Disney World planning can be a wild ride, and if you’re anything like us, you want to maximize your time in the parks. That means knowing the BEST times to hit the most popular attractions like Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at EPCOT.

This indoor roller coaster is one of THE hottest rides in Disney World, and while we LOVE it, we don’t love standing in a super long line. If you’re looking for the perfect time to ride without spending hours in the queue, here’s when you should go (and when you should absolutely avoid it).
The Best Time to Ride Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
If You Have Early Entry (Resort Guests)
If you’re staying at a Disney World hotel, you get access to Early Entry, which lets you into the park 30 minutes before regular guests. Take advantage of this!
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- Best time to ride: Between 8:30 AM – 9:00 AM (average wait time – 34 minutes)
- A lot of people will be rushing to Cosmic Rewind first thing, but having Early Entry means there’ll already be fewer people in the park overall, so your wait will be significantly lower than later in the day.
- Best time to ride: Between 8:30 AM – 9:00 AM (average wait time – 34 minutes)

If You’re a Regular Park Guest
Don’t have Early Entry? No problem. Just be strategic about when you ride.
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- Best time to ride: Between 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM (average wait time ~62 minutes)
- By the evening, many guests have already ridden Cosmic Rewind or left EPCOT altogether. Crowds start to thin out, and while you’ll still have to wait, it won’t be AS bad as the midday rush.
- Best time to ride: Between 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM (average wait time ~62 minutes)

If You Have Extended Evening Hours (Deluxe Resort Guests)
Guests staying at Deluxe Disney resorts get access to Extended Evening Hours on select nights. If this is you, you’re in luck!
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- Best time to ride: Between 9:00 PM – 11:00 PM (this is one of the lowest wait times you’ll get all day)
- By this time, many park guests are gone, and wait times drop significantly. If you can, this is THE best option for the shortest line.
- Best time to ride: Between 9:00 PM – 11:00 PM (this is one of the lowest wait times you’ll get all day)

The WORST Time to Ride Cosmic Rewind
You don’t want to waste valuable park time standing in an endless queue, so here’s when to avoid riding:
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- Worst time to ride: 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM (wait times can exceed 82+ minutes)
- This is the peak of the midday rush. Everyone who rope-dropped other attractions is now making their way to Cosmic Rewind, and since it’s an indoor ride (hello, A/C), it’s even more appealing when the sun is blazing. Do yourself a favor and steer clear during this window.
- Worst time to ride: 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM (wait times can exceed 82+ minutes)

Again, if you want to ride Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind with the shortest wait, plan your day wisely! Early Entry, evening hours, and Deluxe Extended Evening Hours offer the best chances to avoid long lines. But if you find yourself staring down an 80+ minute wait at midday, maybe grab a snack and come back later.

If you’re looking for a travel agent to help with your vacation, we recommend our friends at Mouse Fan Travel. They’re experts in the field with over 20 years of vacation planning experience, and they can help take a bunch of the stress out of the entire booking process for you!
In the meantime, make sure to keep to following along with AllEars to stay up to date on all the latest Disney news!
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When do you think is the best time to ride Cosmic Rewind? Let us know in the comments!
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