Most Disney fans know that there is a SCIENCE behind snagging the best spot on a Disney World ride.
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Like, I will always wait for the very back row on Big Thunder Mountain in Magic Kingdom because the hills feel hillier, the breeze feels breezier, and ya get slung around like it truly is the wildest ride in the wilderness. I will also ask for a spot in section B row 2 (or section B row 1 if you don’t like feet in your face) on Soarin’ Around the World, so that I see the wonders of the world without squiggles and curves. I also LOVE getting the very front row on TRON Lightcycle / Run so that I’m just staring into a dark abyss after the outdoor section of the run — and that lil’ drop takes me by surprise every single time.
All that is to say that we ALL have our favorite seats on rides and we all have different takes on the best seat in the house. However, we need to talk about a popular seat request that people make when they’re in line for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind in EPCOT!
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
First, we need to talk about the ride itself in order for you to pick up what I’m putting down. The ride is an omnicoaster, which means that each ride vehicle (Star Jumper) can spin around a full 360 degrees. So, throughout the whole ride, you’ll have different perspectives because you’re twisting and turning in your seat. Plus, where you’re located on the “train” of the Star Jumpers can affect the perceived speed of the ride — just like how the back of Big Thunder Mountain feels more intense.
Guardians
My husband and our closest friends are engineers, so I asked them to explain this to me in simple terms. Roller coaster science, you know? The front of the ride feels faster in the “troughs” of the track — so you might feel more of the Gs at the bottom of a hill, because the cars behind you are technically pushing you at that point. On the other hand, those sitting at the back of the ride feel the speed more at the top of the hill, because the cars in front are pulling them at that point. It’s not actually faster, but it feels faster, and a lot of people tend to feel more of that breath-taking, weightless sensation for brief periods of time when sitting at the back of hilly coasters.
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
THIS is why you’ll often hear folks requesting rows 9 and 10 on Guardians! If you have a preferred seat on the ride, you can totally tell the Cast Members who are seating you. When you get to the point where a Cast Member is ushering you to the the “turnstiles” right before you board your Star Jumper, just ask, “Can we please wait for row 9 and 10?” and the Cast Member will take you to the holding area where you can await your desired row.
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
When sitting in row 9 and 10, you’ll be in the back when you’re headed to a sort of “show” area before the ride really launches you. When you get to that area, you’ll watch something on a screen as part of the ride story, and the omnicoaster will spin you in a way that will have you positioned in the front so that you have a better view of the show area. But from there, the ride will launch BACKWARDS, so that you’re feeling the same perceived speed that you would at the back of the coaster, but backwards. After the initial launch, you’ll spin again to where you’re in the back — facing front like normal or even experiencing the sensation from side to side.
Guardians
I used to work in attractions at Disney World, and I can tell you that you asking for your favorite spot on a ride doesn’t upset Cast Members in the slightest! As a matter of fact, they probably have a favorite spot that they ask for, too.
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That’s because row 9 is the absolute BEST row for the launch. It puts you right in the front.
And they obviously know this cause there is a separate waiting area for choosy riders.
And despite what CMs say, there is only one good place to ride soarin’ it’s right in the middle.
#5 is the best and the last car is the worst. The last car does a 360 causing nausea and vomiting. Usually cars 1-5 are good.
hi!! i think this is super cool, but in guardians, the only wheelchair accessible row is row 10. it’s been getting increasingly longer to get the one row that i can ride in, because people CHOOSE to ride in it. by all means try it once or twice, but please don’t make it a habit!! it takes away from people who need that row!
Best day ever was when myself and 3 girl friends we’re in line for GotG and as we headed up the “hill” toward the boarding room we noticed what we assumed were water drops on the floor. As we entered the boarding room there were some small puddles. Then we noticed there was no longer anyone behind us except CMs with mops. When we reached the bottom of the ramp they asked us if we wanted to ride alone and what rows we wanted. 9 and 10 baby… Most magical ride ever!!
That’s a great tip for our readers that may be prone to motion sickness, thanks for sharing! The last car will always be my favorite because I LOVE the spinning, but certainly understand that it may not be everyone’s cup of tea and encourage anyone to proceed with caution.
Wow awesome advice! We’re doing it!
How interesting. I ask for seats 8 & 9 because I’m prone to motion sickness and when the ride first opened everyone was saying that these specific ones have less rotation. That does seem to be the case but I haven’t tried any other seats.
We always like the middle, least motion sickness there. I find it’s actually the pressure of going uphill backwards at fast speeds messing with my sinus, I get the same issue with expedition Everest when going backwards uphill. The price of admission i guess😜
@kia Disney should definitely be giving you priority boarding in your case! I’d ask about it.
There was a medical event on Guardians of the Galaxy on 8/30/24. I was in the virtual cue around 8pm and got stopped right before the first doors. Never got to ride it and left disney the next day. My husband said several police ran over and someone got wheeled out. He said the person wasn’t moving and she was taken by ambulance. I was wondering if she was ok. Any news?