EPCOT is getting into the holiday spirit, and while we know the park will be full of festive cheer with their park-wide decor and International Festival of the Holidays, let’s imagine one more thing that could take the season to new heights: a NEW holiday overlay for [my personal favorite attraction] Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind.
With its intergalactic setting, vibrant mix of retro tunes, and a crew of beloved, irreverent characters, this ride is the perfect canvas for a holiday overlay. Picture it: the stars are shining brighter than usual, perhaps there’s a few Christmas lights within the queue and preshow areas, the soundtrack is even more spectacular, maybe the Guardians are throwing the ultimate holiday bash in deep space. So, how might this look in action? Let’s blast off into a potential Cosmic Holiday takeover and some of the perfect songs that could accompany the ride’s merry transformation.
A Galactic Holiday Storyline
We know that Cosmic Rewind takes riders on a thrilling journey through the cosmos, with the Guardians of the Galaxy on hand to guide you on a wild adventure. For a holiday overlay, we could imagine that the Guardians are planning a “galactic holiday” in true Marvel style — chaotic, fun, and full of mischief.
This could begin with the Guardians receiving an invitation to an intergalactic holiday celebration hosted by none other than Star-Lord’s father, Ego. Ego is a celestial being, after all, and who better to host an extravagant holiday bash than the most powerful being in the universe? But, as expected with the Guardians, things quickly spiral out of control as they each try to make the perfect holiday “gift” for each other and create their own unique interpretation of the “season of giving.”
Merry crisis! Along the way, of course mishaps abound – Rocket causes a bit of a “gift exchange” disaster, Groot inadvertently decorates everything with glowing, tree-like tendrils, and Drax gets overly literal about holiday traditions, leading to some hilarious moments. Meanwhile, Star-Lord does his best to balance everyone’s antics with a playlist of his favorite holiday hits… much to Gamora’s eye-rolls.
The overlay could include festive lighting effects, holiday-themed projections, and special seasonal surprises – think snow flurries or holographic ornaments floating by. Each ride vehicle gives riders the feeling of joining the crew as they race to save the holiday celebration from chaos — all set to the ultimate retro holiday playlist.
Songs for a Cosmic Holiday Soundtrack
Of course, the Guardians of the Galaxy movies have always been known for their epic use of classic pop songs, and Cosmic Rewind‘s soundtrack could be equally unforgettable during this seasonal overlay. So, which songs could we include to keep the energy high, the holiday spirit intact, and the entire ride experience out of this world?
Here are a few cosmic holiday hits I think would fit perfectly:
- Father Christmas – The Kinks
- Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home) – Darlene Love
- I Want an Alien for Christmas – Fountains of Wayne
- Christmas Wrapping – The Waitresses
- Little Saint Nick – The Beach Boys (may I suggest the 1991 remix, specfically?)
- Christmas in Hollis – Run DMC
- Jingle Bells – August Burns Red (this would make a great track for the last tunnel and scene before you disembark)
- Last Christmas – Wham! (that’s right.)
For this blue sky proposal, I’d be open to considering a medley of the above selections to better customize the tempos and lyrical moments for individual ride moments. However, I rather enjoy the feeling of “never knowing what you’re going to get” each time you board your star jumper. It also promotes that sweet, sweet re-ride ability — IF ONLY they’d finally remove virtual queue and open up that standby line for more options!
Of course, how could we forget 2022, when a [small] holiday overlay to Cosmic Rewind rollercoaster replaced the classic 80’s tunes with an original holiday music arrangement, coinciding with the Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special released on Disney+. The coaster’s [one] song featured parts of “Run Run Rudolph” with new wording to “Run Run Rocket.” Other parts of the remix medley included “Jingle Bells,” “Deck the Halls,” “Go Tell It on the Mountain,” and “We Wish You A Merry Christmas.” According to guest feedback, it wasn’t the most popular choice and many just wanted the original song rotation back. Additionally, no changes were made to the pre-show or projections inside the ride.
If they put some more time and effort into it, a seasonal overlay for Cosmic Rewind could truly be a holiday party like no other. What do you think? Which songs would you suggest?
Theme Park Correspondent for The DIS | Chloé loves kitschy dark rides, roller coasters, a good background area music loop, hot Butterbeer, and all things Halloween. You’ll mostly find her wandering around Orlando’s biggest theme parks snapping pics and sharing tips… or probably talking about The Great Movie Ride.
