Disney Confirms Muppets Take Over Rock 'n' Roller Coaster at Hollywood Studios

Nov 22, 2024 in "Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith"

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Muppets will be taking over Rock 'n' Roller Coaster

Posted: Friday November 22, 2024 10:11am ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

Disney has officially announced that the Muppets will be taking over Rock 'n' Roller Coaster at Disney's Hollywood Studios, replacing Aerosmith. The news comes after years of speculation about the future of Aerosmith's involvement with the popular thrill ride at Walt Disney World.

Muppets will be taking over Rock 'n' Roller Coaster

The first hint of a Muppets-themed makeover came from Jeff Yorkes, co-creator of "The Muppets Mayhem" on Disney+. Back in June 2023, Yorkes hinted at the idea on Twitter, responding to a rumor article with, "Not gonna lie-- this was absolutely part of our original pitch and is another piece of this dream. Fingers-crossed that it happens."

Rock 'n' Roller Coaster, known for its high-speed thrills and iconic rock soundtrack, recently reopened after an extensive refurbishment. The ride improvements focused on the ride system and lighting, but kept the Aerosmith storyline intact—at least for now. With Disney's announcement, the coaster will soon feature a new Muppets-themed experience, adding fresh energy and humor to one of Walt Disney World's fan-favorite thrill rides.

Rock 'n' Roller Coaster overview

This announcement coincides with another major shift for the Muppets at Disney's Hollywood Studios. Disney has also confirmed that MuppetVision 3D will close to make way for the upcoming Monsters Inc. Land.

Details on the new Muppets storyline for Rock 'n' Roller Coaster are still under wraps, but Disney says "The Muppets will be taking over Rock 'n' Roller Coaster, teaming up with some of music's biggest stars for a rockin' music festival!"

Disney has yet to give a closing date for the current version of Rock 'n' Roller Coaster, but for now, fans of Aerosmith's iconic coaster have a limited time to catch their favorite band in action before the Muppets bring their unique twist to this high-speed adventure.

Rock 'n' Roller Coaster overview

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James Alucobond1 hour ago

You’re talking about two different parks. Hollywood Studios is going in the direction of single-IP lands everywhere that isn’t along the entry-to-Fantasmic corridor. Magic Kingdom is not. The comparison is irrelevant.

Cmdr_Crimson5 hours ago

Besides there is a Muppet Mini land already in Sea World..They should go along with that as an idea...

WorldExplorer5 hours ago

That's the post hoc thing they came up with after they started completely disregarding the original theme and going with the movie lands. The important thing is this: no one is holding them to anything, everything they do is their choice, and they do not care. All you need to see is any other replacement to reinforce that. Cars is going in Frontierland, but Monsters getting a single ride on its own is completely unacceptable? No. If they wanted Muppet Vision around they could keep Muppet Vision around. So while Disney couldn't be bothered to reopen their store for five years, is taking away their quick service, sells almost no merchandise for them, and is taking away the show made by their creator with some vague claims that they're discussing doing something maybe that might make fans less upset possibly (again, DISCUSSING, they have said nothing about actually doing anything), they are totally going to spend a ton of money making a brand new Muppet mini land on the opposite end of the park from where they already had one, all for thematic integrity, which they suddenly care about despite spitting on it in every other park? And the evidence is that they're using them for a cheapo retheme on something that'll draw a crowd no matter what because it's a rollercoaster? That is not going to happen. I would bet anything on it.

Cmdr_Crimson5 hours ago

An interesting one at that park I mention is a ride based around the more recent Planet of the Apes movies ...It's basically a Spiderman-esque ride.

Streetway Again5 hours ago

What are we even talking about anymore?

WaluigiTime5 hours ago

Runaway Railway only fits (not well) because they shoehorned it into the existing building. That is what Hollywood Studios is now, shoehorning things into the "stepping into the movies theme."

Andrew255 hours ago

Yeah, Echo Lake is going to be interesting later on in this decade of investment. No need for Indiana Jones (dated and will "move" to DAK) Star Tours isn't as popular anymore and the dining options are a bit lackluster. I just wonder what happens to ABC Commissary, Sci-Fi Drive In and Baseline. They're out of the way of major projects, so I have to imagine it stays like it is now.

James Alucobond5 hours ago

The theme of the park is in transition to stepping into worlds from film. An isolated Monsters coaster doesn't further that, but a Monsters miniland does. I expect they'll leave the park core along Hollywood and Sunset alone, but with this change and a possible Animation Courtyard update, they'll be four worlds in on the path to a full transformation. The Muppets, luckily, work pretty well with the existing theming of the core, like Tower of Terror and Runaway Railway. I assume the goal is that Echo Lake or just beyond eventually becomes a fifth film destination.

Ayla5 hours ago

I was thinking the exact same thing. It reeks of desperation.

Gusey5 hours ago

If Disney did announce something major for Animation Courtyard the week Epic Universe opens, iI don't think it would look good. It almost comes across as a petty and a little desperate to announce something the week that the US opens the first new large-scale theme park in over 25 years.

TheMaxRebo5 hours ago

Maybe they mean Big literally

Andrew255 hours ago

I'm sure Fox properties will trickle down into the parks over time, but I don't think there is a mandate to do so. A lot of classic Disney IPs are far more successful and easier to translate into a park experience

Cmdr_Crimson5 hours ago

Well, there is a theme park already Called Genting Skyworld's and has land and rides themed to 20th Century & Blue Sky Studios..

WorldExplorer6 hours ago

They want to build a Monsters rollercoaster: no part of that requires retheming the entire place, especially as they continue to show they don't care about theme any more. They could build the rollercoaster and keep Muppets, but they're not. It's not just a matter of whether or not it's technically possible to pull off; an important aspect is whether or not they WANT to. They clearly do not. Rock 'n Rollercoaster -> Muppets being cheap and easy sounds like the exact opposite of solid reasoning for people to come to the conclusion that they want to invest MORE in Muppets. They've made vague noises about discussing maybe doing something preservation-y with Muppets, which could be anything from prop reuse to slapping a video on Disney Plus. It's only fans who have come to the conclusion that means they'll go through the time and effort of completely rebuilding it somewhere else. And yes, retrofitting a building that does not have the infrastructure to house Muppet Vision to house Muppet Vision is essentially rebuilding the entire thing regardless of there technically being a shell there already. Zero SPACE wasted: many millions of dollars, lots of time, and a lot of ugly walls and logistics issues for zero gain, though.