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As Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! nears its scheduled closure at Disney California Adventure Park, complaints from guests are reaching a crescendo.
The thrilling drop ride, which has entertained visitors for nearly eight years, seems to be showing its age, and the upcoming hiatus cannot come soon enough for many Disneyland guests who have been increasingly vocal about their frustrations with the attraction’s performance.
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Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! Faces Ongoing Issues
Opening in 2017, Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! replaced the iconic Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, which had been a staple of the park for decades. The reimagined ride brought a bold new look to the attraction, transforming the once-haunted hotel into the vibrant, neon-lit fortress of the Collector.
This change, which incorporated elements of the Guardians of the Galaxy films, brought a fresh energy to the ride that immediately caught the attention of Marvel fans and theme park enthusiasts alike. The ride’s story, built around Rocket Raccoon’s daring plan to free the other Guardians, immerses guests in a chaotic adventure filled with sudden drops, classic rock anthems like “Born to Be Wild,” and an exhilarating escape mission.
The ride’s layout — with six randomized sequences — promised to keep things fresh, ensuring no two experiences were ever the same. This element of unpredictability, paired with Marvel’s dynamic storytelling, cemented Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! as a must-ride for anyone visiting Avengers Campus.
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However, while the attraction has had its share of highs, recent issues have made the ride less thrilling for some. Long wait times and technical difficulties have left many guests wondering if their next ride will be the one that delivers the full experience they expected.
As Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! prepares for its closure on March 10, 2025, guests have been sounding off on the growing list of problems that have plagued the attraction. Wait times have become a significant point of contention.
On March 7, one guest noted wait times soared to an impressive 220 minutes — nearly four hours — as the ride’s throughput slowed dramatically due to technical issues. One Reddit user posted, “They’ve been having trouble with Guardians for a long time now – since early last year. It’s been operating very sporadically.”
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The source of these delays is often linked to the ride’s loading zones, which can fluctuate depending on operational capacity. In one particularly frustrating instance, the ride was only operating with two gantries, forcing the standby line to extend beyond expectations. The posted wait time was 3 hours and 40 minutes, with Lightning Lane waits also exceeding an hour. These excessive wait times, coupled with unreliable ride conditions, have left guests questioning the ride’s consistency.
Rocket Raccoon Also Faces Issues
A recurring issue that’s caught the attention of many guests is the malfunctioning of the Rocket Raccoon animatronic during the pre-show. Instead of seeing the robotic Rocket explain the ride’s premise, guests have reported being shown a video version instead.
One Reddit user mentioned, “The past two times I went I got the video version of Rocket explaining the ride. Is the animatronic version not running anymore? Or is it also another issue?” These breakdowns, combined with technical delays, have made it difficult for some guests to fully enjoy the ride in its intended form.
The Ride’s Upcoming Closure
Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! hasn’t undergone any significant refurbishments since it opened in 2017. This long stretch without a proper update has raised concerns about the ride’s maintenance, especially as Disneyland continues to introduce new, high-tech attractions.
Fans have long expressed frustration that the ride, which was once a flagship experience at the park, feels increasingly unreliable. One guest took to Reddit to share their experience in January, writing, “I was there last weekend and they only had one of the shafts working. Even with Lightning Lane, it took an hour to get on.”
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For many, the failure to address these issues has resulted in a sense of wariness about the ride. With Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! set to close for refurbishment soon, there’s hope that it will emerge in 2025 as a smoother, more reliable experience.
According to the Disneyland Resort website, the ride is slated to reopen on March 21, 2025. Hopefully, the ride’s technical problems will be addressed during the hiatus, bringing the attraction back to its original, exhilarating glory.
Have you noticed any issues on Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT!?
