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

[peter11435]

Guardians is one of WDWs best coasters but story wise Hagrids, Everest and the Mummy execute it much better

Yeah, I would I agree that 2/3 of those are better storywise. But that still doesn’t mean we jump to “terribly executed.” That’s just ridiculous hyperbole and quite frankly is why opinions on here are largely laughed at internally instead of respected.

 

[Jrb1979]

Yeah, I would I agree that 2/3 of those are better storywise. But that still doesn’t mean we jump to “terribly executed.” That’s just ridiculous hyperbole and quite frankly is why opinions on here are largely laughed at internally instead of respected.

Terribly executed is a little harsh I agree but I will say those internally can't laugh at much. Especially with what they think average guests like. Looking at you Communicore Hall.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Yeah, I would I agree that 2/3 of those are better storywise. But that still doesn’t mean we jump to “terribly executed.” That’s just ridiculous hyperbole and quite frankly is why opinions on here are largely laughed at internally instead of respected.

Then it failed… it was supposed to be the best. When cheaper attractions that weren’t new “storytelling coasters” did it better then it failed to achieve its storytelling goal.

 

[DreamfinderGuy]

It's really not. The narrative doesn't fail it's just that realistically that is not your main focus while riding.

This is, again, an admission that the narrative fails.

Tower of Terror is wonderfully themed with a great story but I'm not actively thinking about that story while freefalling at 30+ MPH

Hagrids Moterbike Adventure is wonderfully themed with a great story but i'm not actively thinking about the story while going through the most thrilling parts

Rock N Rollercoaster has a unique and fun storyline to follow but nobody is ACTIVELY thinking about that while riding because you are being thrilled, your sense of direction is being all messed up and you're having fun.

It is no different with Cosmic Rewind

Most Disney attractions are inherently story-first. It’s what sets them apart from other amusement park attractions. Your experience isn’t universal, or even shared by the majority of park guests. If people just want to ride thrill rides there are plenty of local amusement parks that provide that without Disney level storytelling or theming. Guardians has Disney level theming in its queue and has a couple impressive set pieces, but those fall apart when looking at the bigger picture because the coaster part is so poorly executed. It's like saying you're gonna build a house, laying the foundation, and then pitching a tent on it and calling it a day. It's a fun coaster, but a narrative failure.

 

[JackCH]

I think y'all way overestimate how good all of these other coasters are when it comes to narrative and story.

Story of the Yeti understood to the average guest: I'm on a train into Everest/FM and oh no a Yeti!

Story of BTMR to the average guest: A train ride through a dessert.

Story of Hagrid's to the average guest: Muggles are allowed to go through the forest and oh no blast ended screwts!

Story of Velocicoaster: You are riding with a bunch of velociraptors.

I really don't think any of those do it "better" than Cosmic Rewind except for Hagrids...Which is pretty universally regarded as the best ride Universal has done up to this point. I don't think Cosmic Rewind has to be better than that on the one specific area of storytelling or else be considered a failure.

If Hagrid's being a better "storycoaster" than Cosmic Rewind makes CR a failure, fine, but that seems absurd.

Guardians has Disney level theming in its queue and has a couple impressive set pieces, but those fall apart when looking at the bigger picture because the coaster part is so poorly executed. It's like saying you're gonna build a house, laying the foundation, and then pitching a tent on it and calling it a day. It's a fun coaster, but a narrative failure.

The coaster part is not "poorly executed." It is set up well, everyone gets the gist of what is happening, and you are constantly looking at cool scenes of a very Guardians style battle. That's all the story "needs" at that point just as much as all Everest needs is nice mountain scenery and a Yeti appearance. Again, aside from Hagrid's, what coaster does it better and how?

 

[JackCH]

I imagine most of the "story" for this ride will be in the queue, just like with most other themed coasters. Hagrid's does it so well because it truly integrates Dark Ride elements into the middle of the coaster, which RnRC is not designed to do.

It is why Hagrid's is one of my top 3 favorite attractions ever though, and I do hope Disney does a "storycoaster" of this type with the new Villains coaster.

I think it would be great to integrate Statler and Waldorf somewhere either at the launch or at the ride exit.

 

[Jrb1979]

I think y'all way overestimate how good all of these other coasters are when it comes to narrative and story.

Story of the Yeti understood to the average guest: I'm on a train into Everest/FM and oh no a Yeti!

Story of BTMR to the average guest: A train ride through a dessert.

Story of Hagrid's to the average guest: Muggles are allowed to go through the forest and oh no blast ended screwts!

Story of Velocicoaster: You are riding with a bunch of velociraptors.

I really don't think any of those do it "better" than Cosmic Rewind except for Hagrids...Which is pretty universally regarded as the best ride Universal has done up to this point. I don't think Cosmic Rewind has to be better than that on the one specific area of storytelling or else be considered a failure.

If Hagrid's being a better "storycoaster" than Cosmic Rewind makes CR a failure, fine, but that seems absurd.


The coaster part is not "poorly executed." It is set up well, everyone gets the gist of what is happening, and you are constantly looking at cool scenes of a very Guardians style battle. That's all the story "needs" at that point just as much as all Everest needs is nice mountain scenery and a Yeti appearance. Again, aside from Hagrid's, what coaster does it better and how?

IMO none of them do storytelling well after boarding the coaster. If you have to slow it down to do show scenes you lose the thrill too much.

It's why I have always been a prominent of leaving the coasters to parks like Universal who keep the thrill for the most part.

 

[JackCH]

IMO none of them do storytelling well after boarding the coaster. If you have to slow it down to do show scenes you lose the thrill too much.

It's why I have always been a prominent of leaving the coasters to parks like Universal who keep the thrill for the most part.

That's fair, but personally I like the variety that Disney offers and still enjoy the themed coaster experiences of Disney (and some of Universals- like Hagrid's) to a relatively bare bones coaster like Hulk for example.

 

[lazyboy97o]

I really don't think any of those do it "better" than Cosmic Rewind except for Hagrids...Which is pretty universally regarded as the best ride Universal has done up to this point. I don't think Cosmic Rewind has to be better than that on the one specific area of storytelling or else be considered a failure.

If Hagrid's being a better "storycoaster" than Cosmic Rewind makes CR a failure, fine, but that seems absurd.

Hagrid’s also did with 70% of the money. It’s also not just sitting in a warehouse that looms over the horizon.

And again, Cosmic Rewind was sold as something new and different. Not sort of the same but a lot more expensive.

 

[Jrb1979]

That's fair, but personally I like the variety that Disney offers and still enjoy the themed coaster experiences of Disney (and some of Universals- like Hagrid's) to a relatively bare bones coaster like Hulk for example.

For me if I'm riding a coaster I want high positive and negative G's. Nothing beats going 120 mph in 4 seconds or having a grey out from a 300 foot drop.

 

[JackCH]

Hagrid’s also did with 70% of the money. It’s also not just sitting in a warehouse that looms over the horizon.

And again, Cosmic Rewind was sold as something new and different. Not sort of the same but a lot more expensive.

So then it is just Hagrid's then?

We probably just disagree on what constitutes a "failure." And I do think Cosmic Rewind is new and different. I've never experienced anything like it and it had quite a few "wow" moments.

I think I understand your point about cost/advertising, even if I disagree.

 

[Jrb1979]

So then it is just Hagrid's then?

We probably just disagree on what constitutes a "failure." And I do think Cosmic Rewind is new and different. I've never experienced anything like it and it had quite a few "wow" moments.

I think I understand your point about cost/advertising, even if I disagree.

For Disney it's new and different but spinning coasters have been around for awhile. Silver Dollar City has one of the best in US.

 

[TheGenXer]

If you can’t follow the simple narrative of Cosmic Rewind, that you’re hit over the head with through a long queue and multiple pre-shows, don’t blame the imagineers.

 

[ToTBellHop]

Hagrid’s is a great ride but I think we sometimes give it too much credit from a story perspective. You encounter magical beasts at random in a land which has never been able to decide if we are real wizards or muggles.

I think Cosmic Rewind is unique among themed coasters for having a linear storyline from the moment you enter the queue to the end of the coaster. The story usually falls apart once you launch.

 

[splah]

though i've never been to france, the idea of flying through the stage lighting always looked cool on videos. i wouldn't mind seeing that execution. maybe we're at the concert but it's the muppets so we're trying to wrangle a rogue character during the concert and flying around the stage. you could set a band of muppets in the middle and some crowds. almost like a drone race flying through the lighting rigs.

 

[mattpeto]

They said (iirc) that it would close somewhere in 2025, but seeing as we haven't gotten a closure date yet, I think you might be fine for the time being.

I don’t that’s accurate. We are going to have Monsters Inc. land break ground in 2025.

 

[Disgruntled Walt]

Will MuppetVision still be open in July?

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

So...don't build roller coasters?

Got it.

I’m kinda tired of coasters in the dark with video screens / projections. We had that with Space Mountain and it really hasn’t changed much. Space, Tron, Flight Force, Guardians all have a similar feel to them and I think the new muppets and monsters coasters will be similar.

I prefer coasters through themed physical spaces.

Example…. Big Thunder has a lot of story built into it - the train, the boarding station, the lift hills, the set pieces, the AA’s - it’s not a “once upon a time” story - it tells a story naturally with the surroundings.

 

[GalacticZero]

For whatever it's worth, I don't get to Disney super often, but I've had the privilege of doing Cosmic Rewind twice now. The first ride, I was intentional about trying to follow the story from queue to finale. After, my take was the ride, while good, was a bit disappointing because I felt it was really difficult to figure out what was going on after the launch due to SO much going on all at once. I left feeling disoriented, which never happens to me on coasters, just from trying so intently to pay attention in the midst of it all. Obviously, the story isn't super complex and it's easy to guess the gist of it, but the explanation I saw earlier in this thread was much more than I ever had any thought of.

I recently went for a second ride, this time without any plans of following the story so intently. Just to enjoy the ride itself. And I will say it was a much more enjoyable experience, honestly. Just enjoying the ride for what it is as a great rollercoaster with cool effects thrown in. No dizziness or disorientation. Just good old fashioned fun.

I do think it is difficult to follow the story throughout and for the average guest, they probably aren't paying a lick of attention to it. So, for me, great attraction that struggles to convey the story once you launch.

 

[osian]

If you can’t follow the simple narrative of Cosmic Rewind, that you’re hit over the head with through a long queue and multiple pre-shows, don’t blame the imagineers.

The narrative through the pre-shows is fine (if people are bothered to watch them instead of chatting or looking at their phones, or rushing to the right hand side of the room to face the doors instead of watching the pre-show - another small design issue), what is sometimes unclear is what is happening during the coaster section.

In a perverse sort of way, Cosmic Rewind works on several levels. Those who like GoTG will get a kick out of it and excitement about wondering what song they're going to get. They will completey understand what happens during the coaster section and get a sense of fulfilment as to the closure of the story.

Because I'm not interested in GotG and have issues with understanding what's going on during the coaster section, it passes me by. I see it as though the GotG overlay wasn't there. I see it as an exposition on the Big Bang and the coaster section is just the exciting finale where we're taken to that moment to experience it, then propelled back to Earth via the universe expansion. You don't need someone reading you a story at that point to tell you what's happening.