Disney Updates Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind Pre-Show at EPCOT

Walt Disney World has updated the first pre-show video for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at EPCOT, removing a brief pause in the dialogue.

The attraction, which opened in May 2022, features a briefing room where Nova Prime Irani Rael, played by Glenn Close, and Centurion Tal Marik, played by Terry Crews, welcome guests and explain the backstory of the Cosmic Generator. During this sequence, Marik tests out various terms for Earthlings, such as EPCOT-ers and EPCOT-ians, before asking, “Does anyone know what they call themselves?”

Previously, the video included a dramatic pause after Marik asked the question. During this gap, guests in the room frequently shouted out answers, with “alcoholics” or “day drinkers” becoming a common and recurring response in reference to EPCOT visitors participating in drinking around the world. Other guests sometimes shouted responses like “humans” or “Disney fans.”

With the recent update, Disney has edited the video file to remove the pause entirely. Instead of waiting for a response, the updated video features a technical glitch effect immediately after Marik asks his question, cutting straight to the next segment where the centurion reacts with surprise before continuing his dialogue.

Disney has not publicly stated a reason for the change, and the rest of the attraction experience, including the Phase Chamber teleportation effect and the ride vehicles, remains unchanged.