Author: Dren Yensid

Cue up your mixtape and prepare for something awesome …
because it’s about to be save the galaxy time!

This morning at Destination D23, Disney Parks, Experiences and Products Chairman Josh D’Amaro revealed Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind will open summer 2022 at EPCOT as part of the Walt Disney World Resort 50th Anniversary celebration. This thrilling new family-friendly coaster matches the “grandosity” and fun of the blockbuster “Guardians of the Galaxy” films in what will be one of the longest fully enclosed coasters in the world. 

Josh made this exciting announcement with a little help from a friend … check out the video below to hear from Academy Award nominee Glenn Close, who for our attraction will reprise her role from “Guardians of the Galaxy” as Nova Prime, the leader of Xandar and commander of the Nova Corps.

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You’ll see Nova Prime in the new Wonders of Xandar “other-world” pavilion at EPCOT, which the Xandarians are currently constructing in the park’s newly renamed World Discovery neighborhood. It’s here you’ll learn more about Xandarians and their advanced technologies, which they’re bringing to us here on Earth – or Terra, as they call our planet.

Josh shared these new renderings this morning of the Xandar Gallery, which is where you’ll discover more about the Xandarian people, culture and history, including their heroes like … the Guardians of the Galaxy! It’s all well and good until they show up, of course, and adventure ensues in an intergalactic chase through time and space.

Here’s a teaser image for the attraction, also unveiled this
morning by Josh. There’s a lot to unpack here, so let’s take a closer look:

First off, we have those
lovable cosmic misfits bursting right out at us – Rocket (look at that
mischievous smirk on his face … he always has a plan, right?), Groot,
Gamora, Drax and Star-Lord brandishing his beloved cassette player. Swooping past the Guardians
are guests aboard the innovative new ride vehicles for this coaster, which are
unlike anything else in the galaxy.Just below Gamora is
Star-Lord’s ship. If the Guardians are around, it’s a good bet they’re aboard. And speaking of ships, I’ll
draw your attention to the Starblasters in the upper left. These Nova Corps vessels
are emerging from a jump point, the Xandarian method for crossing vast distances
of space in mere moments. Who knows what’s on the other side? I am Groot.

So that’s what we have to share today … and it’s a lot! We’ll be covering all things Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind here on the Disney Parks Blog as we get ready for its debut next summer during our 18-month celebration of the Walt Disney World Resort 50th Anniversary that began on Oct. 1. You can follow #DisneyWorld50 on social channels for more info, and should also definitely check out Disney Imagineer Zach Riddley’s Instagram feed @thezachriddley as he chronicles the ongoing multi-year transformation of EPCOT.

On November 6, cast members at Hong Kong Disneyland welcomed many of Hong Kong’s winning medalists from the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, as well as the 14th National Games and the 11th National Games for Persons with Disabilities of China, along with their special guests, families and friends. They welcomed the athletes with roaring support during both a special ceremony and parade along Main Street, U.S.A., marking one of the city’s biggest sports celebrations to recognize the Hong Kong, China delegation’s wonderful achievements this year.

“I’ve been a Dragon Boat and running team member at Hong Kong Disneyland for years, and was thrilled to be invited to join this once-in-a-lifetime event,” shared Addy Ngo from Food and Beverage. “I got the chance to have close encounters with the athletes and celebrated with them for their best result ever this year. I’m really honored to be part of this historical homecoming celebration!”

“To compete at the highest levels of international sport requires not only huge levels of skill, but an unbelievable amount of determination, spirit, sacrifice and perseverance. The athletes representing Hong Kong have demonstrated all of these things as they placed themselves and Hong Kong on top,” said Hong Kong Disneyland Resort’s Managing Director, Michael Moriarty. “It’s our athletes and their teams, regardless of background, ability, culture or creed, who have inspired us all. They have become beacons of hope for all generations to look to as an example of how a belief, passion and hard work can make your dreams come true.”

With the resort’s Castle of Magical Dreams serving as a symbol to inspire hope and courage in the region, the homecoming celebration was an opportunity for Hong Kong’s athletes and their teams to celebrate their success with their families and friends. The event highlighted the positive impact that Paralympic and disabled athletes have had on the city’s sporting support for people of all abilities, and it was also an opportunity to recognize the undeniable commitment and spirit from the athletes and their teams in making their very own dreams come true.

You may hear hinges creaking after downloading and building today’s set of Disney Paper Parks. The Happy Haunts Edition continues this Halloween season with 3D, printable activity sheets to craft your own version of the original Haunted Mansion at Disneyland park!

Included in this set are instructions to build the four formal columns that define the stately front entrance, the detailed wrought iron work on the upper balcony and downstairs porches, the cupola, chimneys and weathervane, and the rest of the exterior facades—all made from paper!

In addition, the release includes the hitchhiking ghosts, and a recommended way to glue or place the Haunted Mansion interiors from parts 3 and 4 of Disney Paper Parks: Happy Haunts Edition. The Portrait Chamber was released in part 3, and Madame Leota’s Séance Circle was released in part 4.

For more ghoulish delights, revisit all the releases of Disney Paper Parks: Happy Haunts Edition for Halloween, including Haunted Mansion-inspired tableware, home décor and paper wearables. Like the Haunted Mansion, there’s an air of mystery behind every Happy Haunts Edition as to what’s occurring inside.

For best results, we recommend printing the activity sheets at their actual size, not scaling them to fit the page. We also recommend adult participation or supervision for those with little ones to help make this great activity even more enjoyable.

The sheets were created for the Disney Parks Blog by talented Imagineers Stephanie Jazmines and Amy Young, and require the use of scissors, glue and folding along dotted lines in specific directions. Amy and Stephanie literally “draw” the curtains of the Haunted Mansion!

By downloading Disney Paper Parks, you acknowledge and agree that these materials are being provided to you for personal, non-commercial use.