Guardians isn't a sequel though all you pessimists. It also doesn't have any characters from Avengers and it more targeted towards family's, which should make it less front-loaded.
Toy Story 3 was nominated best picture. It was going to win no matter what. But i get you on the pixar think. However Cars/monsters inc didn't win in the years they came out. Monsters university wasn't even nominated (which as a huge shock imo).
But the film is going to bomb. How can you make a snow white film without the title character? And a prequel. Nobody cared enough about the first film for a prequel. A sequel is a much better idea, just recast snow white. I guess they'll get paid a decent amount though.