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

[drkarcher22]

Anyone know what happened to the Kermit balloon after they got rid of it? Be nice if they could put it back up atop The RnR building, unless it messes with sight lines again

 

[hopemax]

I’ve know about this for a week. What a disaster.

A friend admitted, after the news broke, they were told 2 months ago during a project meeting, and had to stop themselves from crying during the meeting.

I find this a weird option. I am a huge Muppets fan because I was a kid during the original show. But I was a little kid, end of Gen X. I'm going to be 49 this year, so I imagine a lot of OG Muppet fans are going to be older than me. But I've stopped riding RnRC because it gives me such a bad headache. I love coasters, but for some reason (maybe, it's my height) my head just bangs on the restraints. Anyway, I'm not sure how much my age cohort will be riding things like RnRC. It seems like there should be a long list of ways to make Muppets more accessible to OG fans, and younger kids than this. DHS seems like it will be the prototype of how Disney wants their parks to operate going forward, with LL on everything or just a frustrating experience if you don't. So congrats, Disney, you've turned WDW into a 3-park place for me.

 

[WaltsTreasureChest]

It’s clear they’re giving the attraction an exciting Muppets re-theme to appease disappointed fans, but the concept of a Muppets Rock 'n' Roller Coaster feels very much like something Michael Eisner would have proposed—random and almost very outlandish way to use an IP, like a scrapped idea that never quite made it. Interesting to see what would come out of it

 

[WorldExplorer]

Interesting suggestion from Disney Dan. Wonder if this happens?

"No no, it's not cheap, it's an HOMAGE!"

 

[Lilofan]

I guess you can say Muppets is

“Going dowwwwnnn”

Spot the reference

The patriotic quote by Sam Eagle should stay

A salute to all nations but mostly America.

 

[doctornick]

So, one interesting aspect to me is that there was some heavy rumors here from insiders about RNR getting an Incredibles re-theme (it was very clearly implied without being clearly stated). I wonder if that was a real alternative for RNR or just blue sky or if there might have been wires crossed and is Incredibles going somewhere else in DHS?

 

[seabreezept813]

The main reason I’m bummed about all of this is because we are losing something for all ages. HS is the worst park for families and nothing is really being done to fix that. Just give us some dark rides already!!

Yup this brings the number of attractions my kids will do that aren’t stage shows down to 3. What a joke. Worst park for families with littles, disabilities, etc. Muppet Vision was charming for the whole family.

 

[doctornick]

Yup this brings the number of attractions my kids will do that aren’t stage shows down to 3. What a joke. Worst park for families with littles, disabilities, etc. Muppet Vision was charming for the whole family.

The MV theater is being reused with some sort of Monsters show, so ultimately the park will have the same number of attractions that your kids will do as now (assuming that the Door Coaster wouldn't be an option).

 

[seabreezept813]

If the new show is good, we keep the all-ages show and add a coaster with a 40-42” height requirement. Not my first pick for the park (boat ride with no requirement) but not terrible.

The thing is despite height it can take kids a while to like thrill attractions. My super tall 6 year old won’t get on Slinky. So still crappy for people with toddler and preschool kids.

 

[CaptinEO]

I feel things like Rock n Roller Coaster, Dinosaur, and Test Track appealed to teens and adults by branching outside of normal Disney characters and properties. Making Rock N Roller Coaster the muppets to me lessens the appeal of the ride.

What else is hilarious to me is the muppets fans aren't even into this announcement either. Seems like a lose lose scenario. I will say at least its better than Avengers or Pixar.

 

[doctornick]

I understand the significance of it being Henson's last show and all, but I'm actually more upset about losing ITTBAB than MV3D. Bugs has IMHO been the best 4D show that Disney has done.

 

[Disney Analyst]

I understand the significance of it being Henson's last show and all, but I'm actually more upset about losing ITTBAB than MV3D. Bugs has IMHO been the best 4D show that Disney has done.

Now this I can get behind. ITTBAB is such a fun experience.

 

[Mr. Sullivan]

Do Muppets appeal to a younger generation or are they more for adults now?

Me personally I think they appeal more to adults and they do the kids, and that I feel is part of what influence this decision. I truly think the bulk of the audience who is interested in the Muppets is going to be an older audience that this height requirement does’t matter for.

 

[Dranth]

Go over to Universal and type in 902 to the secret rip ride rockit song list (push and then hold the Rockit logo on the pad wait 5 -10 seconds to bring up a number keypad.) and you get "Rainbow Connection", go ahead and prepare yourself for the ride that way. (901 is moving right along)

But then you would have to ride rip ride rockit.

 

[cml4314]

I was thinking just this - I'm not too in touch with the little kid demographic, but I figured the Muppet audience skewed a bit older than this forum seems to think.

Not to mention, it's not like we're cutting off THAT MANY kids. I was able to ride RnRC at 6 years old, and I've always been shorter than average. Might some 6 year-olds be too scared for this kind of coaster? Maybe, but that's not the same thing as them being barred due to height.

My kids are 6 and 9. Even when I suggest it, they have little interest in doing MuppetVision. They just lack the same cultural connection with it that I did as a small child 35 years ago, and I think that most people don't realize how much of the enjoyment comes from familiarity.

I don't think they are in the minority - I think a lot of small kids don't know any Muppets outside of Sesame Street.

Could they watch the movie and enjoy the characters and the experience even without this knowledge? Yes. But they are not driven to go do it amongst the other options they have in the park because the Muppets aren't a draw.

Also, both of my kids HATED 3D movies when they were smaller. Freaked them out. They ended up watching without 3D glasses and basically missing the whole movie. We kind of went from "too little to ride big rides but 3D movies are a no" straight to "big enough to ride everything", and the 3D movie never became a regular stop for us.

 

[xxlove]

Can we curse here.. because is going on today

 

[Casper Gutman]

All opinions are valid… except for the idea that Bugs is a better attraction then Muppets, which is utterly nuts.

 

[OSUPhantom]

It was a foregone conclusion that RnR would get a returned eventually and frankly this is the best of all the options I’ve heard so I’m pretty happy with it. Keeps the Muppets in the park is a really cool way. This gets a thumbs up from me.

 

[Casper Gutman]

Muppets is a bad fit for a coaster. Monsters is a bad fit for a land and a stage show. Neither plan plays to the properties’ strengths.

But none of that matters much, since the coaster (and Villains Land, and a lot of other announced projects) will be “delayed indefinitely” in late 2025 and 2026 by rising construction material costs, a widespread labor shortage, and new management at the top of Disney.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

the concept of a Muppets Rock 'n' Roller Coaster feels very much like something Michael Eisner would have proposed—random and almost very outlandish way to use an IP, like a scrapped idea that never quite made it.

What examples from the Eisner era are you thinking of?

I'm actually more upset about losing ITTBAB than MV3D. Bugs has IMHO been the best 4D show that Disney has done.

“Yes and” - they are both the best 4D shows Disney has done - partly because they both use a clever mix of physical effects, multiple AA’s, and are very well written.

They get much closer to tiki room / country bear repeatability status vs. “been there done that” of most 3d shows.