Many Disney attractions tend to break down at times. When guests visit Disney World, you may see an attraction have to close at some point during your visit temporarily. This could be because of a maintenance issue, and Disney quickly works to resolve the issue. One rollercoaster has been shut down for three days at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, with no sign of reopening.
Rock’ n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith is one of Disney World’s most intense rollercoasters. Blasting off at 60 miles per hour, the indoor coaster takes you through crazy fast highways, giant doughnuts, and other fun objects as Aerosmith music blasts away in your super-stretch limo. I mean, backstage passes are always a plus!
Rock’ n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith, has constantly had closure issues throughout the year. We have even seen the ride shut down for five days in a row. The attraction became temporarily unavailable with no notice, leading this reporter to believe the issue was technical and unplanned. However, for an attraction to go down for five days likely means that the coaster’s problem was not a simple fix. Rock’ n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith has been closed for three days straight. The shutdown is not planned, and the coaster will be running once again once all maintenance issues are cleared.
The coaster recently underwent a massive refurbishment, and this is not the first time the ride has shut down since it reopened, which shows the coaster has deeper maintenance issues that have not yet been fixed.
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith has become controversial of late, with many believing that the coaster should be rethemed due to Steven Tyler’s lawsuit. According to a lawsuit that Rolling Stone obtained, Tyler brought Julia Holcomb– who was 16 at the time– back to his hot”l room. They discussed her age, as well as her troubled home life. Tyler then allegedly “performed various acts of criminal sexual conduct upon” her before sending her home the next morning. We have seen Disney out even the biggest stars due to lawsuits and allegations, such as Johnny Depp being booted from the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, even after being proven innocent. Knowing that and seeing how Disney reacts in certain situations, it is easy to think that the ride’s fate is in the air.
The fate of Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith has been questioned by many fans, as the rights to the music an end. Universal Music Group will soon own the catalog. As we can see in the attraction’s gift shop, Aerosmith merchandise is no longer available for purchase, and attraction merchandise just notes Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster on the graphics. In Disneyland Paris, the ride was rethemed to become an Iron Man coaster in the new Avengers Campus.
In the past, we asked guests what they wanted to see the coaster rethemed to. It seems that no matter what music group was to be showcased on the coaster, almost every suggestion still stuck with the theme that it was a rock band. Some popular choices were:
- Metallica
- AC/DC
- Queen
- Def Leppard
- Red Hot Chili Peppers
- Guns and Roses
- Panic at the Disco
- Bon Jovi
- Foo Fighters
- Green Day
- Journey
Stepping away from the rock ‘n’ roll vibe, we have options such as:
- Lady Gaga
- Camp Rock
- Hannah Montana
- Jonas Brothers
- Disney / Pixar music mashup
More on Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith, debuted in 1999, making the coaster around 22 years old. Although the attraction is a classic, some guests sometimes note that the interior design of glow-in-the-dark facades mixed with an Aerosmith soundtrack seems quite dated (albeit others like myself find the tunes to be classic). It is not breaking news that since ’99, Disney has created many more attractions with much stronger technology and innovations, and it is very likely that if Imagineering were given the budget to update the attraction, that they would do a fantastic job. We have seen this repeatedly with classic rides such as Disney’s Hollywood Studios’ The Great Movie Ride becoming Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway.
The official description for the coaster reads:
Inside their Hollywood music studio, legendary rock band Aerosmith is wrapping up a recording session. When their manager tells them they’re late for a concert across town, the band invites you to ride along.Hop into their gleaming limousine and speed off into the night as Aerosmith’s hard-rock harmonies fill the air. Buckle up before zooming through the city on this roller-coaster style attraction.
Rock this Way
Speed through iconic Hollywood landmarks. Maneuver past traffic jams and swoop into 3 thrilling inversions—2 rollover loops and one corkscrew—as the wind races across your face.Will you make it to the year’s biggest concert in time?
Update on the Future of Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith
Initially, we mentioned that the drama surrounding the ride would be its doom — and now, it looks like it was.
The Muppets are set to take center stage at Disney World as they replace Aerosmith in the latest reimagining of a classic attraction.
Disney has announced that Rock ‘N’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith at Disney’s Hollywood Studios will be transformed into a Muppets-themed thrill ride, bringing a whimsical and chaotic energy to the high-speed coaster.
“We know so many of you share our love for The Muppets and know their energy will be a perfect fit for this coaster,” Disney shared via the Disney Parks Blog. “Plus, as the first Disney ride ever to feature The Muppets, there’s sure to be laughter, screams, and new tunes for fans to enjoy throughout the adventure—along with plenty of Muppets-themed merchandise on Sunset Boulevard!”
Disney has not yet revealed a timeline for when Rock ‘N’ Roller Coaster will officially close or when the reimagined attraction will open. However, the company reassured fans that there is still time to experience the current version of the ride before the transformation begins.
The coaster first opened in 1999 and has been a Hollywood Studios staple, sending guests on a high-speed race through Los Angeles alongside Aerosmith. Earlier this year, the ride underwent a lengthy refurbishment, sparking speculation about its future. Now, with the official announcement, Disney fans who have long wished for more Muppets representation in the parks have reason to celebrate.
The timing of the update aligns with the success of The Muppets Mayhem, the 2023 Disney+ series following Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem band, further solidifying Disney’s renewed investment in the beloved characters.
In addition to the Muppets’ big coaster debut, Disney also provided an update on the previously announced Monsters, Inc. land, which was unveiled at D23 earlier this year. This all-new area, the first ever dedicated to Monsters, Inc., will feature a suspended roller coaster inspired by the film’s iconic door vault sequence, as well as themed shopping, dining, and an immersive new theater show.
However, the arrival of Monstropolis will come at the expense of Muppets Courtyard, which will be removed to make way for the new land. That means MuppetVision 3D*, a fan-favorite attraction that has been entertaining guests since 1991, will be closing along with dining spots like Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano and PizzeRizzo.
MuppetVision 3D* holds a special place in Disney history, as it was one of the last projects Jim Henson worked on before his passing. Disney has assured fans that steps are being taken to preserve the attraction’s legacy.
“As we move forward with these changes, we are having creative conversations and exploring ways to preserve the film and other parts of the experience for fans to enjoy in the future,” Disney shared.
These updates come amid a period of significant change at Walt Disney World, with other major reimaginings on the horizon, including a Cars-themed land coming to Magic Kingdom and an Encanto-themed attraction in development for Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
Do you think it’s time for Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith to go?
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