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

[Epcot82Guy]

I got to ride it last night (as my last 3 recent attempts ended with ride downtime). I still love the ride. Hot take, it's my number 1 or 2 coaster on property tied with Tron. But, all that aside, I think this will come down to execution.

1. I really think this needs to anchor a new Muppets Courtyard. This on its own will make no sense.
2. That would also open the door to a range of attractions. RnRC for the older crowd. Ideally, MuppetVision for everyone. And a couple kid sipinners - as others have suggested. (And, ideally a restaurant of some type.) It wouldn't take much rearrangement to do that.
3. Assuming 1 and 2 are met - RnRC needs to have some edge! This is my biggest fear. RnRC works because it feels a little LA. Even the songs have some edge/incorrectness to it. That's Rock. And, without that, this will not be a compelling attraction. The story can't be just cute and surface with "safe" jokes. It needs a little risk. (And I fear that current Disney management sees absolutely no value in emotional risk.)

 

[The Leader of the Club]

I find it funny that you use two Muppet properties that Disney doesn’t own to show how Disney worsened the muppets

My point was that Disney isn’t necessarily the reason the muppets aren’t in their heyday, as evidenced by non-Disney Henson properties also struggling.

 

[Basil of Baker Street]

My point was that Disney isn’t necessarily the reason the muppets aren’t in their heyday, as evidenced by non-Disney Henson properties also struggling.

Muppets were competitive against 2D animation. Today, both struggle.

 

[BlindChow]

1. I really think this needs to anchor a new Muppets Courtyard. This on its own will make no sense.

The Muppets recording at G-Force Records makes exactly as much sense as Aerosmith recording at G-Force Records.

 

[Smoky]

I got to ride it last night (as my last 3 recent attempts ended with ride downtime). I still love the ride. Hot take, it's my number 1 or 2 coaster on property tied with Tron. But, all that aside, I think this will come down to execution.

1. I really think this needs to anchor a new Muppets Courtyard. This on its own will make no sense.
2. That would also open the door to a range of attractions. RnRC for the older crowd. Ideally, MuppetVision for everyone. And a couple kid sipinners - as others have suggested. (And, ideally a restaurant of some type.) It wouldn't take much rearrangement to do that.
3. Assuming 1 and 2 are met - RnRC needs to have some edge! This is my biggest fear. RnRC works because it feels a little LA. Even the songs have some edge/incorrectness to it. That's Rock. And, without that, this will not be a compelling attraction. The story can't be just cute and surface with "safe" jokes. It needs a little risk. (And I fear that current Disney management sees absolutely no value in emotional risk.)

I agree. RnRC is a great coaster and I'll really miss its current form (I also really love Aerosmith). I love the load station/launch area as it did such a good job of capturing that old LA grunginess before it became the world's biggest dump. Unfortunately nuDis has proven they're completely allergic to any sort of conflict or edge so I expect the refurb to have all of the soul scrubbed out of it and the music to be replaced with bubblegum pop ""rock songs"" that are super safe from bands that are controversy free.

 

[Andrew C]

The Muppets recording at G-Force Records makes exactly as much sense as Aerosmith recording at G-Force Records.

I thought G-Force filed for bankruptcy last year.

 

[Sir_Cliff]

I still feel pretty mixed on this one. It was never one of my favourite attractions, in part because I didn't really connect at all to the Aerosmith theming as they kind of don't mean anything to me. Honestly, I think they mostly came onto my radar for I Don't Want to Miss A Thing. That may be due to not being American, though, where it seems they are more part of the culture. There was also something about it that just didn't feel like a Disney attraction, from the theming to the execution.

I do like The Muppets, but this seems another case to me where you wouldn't build this if you were designing a Muppets attraction from scratch or the roller coaster from scratch. They just have something they want/need to re-theme. It does seem an odd fit to make one of the more intense rides at WDW a Muppets ride considering that's not really their vibe, but I don't know what the Muppet demographic is these days.

Anyway, we'll see. On a personal level, I'm sure I'll like the Muppets theming more than I liked the Aerosmith theming, so that's something.

 

[Basil of Baker Street]

"this seems another case to me where you wouldn't build this if you were designing a Muppets attraction from scratch or the roller coaster from scratch. They just have something they want/need to re-theme. It does seem an odd fit to make one of the more intense rides at WDW a Muppets ride considering that's not really their vibe, but I don't know what the Muppet demographic is these days."

I don't think many would disagree with that statement.

 

[BlindChow]

I do like The Muppets, but this seems another case to me where you wouldn't build this if you were designing a Muppets attraction from scratch or the roller coaster from scratch. They just have something they want/need to re-theme. ...

I think it makes more sense if you think of it as an "Electric Mayhem attraction" rather than a straight-up Muppet attraction. I think if they were just trying to cram as many Muppets from the original show in there, the theme would be much more tenuous.

 

[Brer Panther]

Muppets were competitive against 2D animation. Today, both struggle.

WHY, though? Is it simply because they're not CGI?

Somehow, I doubt that a Muppet movie where the Muppets are CGI a la Alvin and the Chipmunks or The Smurfs would do better at the box office than the 2011 movie did.

 

[WorldExplorer]

I think it makes more sense if you think of it as an "Electric Mayhem attraction" rather than a straight-up Muppet attraction. I think if they were just trying to cram as many Muppets from the original show in there, the theme would be much more tenuous.

I think that just makes it feel more shoehorned. There's no way they would be making an Electric Mayhem focused ride if they weren't forcing the IP into an existing ride. Didn't the show just bomb and end after one season? If the Muppets' popularity as a whole is questionable then they're definitely not popular enough.

 

[Basil of Baker Street]

WHY, though? Is it simply because they're not CGI?

Somehow, I doubt that a Muppet movie where the Muppets are CGI a la Alvin and the Chipmunks or The Smurfs would do better at the box office than the 2011 movie did.

Yeah. I guess.

 

[Cmdr_Crimson]

WHY, though? Is it simply because they're not CGI?

Somehow, I doubt that a Muppet movie where the Muppets are CGI a la Alvin and the Chipmunks or The Smurfs would do better at the box office than the 2011 movie did.

Can't unsee the uncanny valley in this.. As yes the Henson Digital Puppet side is used for previous shows. Including the creation of Waldo with it. But, CG Miss Piggy or other characters just seem a little off with their movement...

 

[TheMaxRebo]

I think it makes more sense if you think of it as an "Electric Mayhem attraction" rather than a straight-up Muppet attraction. I think if they were just trying to cram as many Muppets from the original show in there, the theme would be much more tenuous.

I definitely think they Mayhem fit the theme of a rock and roll rollercoaster quite well ... But just another point to why this shouldn't be the only Muppets attraction in the park. If you had something with Kermit, etc that is more approachable to all members of the family and then the Mayhem ride that skews a little older that totally works

 

[Incomudro]

I think it makes more sense if you think of it as an "Electric Mayhem attraction" rather than a straight-up Muppet attraction. I think if they were just trying to cram as many Muppets from the original show in there, the theme would be much more tenuous.

Yes, as I've made obvious while I wish this wasn't happening - I do believe that the way Muppet things often devolve into chaotic mayhem at the end is the reason this will work.
Plus the is the Muppet band ride, not the Kermit the Frog ride.
There is a difference

 

[BlindChow]

Yes, as I've made obvious while I wish this wasn't happening - I do believe that the way Muppet things often devolve into chaotic mayhem at the end is the reason this will work.
Plus the is the Muppet band ride, not the Kermit the Frog ride.
There is a difference

I also think the "painted flats illuminated by blacklights" set-pieces during the ride itself are much more in the exaggerated spirit of the Muppets than they were a ride where you were supposed to be going to an actual Aerosmith concert. (Think all the "cartoony" decor that littered Muppet Courtyard way back when...)

 

[Kamikaze]

Can't unsee the uncanny valley in this.. As yes the Henson Digital Puppet side is used for previous shows. Including the creation of Waldo with it. But, CG Miss Piggy or other characters just seem a little off with their movement...

This is ELEVEN YEARS OLD.

Absolutely bonkers to say 'these old graphics aren't as good as new graphics'.

 

[𝐌𝖆𝖓 𝖎𝖓 𝐖𝖊𝖇]

Can't unsee the uncanny valley in this.. As yes the Henson Digital Puppet side is used for previous shows. Including the creation of Waldo with it. But, CG Miss Piggy or other characters just seem a little off with their movement...

 

[Epcot82Guy]

I definitely think they Mayhem fit the theme of a rock and roll rollercoaster quite well ... But just another point to why this shouldn't be the only Muppets attraction in the park. If you had something with Kermit, etc that is more approachable to all members of the family and then the Mayhem ride that skews a little older that totally works

This is a much better way of stating my point. I fully agree. Not that it CAN'T work on its own. But, using this as the "upper" draw with another "broad" draw audience-wise would really be a cool addition.

And, as @BlindChow said, the general Muppets idea would actually make the exaggerated cartoonish version of LA make even more sense. I've always enjoyed that story/effect personally, and this would be a situation where adding the IP would actually IMPROVE the storytelling (with some tweaks/additions, of course).

 

[WondersOfLife]

Pretty sure everyone agrees this area needs to be a full fledged new muppet courtyard. This thread has just been a circle of "Coaster would be fine if they add Muppet Vision" loop since it was announced. Nothing new here.