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

[Stripes]

I'll go out on a limb here and say the week of May 22, 2025 - when Epic U opens officially.

I've only heard vague concepts as of now.

@wdwmagic Seemed to imply that an IP had already been selected. Have you heard the same?

 

[Coaster Lover]

@wdwmagic or @The Mom , time to move this discussion to it's own thread? While it's exciting, it's taken over the Rock 'n' Roller discussion... unless the two are somehow related...

 

[James Alucobond]

I would find this easier to believe than the common suggestion that they're ripping out the Muppets mini land solely to build a new one across the park.

While I would usually agree, it does make some amount of sense in this case due to a few factors. First, a new coaster, which they obviously wanted to build for Monsters, works best on the south side of the park, hence the retheme of the existing area. Second, Aerosmith was due to go sooner or later, and Muppets Mayhem is a super easy vehicle for that. Third, there seems to be some desire to revive MuppetVision in another form, and the Villains venue could eventually work for a similar or related experience. That said, I think that it would remain on a very small scale and never subsume additional land from the Animation Courtyard plot, but I could see RNRC plus the theater becoming a new microland. Just rebuild the fountain in the rear courtyard and you're back with practically zero space wasted on what I assume must've been unpopular Muppets dining and retail considering how long the shop was shuttered.

 

[Andrew25]

I agree. Can’t think of anything BIG for DHS other than a Marvel Land (which is unlikely) or maybe another Star Wars land? Indy is going to AK. Don’t see Avatar going there. Villains is going to MK. I’m assuming we’d know if Disney got the east of the Mississippi Marvel theme park rights from Universal. Yeah so I don’t see what could be BIG other than another Star Wars Land. Zootopia? It’s basically a version of Toontown with a meh looking trackless ride. Lion King? Can Disney do Wakanda at WDW?

EDIT: Then again if they were going to do another Star Wars Land wouldn’t they have put it where Monstropolis is going?

Probably classic Disney properties or more Pixar.

I could see a Fantasy Springs scenario with a different selection of IP. Heck, I think WDW still needs a proper Frozen land.

 

[mickEblu]

Probably classic Disney properties or more Pixar.

I could see a Fantasy Springs scenario with a different selection of IP. Heck, I think WDW still needs a proper Frozen land.

I just don’t feel like any classic Disney properties would get the “big” description. Unless maybe it’s packaged like a Fantasy Springs with three big Disney (or Pixar) IP like Lion King, BATB, Aladdin etc. Even then and as much as the park could use something like this, “big” feels like the wrong adjective. Big to me infers grandiose and based on a somewhat current mega popular franchise/ IP. Potter, Star Wars, Marvel etc. I wonder if Disney is planning or has any sort of answer for Super Nintendo? Didn’t they just partner with Fortnite or something?

 

[Andrew25]

I just don’t feel like any classic Disney properties would get the “big” description. Unless maybe it’s packaged like a Fantasy Springs with three big IP like Lion King, BATB, Aladdin etc. Even then and as much as the park could use something like this, “big” feels like the wrong adjective.

I think using "big" as a description is just a way to say "this is a major project, not something insignificant" to look out for.

I love Universal, as evident by my profile, but even with all of their major additions they still don't get the same level of attention that WDW does. Disney could announce a mini land and get more attention than an entire new Universal park lol

 

[mickEblu]

I think using "big" as a description is just a way to say "this is a major project, not something insignificant" to look out for.

I love Universal, as evident by my profile, but even with all of their major additions they still don't get the same level of attention that WDW does. Disney could announce a mini land and get more attention than an entire new Universal park lol

Maybe. Who said “big” anyway? Haha. Am I just running off one random comment from a friend of a friend or have multiple sources alluded to this being “big.”

 

[Spideeey_24]

I agree. Can’t think of anything BIG for DHS other than a Marvel Land (which is unlikely) or maybe another Star Wars land? Indy is going to AK. Don’t see Avatar going there. Villains is going to MK. I’m assuming we’d know if Disney got the east of the Mississippi Marvel theme park rights from Universal. Yeah so I don’t see what could be BIG other than another Star Wars Land. Zootopia? It’s basically a version of Toontown with a meh looking trackless ride. Lion King? Can Disney do Wakanda at WDW?

EDIT: Then again if they were going to do another Star Wars Land wouldn’t they have put it where Monstropolis is going?

What I can think that could be BIG is the first FOX IPs that isn’t Avatar (APES, Aliens, or Simpsons)

 

[Andrew25]

Maybe. Who said “big” anyway? Haha. Am I just running off one random comment from a friend of a friend or have multiple sources alluded to this being “big.”

Well Len said it was big enough to take away some attention from Epic's opening.

 

[Bocabear]

I think using "big" as a description is just a way to say "this is a major project, not something insignificant" to look out for.

I love Universal, as evident by my profile, but even with all of their major additions they still don't get the same level of attention that WDW does. Disney could announce a mini land and get more attention than an entire new Universal park lol

Maybe....but I am hoping the new Epic will change the landscape a bit...Give WDW the competition they need to push them...

 

[Agent H]

Maybe. Who said “big” anyway? Haha. Am I just running off one random comment from a friend of a friend or have multiple sources alluded to this being “big.”

Well Len said it was big enough to take away some attention from Epic's opening.

I also made use of the word big.

 

[mickEblu]

Well Len said it was big enough to take away some attention from Epic's opening.

Oh ok I forgot about that part. That would seem to indicate that I was on the right track. Not sure anything outside the stuff I mentioned would do that. Imagine they re just announcing that Villains Land is moving to DHS. Haha.

 

[mickEblu]

What I can think that could be BIG is the first FOX IPs that isn’t Avatar (APES, Aliens, or Simpsons)

That would be big in all the wrong ways. Lol.

 

[Bocabear]

Well Len said it was big enough to take away some attention from Epic's opening.

Well they could do another announcement like the re-invention of EPCOT and show a lot of vague artwork for a bunch of things they will never build... Another Blue Sky announcement for something that could possibly be completed in 10-12 years... I think we have all learned to adjust our expectations rather than take them at their word.....

 

[Agent H]

That would be big in all the wrong ways. Lol.

I agree. I don’t want to see a bunch of pg and rated r fox stuff take that spot.

 

[RosR9]

I agree. I don’t want to see a bunch of pg and rated r fox stuff take that spot.

Why am I worried they’re gonna do something like Fortnite-land

 

[Surferboy567]

New thread or old animation courtyard thread resurrection

 

[BrianLo]

I don't think a Tomorrowland Re Do is a big spend, but a big project reveal at the show. I wouldn't consider a new vision for the area as "showing up empty handed".

I didn’t mean your 2028 project roadmap by empty handed, but the 2026 one.

Maybe 2026 is Figment or a new Country's year.

More so this would be my expectation. Tomorrowland (at Disneyland) or Figment would be an adequate keynote closer. The stars seem moderately aligned for Figment and Disneyland is asymmetrically sitting this current round out.

 

[Andrew25]

More so this would be my expectation. Tomorrowland (at Disneyland) or Figment would be an adequate keynote closer. The stars seem moderately aligned for Figment and Disneyland is asymmetrically sitting this current round out.

Tomorrowland projects not announced at either resort indicates to me that they're looking to tackle both at the same time.

Them emphasizing that Cars will have a 2nd attraction catered to young children's desire to drive, showed me that they're looking at getting rid of the Speedway at some point.

 

[BrianLo]

if this is true, and we are getting AC announcements this year in addition to what’s happening already …..

What the hell do they have planned for the second half of the ten years?

I dunno man. This is kinda sus. Even if Len is trustworthy.

I keep swinging back to what we have announced currently for this decade, is not actually that impressive decade on decade.

Especially if you buy into Villains isn’t coming this decade (I don’t, but many do).

The Animal Kingdom project cycle is less than their Pandora spending package. Hollywood Studios is currently significantly less than the DHS overhaul. Epcot is certainly lesser than (though really wasn’t earnestly announced until starting in 2017). Only Magic Kingdom has a strong investment package. But I see those more as a Galaxy Edge substitution, mixed with a bonus extra attraction.

There’s still plenty of time for more things to work their way through for this Decade. Which I expect. We should see 150% more project output at 200% of the money… if they spend it.

DCL Replacements for Magic/Wonder

On that note, I definitely expect they’ll order 2-3 more (5-6 total) of their newest build if they prove successful. They are sized correctly to replace Magic and Wonder ultimately. Seems like they can go under the Lions Gate Bridge.

3 plays off like ‘we are replacing and expanding’ to Wall Street. Plus ultimately at their tonnage they are “cheap-ish”.