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

[bmr1591]

The other site is reporting the aim is to reopen RnRc for Memorial Day. I suppose most of the complex work of the pre-show has been going on since December, so I'm not totally surprised painting and set decoration isn't taking much time.

 

[Touchdown]

You're overthinking it. ToT is from the 1930s. The original RnRC was basically set in the present to visit Aerosmith. Now's it's the Muppets. You walk around a corner, out of view of the RnRC entrance to enter ToT anyway.

ToT place in time is not the 1930s, it is present day. The incident took place in 1939, but as Rod says in the preshow “the time is now” the hotel has just reopened and they are trying to get it up and running again after the place was abandoned for nearly a century. That’s why the lobby has cob webs and the grounds are still in disrepair.

 

[wdwmagic]

Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Targets Memorial Day Opening But Disney Announces No Official Date​

Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Targets Memorial Day Opening But Disney Announces No Official Date

Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Targets Memorial Day Opening But Disney Announces No Official Date

www.wdwmagic.com

 

[JohnD]

ToT place in time is not the 1930s, it is present day. The incident took place in 1939, but as Rod says in the preshow “the time is now” the hotel has just reopened and they are trying to get it up and running again after the place was abandoned for nearly a century. That’s why the lobby has cob webs and the grounds are still in disrepair.

Thanks for the clarification. So if both RnRC and ToT are in the present day, I don't understand the concern about clash in themes (not you), especially since we had the Aerosmith version for so long.

 

[Movielover]

Oh for sure! Is there an actual timeline for sunset? There’s a few contradictions. Trolley wire is still up, but trolley tracks are partially paved over so at least some trolley lines are now out of service. But red car trolley service is still being advertised so that’s before 1961.

So it seems sunset is 1945-55 era?

You're overthinking it. ToT is from the 1930s. The original RnRC was basically set in the present to visit Aerosmith. Now's it's the Muppets. You walk around a corner, out of view of the RnRC entrance to enter ToT anyway.

Sunset Blvd moves through time.

To quote myself from a post I made in 2023:
"Sunset Blvd. actually changes time periods as you walk down it. The junction of Sunset and Hollywood Blvd. is set in the golden age of Hollywood, the 30's. Once you past the Carthay Circle you move into the 40's represented by Rosie's All American Cafe and the Victory Gardens (and also where the Who Framed Roger Rabbit attraction, which takes place in 47, was suppose to be). Before moving into the 90's which Rock N Rollercoaster takes place, before ending with Tower of Terror which takes place in the present, or as Rod Serling says "The time is now on an evening very much like the one we have just witnessed" Long after the hotel has been abandoned.

More recent updates and such have washed over this setting but the idea of Sunset Blvd. is that you are moving through time."

With The Muppet's having been icons of pop culture throughout multiple decades I don't see any issues with Sunset's timeline where it is.

 

[Touchdown]

Thanks for the clarification. So if both RnRC and ToT are in the present day, I don't understand the concern about clash in themes (not you), especially since we had the Aerosmith version for so long.

That’s why I’ve never had a problem with it either. I’m completely with you.

 

[ToTBellHop]

What do we think will change inside the building with this brief closure? Is there even enough time to change out the sets in the ride building? Or just repaint everything and move on?

 

[HMF]

What do we think will change inside the building with this brief closure? Is there even enough time to change out the sets in the ride building? Or just repaint everything and move on?

There are not many actual sets to begin with.

 

[sedati]

What do we think will change inside the building with this brief closure? Is there even enough time to change out the sets in the ride building? Or just repaint everything and move on?

I'd love it if they enclosed and themed the covered queue. I don't think that's happening, but I could see some screens installed to play some Muppet content to set up the story. I'm sure muppety touches will be added to the interior. I'd love it if the exterior building was given a bit of patina/aging. Most locales in the Muppet world look very lived-in if not downright delapidated.

 

[jubstice]

Sad, not that anyone was expecting a Tiana's level retheme, but the fact that they're likely not going to really muppetize the space is sad. So many opportunities for fun Muppet gags, like how 3D was.

 

[HMF]

Sad, not that anyone was expecting a Tiana's level retheme, but the fact that they're likely not going to really muppetize the space is sad. So many opportunities for fun Muppet gags, like how 3D was.

If it was a Tiana's level re-theme it would actually be a cause for concern.

 

[ToTBellHop]

If it was a Tiana's level re-theme it would actually be a cause for concern.

I fear the only compelling change will be the preshow.

 

[Disney Analyst]

I really don’t imagine much changing apart from paint, set dec, the updated preshow, updated audio etc.

 

[Disney Analyst]

The other site - I think it’s looking groovy man.

 

[sedati]

Sad, not that anyone was expecting a Tiana's level retheme, but the fact that they're likely not going to really muppetize the space is sad. So many opportunities for fun Muppet gags, like how 3D was.

We won’t know until it opens. And if they’re pushing to reopen fast I’d say that there may be elements added after the reopening- nothing major, but props and details have been installed overnight even when an atraigas fully opened to the public.

 

[lazyboy97o]

I fear the only compelling change will be the preshow.

What indication has there ever been that it would entail more? It’s been clear for awhile that the basic story structure wasn’t changing too much.

 

[dlfan1313]

I'm sure everyone is tired of me spouting the same dribble, but this sounds so cheap.

 

[James Alucobond]

I'm sure everyone is tired of me spouting the same dribble, but this sounds so cheap.

I mean, it’s cheap in the way that a re-theme of this attraction was always going to be cheap regardless of who they selected as the new musician/ensemble host. The bulk of the ride is comprised of completely nondescript Hollywood flats, and the narrative was already announced to be exactly the same aside from the audio and pre-show.

 

[Marc Davis Fan]

You're overthinking it. ToT is from the 1930s. The original RnRC was basically set in the present to visit Aerosmith. Now's it's the Muppets. You walk around a corner, out of view of the RnRC entrance to enter ToT anyway.

I was not referring to the timelines. (Indeed, ToT is set in the present day just like RnRC—the hotel was abandoned in 1939.)

I was talking about the aesthetic and emotional impact of an increased visual intrusion from the new color scheme.

WDI set the archway back and designed it to blend in with Sunset Blvd (including the car not being noticeable until you’re closer to the archway) precisely to avoid negatively impacting the Tower of Terror’s approach experience. It was an example of WDI being deeply thoughtful about the aesthetic integration of new builds, something that differentiated Disney from other operators. I hope that is not lost with these changes.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

I’ve never seen tower as present day. When he says “the time is now” I’ve never interpreted that as in the 2000’s - but rather the present day of sunset Blvd / vintage Hollywood outside.

Back to muppets….. I wonder if it will be presented as a “modern day” Dr. Teeth? I’m guessing so with the reboot. But the car is giving me original muppet vibes - which I love.