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

[erasure fan1]

Counterpoint, RNRC has usually always had a good amount of ride specific merch. Yes the muppet vision store slowly lost all its good muppet stuff, but that trend of merch homogenization happened all across the parks. Disney is spending the money to retheme RNRC, fresh rethemed merch doesn’t seem like it’d be too far out of realm to happen as well

As I said, I will gladly take the L on my opinion. But like most things with Disney, at least for me, it's I'll believe it when I see it. Disney promises a lot of things with new rides/lands... Just look at how often they don't deliver.

I do think we will see new merch when the ride opens. If they don't, they will most likely raked over the coals by the fans. The real question is how long does the merch continue? When the hype dies down will it all go back to the homogenized strategy they have now? I think history is in favor of a definite most likely. There will always be your basic Kermit and piggy merch. But let's face it, is that what most fans want? Not really.

 

[Basil of Baker Street]

As I said, I will gladly take the L on my opinion. But like most things with Disney, at least for me, it's I'll believe it when I see it. Disney promises a lot of things with new rides/lands... Just look at how often they don't deliver.

I do think we will see new merch when the ride opens. If they don't, they will most likely raked over the coals by the fans. The real question is how long does the merch continue? When the hype dies down will it all go back to the homogenized strategy they have now? I think history is in favor of a definite most likely. There will always be your basic Kermit and piggy merch. But let's face it, is that what most fans want? Not really.

Agreed. And a quick "Muppets" search on the Disney Store returns a paltry 33 items. 17 being tee shirts.

 

[erasure fan1]

Agreed. And a quick "Muppets" search on the Disney Store returns a paltry 33 items. 17 being tee shirts.

We spent a week at Saratoga this summer. No parks, just a resort stay and we visited all but two resorts. Here's what they had Muppets
*4 pins plus a animal pin as part of a set
*A strange Kermit plush, maybe a pillow?
*A fake Stanley with Kermit
*A Kermit silver dollar looking coin
*Two art pieces in Disney springs
No shirts, no standard plush, no ornaments, no figures, no ears, no bags. It was embarrassing really. Nothing about this last trip gave me any confidence they'll support the Muppets with a good merch push.

 

[Brer Panther]

*A fake Stanley with Kermit

This Stanley?

 

[Disney Dead Head]

From the January Parks Blog

Monsters and Muppet Updates for Hollywood Studios

Enter the world of Monsters, Inc. when it is added to the south side of Hollywood Studios, while The Muppets move to Sunset Boulevard.

disneyparksblog.com

I give this overlay of the muppets like 2 years. I would take Olivia Rodrigo over the Muppets, and I am a huge Aerosmith Fan I will for sure be skipping it.

 

[mattpeto]

I give this overlay of the muppets like 2 years. I would take Olivia Rodrigo over the Muppets, and I am a huge Aerosmith Fan I will for sure be skipping it.

Such delusional takes. But hey, that's what make these forums special.

Do you think people love RnR because of Aerosmith?

Even if the overlay is horrible (I mean the pre-show is an improvement in concept art), the bones of this attraction will be popular enough for them not re-invent the wheel within 2 years.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Such delusional takes. But hey, that's what make these forums special.

Do you think people love RnR because of Aerosmith?

Even if the overlay is horrible (I mean the pre-show is an improvement in concept art), the bones of this attraction will be popular enough for them not re-invent the wheel within 2 years.

In theory they should be able to update it occasionally with new songs too to keep it fresh

 

[jah4955]

We spent a week at Saratoga this summer. No parks, just a resort stay and we visited all but two resorts. Here's what they had Muppets
*4 pins plus a animal pin as part of a set
*A strange Kermit plush, maybe a pillow?
*A fake Stanley with Kermit
*A Kermit silver dollar looking coin
*Two art pieces in Disney springs
No shirts, no standard plush, no ornaments, no figures, no ears, no bags. It was embarrassing really. Nothing about this last trip gave me any confidence they'll support the Muppets with a good merch push.

I realize Muppets aren't at their late 70's-early 80's peak, but with all the merchandising they do for all their other random IPs, they could still make bank diversifying Muppets merchandising.

 

[Basil of Baker Street]

I realize Muppets aren't at their late 70's-early 80's peak, but with all the merchandising they do for all their other random IPs, they could still make bank diversifying Muppets merchandising.

The problem is what do they do to make the merchandise popular? Movies don't seem to resonate with the general population. Relying solely on the attraction isn't the answer.

 

[BrianLo]

For what it’s worth, they did have a rather robust Muppets merch section at D23. I think like second to Villains at the Disney Studio store. But perhaps they know their audience. I bought a muppets studios spirit jersey.

 

[jah4955]

The problem is what do they do to make the merchandise popular? Movies don't seem to resonate with the general population. Relying solely on the attraction isn't the answer.

Agreed, as they have much merch on non-attraction IPs. For example, Marie merch is still huge, but the Aristocats never had an attraction.

 

[The Leader of the Club]

The problem is what do they do to make the merchandise popular? Movies don't seem to resonate with the general population. Relying solely on the attraction isn't the answer.

The secret, and this will probably come as a surprise to Disney, is to make good merchandise. People will buy merch just because it’s cute. I worked in merch last year and I saw so many kids buying plush of Marie or Bolt without knowing those characters’ names. Tons of people walk around those stores and say “I remember that, maybe I should watch that again when we get home,” or “I should show that movie to my kids.”

 

[Incomudro]

This Stanley?

View attachment 881503​

I forgot all about him!
Loved this show.
I used to watch this show with my son's when they were little.

 

[erasure fan1]

I realize Muppets aren't at their late 70's-early 80's peak, but with all the merchandising they do for all their other random IPs, they could still make bank diversifying Muppets merchandising.

I completely agree. There's a ton of unique things they could do. They just choose not to.

The problem is what do they do to make the merchandise popular? Movies don't seem to resonate with the general population. Relying solely on the attraction isn't the answer.

There's nostalgia there for a lot of people. Unfortunately it's been mostly mediocre content for a extremely long time. Part of the issue is Disney doesn't know what to do with the Muppets aside from breaking them out for a guest appearance on an award show or special, or a commercial. So until Disney decides to try, there's really no chance the Muppets go any further than what they are now.

The secret, and this will probably come as a surprise to Disney, is to make good merchandise. People will buy merch just because it’s cute.

Very true. It's funny when people here say, well Muppets doesn't sell! Can we really say that? They haven't given a crap about the merch in nearly 20yrs. You don't need hundreds of different Muppet items. And you sure is heck don't need the same Kermit and piggy plush you can buy anywhere. Don't just slap a Kermit on a water bottle and call it a day. The Muppet fans don't want that.

 

[Basil of Baker Street]

I completely agree. There's a ton of unique things they could do. They just choose not to.

There's nostalgia there for a lot of people. Unfortunately it's been mostly mediocre content for a extremely long time. Part of the issue is Disney doesn't know what to do with the Muppets aside from breaking them out for a guest appearance on an award show or special, or a commercial. So until Disney decides to try, there's really no chance the Muppets go any further than what they are now.

Very true. It's funny when people here say, well Muppets doesn't sell! Can we really say that? They haven't given a crap about the merch in nearly 20yrs. You don't need hundreds of different Muppet items. And you sure is heck don't need the same Kermit and piggy plush you can buy anywhere. Don't just slap a Kermit on a water bottle and call it a day. The Muppet fans don't want that.

The heart of the issue I see is the Muppets in its true from is puppeteering which just seems dead. Could Disney revamp the Muppets into anime or something else, who knows. I don't recall what Disney paid for IP and I'm sure thye made their money back.

My question is are the Muppets an IP that Disney would be willing to sell if a buyer came along. I say that because they seem very uninterested in doing anything with it even though they would ask way too much and have a ton of clauses in the sale. Or are they complacent to just own it so no one else can.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

The heart of the issue I see is the Muppets in its true from is puppeteering which just seems dead.

It’s not like puppets have ever been particularly popular - Jim Henson and Sherri Lewis were the only ones who made them particularly popular as far as household names and recognizable characters.

I don’t really understand the idea that muppets are not popular - they have kind of always existed where they are.

 

[jah4955]

I completely agree. There's a ton of unique things they could do. They just choose not to.

There's nostalgia there for a lot of people. Unfortunately it's been mostly mediocre content for a extremely long time. Part of the issue is Disney doesn't know what to do with the Muppets aside from breaking them out for a guest appearance on an award show or special, or a commercial. So until Disney decides to try, there's really no chance the Muppets go any further than what they are now.

Very true. It's funny when people here say, well Muppets doesn't sell! Can we really say that? They haven't given a crap about the merch in nearly 20yrs. You don't need hundreds of different Muppet items. And you sure is heck don't need the same Kermit and piggy plush you can buy anywhere. Don't just slap a Kermit on a water bottle and call it a day. The Muppet fans don't want that.

I just remembered that shortly before Disney's purchase stores were selling action figures of many of the Muppet Show characters...including relatively obscure ones like The Newscaster. I'm not a "toy guy," but I know it's arguably as big a thing as ever...especially with adults wanting to relive childhood nostalgia.

 

[HMF]

The heart of the issue I see is the Muppets in its true from is puppeteering which just seems dead. .

Puppeteering is just as dead as traditional animation. It's mostly dead at Disney but not dead as an art form to those who appreciate it.

 

[Disgruntled Walt]

I'd definitely by a Walter dressed in RnR garb --- Muppets Merch would fly off the shelves IMO.

No offense, but nobody cares about Walter. They should bring Rizzo back. Walter is not funny or interesting in the way a classic Muppet character is.

 

[Basil of Baker Street]

I don’t really understand the idea that muppets are not popular - they have kind of always existed where they are.

Popular as in people know who they are?