in the Wonders of Xandar pavilion. Strap in, get your game face on, and crank up your mixtape as you twist, turn, and blast through an awesome intergalactic chase on Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind!

You’ll be able to experience the attraction with fellow D23 preview event guests and receive an exclusive commemorative Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind gift upon departure.

D23 Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind Preview Event Includes:

  • Parking and park admission with park reservation to EPCOT after 4 p.m. on Sunday, May 15, 2022
  • $20 dining card to enjoy the EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival (or other dining location of your choice)
  • Reserved viewing for Harmonious
  • Exclusive entry to preview of Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind

Check-in will be open from 3:30 p.m. until 6:30 p.m., with park admission beginning at 4 p.m. Members are able to explore EPCOT until the reserved viewing area for Harmonious opens at 8 p.m. for the 9 p.m. show. The evening concludes with an opportunity to preview of Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, receiving a commemorative gift upon departure.

NOTES

  • Persons who do not meet the minimum height requirement of 42” (107 cm) may not ride.
  • All ticket holders for this event agree to comply to the latest health and safety guidelines put forth by Walt Disney World Resort. Find the latest guidelines at disneyworld.com/updates.
  • No merchandise opportunities will be available as part of this event.
  • D23 Gold Members may purchase up to two (2) tickets.
  • There are a limited number of tickets available. D23 Members will be required to provide their membership number when purchasing tickets. D23 Members who do not bring their membership card and tickets may not be admitted to the event.
  • Ticketed Members and guests who do not attend the event forfeit their place as well as all experiences, benefits, and gifts associated with the event. D23 Members must be present for their guests to gain entry to the event.
  • All Guests under age 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian to attend this D23 event.
  • Children should be supervised. Guests under age 14 must be accompanied by a Guest age 18 or older.
  • All D23 Events are subject to change without notice. There are strictly no cancellations or refunds, and tickets are not transferable.

In terms of commentary, my first reaction upon seeing the price was did I miss a digit?! 

If you showed me the event details and asked whether I thought this event would cost $35 or $135, I would’ve said the latter with no hesitation whatsoever. Granted, we did some major D23 events about a decade ago that were priced similarly…but that was a decade ago.

Times have changed, as has Disney pricing. Even 4 years ago, the Pixar Pier Premiere Party cost $299. And that was for, as the name suggests, Pixar Pier. I cannot stress this enough: Pixar Pier is awful.

For those who are unfamiliar with the land, it would be like if Walt Disney World replaced Haunted Mansion with Haunted Elevator ft. David S. Pumpkins (minus Tom Hanks) and charged you $300 to see it a day early. Actually, that’s a little harsh. I would sooner pay $300 to drop in early on Haunted Elevator ft. David S. Pumpkins than I would for a Pixar Pier preview.

The cost for the D23 preview event for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind makes no sense whatsoever. Even if you give no value to the Epcot after 4 pm ticket, all of this costs $20 out of pocket after removing the $20 dining gift card. That means you’re paying $10 for the Harmonious reserved viewing and $10 for the Cosmic Rewind preview, each of which would easily be worth that individually.

In all likelihood, the commemorative gift upon departure will be worth $20. It’s also highly probable that an Individual Lightning Lane for Cosmic Rewind will cost at least $20, and be difficult to book if you’re staying on-site and practically impossible if off-site.

In other words, attempting to buy tickets to this D23 Cosmic Rewind preview event is an absolute no-brainer decision. If you’re already a D23 Gold Member who will be in Orlando on May 15, do it. Without a doubt, trying for this is the smart move.

This is our recommendation even if you’re an Annual Passholder and/or Disney Vacation Club member (assuming the preview dates/link doesn’t go out by then). Receiving those emails is so hit or miss, and even though we’ll be monitoring this closely and will alert you ASAP, there’s always the possibility that we’ll be asleep or disconnected, or you will be offline, or errors will occur when attempting to register for that free event. The paid D23 event is only $40 per person and provides more than ample value for money–go for the sure thing and attempt to book this.

Where this becomes a question is for those who are not already D23 Gold Members. Do you drop the money to purchase a membership just for this? I probably wouldn’t, and that’s because this only becomes a “sure thing” if you’re actually able to buy tickets.

In reality, this D23 event is going to be exceedingly difficult to book. I’ve been shut out of many, many D23 events–including ones that were seemingly cost-prohibitive. This is the exact opposite of that, and it’s for a highly-hyped and anticipated new attraction. You probably have better odds of getting into Harvard than this D23 preview.

Ultimately, that’s our assessment of the D23 preview event for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind and recommendation when it comes to attempting to purchase tickets. I still can’t believe the pricing of this one, and that’s probably going to work out to be detrimental as it’ll create even more demand. Tickets will likely sell out before they even appear to be on sale for most members, leading to frustration and complaints.

Still, that would likely happen to some degree regardless, as these preview events are always popular. Demand always far exceeds supply, and the end result is many irate members left on the sidelines. About the only solution is to take an existing land that’s good but not great, give it a nonsensical overlay that costs a ton of money but makes zero sense whatsoever and offers no substantive upgrades, and charge $299 for a sneak peek of that. That’s really the one recipe for success, if success is solely defined as “not selling out an event.”

Planning a Walt Disney World trip? Learn about hotels on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews page. For where to eat, read our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews. To save money on tickets or determine which type to buy, read our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets post. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips post takes a unique look at clever items to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will help. For comprehensive advice, the best place to start is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for everything you need to know!

YOUR THOUGHTS

Are you excited for the D23 preview event for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at Epcot? Are you similarly surprised by the pricing here? Think it’ll be a nightmare attempting to buy tickets to this sneak peek? Will you be attempting to book this, or are you waiting for the AP or DVC previews? Do you agree or disagree with our analysis? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!

23 Responses to “Guardians of Galaxy Cosmic Rewind D23 Preview”
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