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

[mattpeto]

Following the old breadcrumb rumors, I think RnR was leaning hard towards to adding Incredibles.

But maybe it puts it in the Animation Courtyard discussion...

 

[flynnibus]

While Classic Rock has a lot of fans, the biggest bands are all in their 60's now so it's a little hard to keep it relevant. When RnRC opened, Tyler was "only" 51 and the band was still very popular and had fans spanning 2-3 generations. Nine Lives was a 2x platinum album that was released 2 years before the opening and Just Push Play released 2 years after still was a platinum album and the band played the Super Bowl halftime show in that timeframe.

Music like the Beatles, Zep, the Stones, etc will outlive the band members touring by generations.. just like they already have. Aerosmith ain't Zep, but it's not the staleness of the music that was the issue with RnRC... but it's dated presentation and script. When the ride opened Aerosmith was riding on a wave of fresh popularity from releases and blockbusters like Armageddon.. (which of course was a Disney product). Aerosmith was not just classic, but enjoying a fresh surge. And of course the script as done for the current show is based on that premise of current performance. That isn't to say it couldn't be changed to something else, but that's what we got.

A different story could integrate this kind of music still.. I mean look at Guardians.. the bulk of music that Vol1 made popular were all early 70s songs too. It's use now doesn't rely on people who were teenagers in 1974

At the time Aerosmith made sense from a syngery perspective in the parks - along with a trend at the time in Disney brand identity (more hip/pop vs the 80s Disney). I think now the question isn't 'rock' or not.. but rather what brand/icons the park is looking to put on a stage.

Looking back, it is rather interesting to see Disney NOT use one of it's stars... but again, maybe synergy with the other divisions isn't as big of a initiative as it once was... minus the movie studios and DTC. Makes you wonder how there isn't an avengers/etc play here

 

[LittleMerman]

I'm not that upset about Muppets 3D. It's super cute but removing it in favor of a new roller coaster is exciting.

But turning RNRCoaster into Muppets doesn't appeal to me. I'm sure it'll be fun and they'll make it cute but I really love the current storyline. Nobody asked for a Muppets roller coaster.

 

[Lilofan]

Following the old breadcrumb rumors, I think RnR was leaning hard towards to adding Incredibles.

But maybe it puts it in the Animation Courtyard discussion...

Talk about skin tight costumes that’s either the Mariachi singers in Mexico or the Incredibles !

 

[Cmdr_Crimson]

I am sorry, I still just find the muppets in rockin’ rollercoaster, even with adults themes, to be very juvenile.

Steven agrees in the raunchiest way possible..

 

[Cmdr_Crimson]

At the time Aerosmith made sense from a syngery perspective in the parks - along with a trend at the time in Disney brand identity (more hip/pop vs the 80s Disney). I think now the question isn't 'rock' or not.. but rather what brand/icons the park is looking to put on a stage.

I thought it was just to tie it all in with the Bruckhiemer film Armageddon...You couldn't walk into that plaza hearing "Don't want to miss a Thing" several times being played.

 

[The Leader of the Club]

Following the old breadcrumb rumors, I think RnR was leaning hard towards to adding Incredibles.

But maybe it puts it in the Animation Courtyard discussion...

Potential hot take:
I don’t think Incredibles works for a land. It’s not really a unique environment. Zootopia, San Fransokyo, and Springfield all have landmarks and restaurants that people would love to visit. Metroville really doesn’t.

 

[DisneyCane]

I thought it was just to tie it all in with the Bruckhiemer film Armageddon...You couldn't walk into that plaza hearing "Don't want to miss a Thing" several times being played.

Maybe in the plaza but it was never part of the soundtrack in the ride, thank goodness. Strapping people in and making them listen to "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" might violate international human rights laws! At least you aren't strapped into IASW and can escape if necessary.

 

[flynnibus]

I thought it was just to tie it all in with the Bruckhiemer film Armageddon...You couldn't walk into that plaza hearing "Don't want to miss a Thing" several times being played.

Like I said...
"When the ride opened Aerosmith was riding on a wave of fresh popularity from releases and blockbusters like Armageddon.. (which of course was a Disney product)"

But also at the time Disney was trying to be more current... and not just hiding those projects under other names and ignoring them in the 'Disney' universe.

 

[CaptinEO]

As much as I love Aerosmith, the band has retired (several months early due to Steven Tyler's vocal chord injury). The theming no longer makes any sense as you are racing to a concert that can't be happening.

I would have preferred some kind of superhero retheme or something where they could have kept the parking garage theme with a plot of going somewhere quickly.

While Classic Rock has a lot of fans, the biggest bands are all in their 60's now so it's a little hard to keep it relevant. When RnRC opened, Tyler was "only" 51 and the band was still very popular and had fans spanning 2-3 generations. Nine Lives was a 2x platinum album that was released 2 years before the opening and Just Push Play released 2 years after still was a platinum album and the band played the Super Bowl halftime show in that timeframe.

The only major complaint about them switching to The Muppets is that I liked that that area of the park was more of a gritty Hollywood theme. RnRC with the recording studio and parking garage theme worked well with the "Hollywood Tower Hotel" next door. Muppets and ToT don't really belong next to each other or in the same "land" of a park.

There are so many rock bands to go with even if they don't stick with one they can have rocks greatest hits. Even the 2000s emo rock groups are having a resurgence. They could have rolling stones, elvis, chuck berry, nirvana, green day, foo fighters, etc. I also do not like the move away from adult and edgy to more Disney characters.

 

[DisneyCane]

There are so many rock bands to go with even if they don't stick with one they can have rocks greatest hits. Even the 2000s emo rock groups are having a resurgence. They could have rolling stones, elvis, chuck berry, nirvana, green day, foo fighters, etc. I also do not like the move away from adult and edgy to more Disney characters.

But what's the theme? RnRC Starring Aerosmith made sense with the pre-show. You were going to see them working on a recording (mix I guess) and they had to go perform and invited you. Then you needed a "really fast car" to get there in time. On the way, it makes sense that they would have their music playing for you while you are transported.

Just having random music doesn't have much of a theme. It doesn't make all that much sense in GotG either but that franchise is based on random 80's music. The ride theme is going back in time or something.

 

[seabreezept813]

Did you ask them? I was certainly riding and loving big coasters at 7-8 years old. Where is this notion coming from that Rock 'n Rollercoaster is intense? It really isn't at all. A lot of Guests aren't even aware that they went upside down.

I’ve traveled with them. The take off of the coaster is scary. My SD rode every ride at 7–Everest, Space, ToT and wouldn’t go on Rock n Roller because she couldn’t see it and the noise was too intense. She stood in line and backed out, didn’t get on till about 9-10. My DD right now will be 7 this summer and it’ll be a miracle if she rides Slinky or 7D—she’s obviously on the extreme of hesitation with coasters. Most of her peers are in the might handle a ride like Big Thunder but not doing coasters with loops and inversions. If you’re a universal person ya it’s not intense, but it’s definitely Disney intense. On the other end of the spectrum my senior mother still does most Disney coasters, but struggles with RnRC now and chooses to not ride.

 

[Lilofan]

There are so many rock bands to go with even if they don't stick with one they can have rocks greatest hits. Even the 2000s emo rock groups are having a resurgence. They could have rolling stones, elvis, chuck berry, nirvana, green day, foo fighters, etc. I also do not like the move away from adult and edgy to more Disney characters.

Dr Teeth and the Electric Mayhem and the Penguin orchestra may be the Muppet genre of Kermit's future attraction.

 

[erasure fan1]

I feel this was done last minute due to complaints about Muppet Vision 3D going away.

I'm not a betting man. But I would put good money down that this project was 100% to try and distract from muppet vision closing. It's a super easy switch that I don't see them spending any real money on. Why? Because I don't think this is intended to stick around. They'll try and soften the blow with this overlay. Then after a few years it wouldn't surprise me if they change it to something different. It just all feels like a PR play.

 

[ToTBellHop]

But what's the theme? RnRC Starring Aerosmith made sense with the pre-show. You were going to see them working on a recording (mix I guess) and they had to go perform and invited you. Then you needed a "really fast car" to get there in time. On the way, it makes sense that they would have their music playing for you while you are transported.

Just having random music doesn't have much of a theme. It doesn't make all that much sense in GotG either but that franchise is based on random 80's music. The ride theme is going back in time or something.

It feels like you didn’t pay attention during the Cosmic Rewind pre shows and are complaining that there’s no story. When you didn’t listen to the story.

 

[seabreezept813]

There seems to be a lot of defensiveness when people say RnRC doesn’t match the muppets. I think it just comes down to the fact that Disney has always presented the muppets in a way that is accessible to everyone. Doesn’t mean the coaster can’t be cool. It still leaves HS a frustrating park for people who want ride experiences for the whole family. So far it’s looking like coasters and Star Wars will make up about 85% of the rides, clearly appealing to a young adult or older kid audience. Very much like.. Universal.

 

[ToTBellHop]

I'm not a betting man. But I would put good money down that this project was 100% to try and distract from muppet vision closing. It's a super easy switch that I don't see them spending any real money on. Why? Because I don't think this is intended to stick around. They'll try and soften the blow with this overlay. Then after a few years it wouldn't surprise me if they change it to something different. It just all feels like a PR play.

Temporary updates at WDW usually last like 20 years.

 

[coffeefan]

I'm not a betting man. But I would put good money down that this project was 100% to try and distract from muppet vision closing. It's a super easy switch that I don't see them spending any real money on. Why? Because I don't think this is intended to stick around. They'll try and soften the blow with this overlay. Then after a few years it wouldn't surprise me if they change it to something different. It just all feels like a PR play.

Is there precedent or a pattern of Disney doing interim rethemes? I don't think Disney has a problem with ripping bandaids off.

 

[Lilofan]

I'm not a betting man. But I would put good money down that this project was 100% to try and distract from muppet vision closing. It's a super easy switch that I don't see them spending any real money on. Why? Because I don't think this is intended to stick around. They'll try and soften the blow with this overlay. Then after a few years it wouldn't surprise me if they change it to something different. It just all feels like a PR play.

You're thinking like Iger!

 

[The Leader of the Club]

How long do we realistically think the coaster has before it needs either retracked or replaced?