Walt Disney World has introduced that Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster will now not be starring Aerosmith, as that band will probably be changed by the Muppets as a comfort prize for Monstropolis inflicting the closure of MuppetVision 3D at Hollywood Studios. This covers the main points together with previous rumors in regards to the journey reimagining that by no means got here to fruition, and competing ideas for the attraction.
For starters, Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster (RnRC) has gone down for a multi-month refurbishments in every of the final two years that modified nothing of substance in regards to the attraction. From the outset, Walt Disney World was publicly crystal clear that the theme of the curler coaster was not altering–that it’d nonetheless be “Starring Aerosmith.” That it was a routine refurbishment with essential upkeep to enhance reliability and efficiency.
On the time, we speculated that the prolonged downtime was basically essential infrastructure work–changing parts of the observe, upgrading the launch system, or in any other case refreshing parts of the coaster to increase its life. Mainly, that the refurbishments would function a basis, and permit for a shorter subsequent closure to reimagine the thematic parts of the attraction. Now we all know that’s precisely what has occurred, as Walt Disney World has introduced a Muppet retheme of the journey that’ll exchange Aerosmith!
To make approach for the Monstropolis over in Muppet Courtyard, Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy and extra of their mates will probably be transferring proper alongside to Sundown Boulevard! However there’s extra to the story: The Muppets will probably be taking up Rock ‘n Curler Coaster, teaming up with a few of music’s largest stars for a rockin’ music pageant!
Based on Walt Disney World, the Muppets and their vitality will probably be an ideal match for this coaster. Plus, as the primary Disney journey ever to characteristic The Muppets, there’s certain to be laughter, screams and new tunes for this attraction for followers to take pleasure in all through the journey and loads of Muppets-themed merchandise on Sundown Boulevard!
Within the meantime, there’s nonetheless sufficient time to catch a super-stretch limo to the Discussion board to take pleasure in Rock ‘n Curler Coaster Starring Aerosmith and catch Muppet*Imaginative and prescient 3D once more earlier than their ultimate curtain calls.
Walt Disney World hasn’t supplied an precise timeline, however my hypothesis is that each MuppetVision and Rock ‘n Curler Coaster Starring Aerosmith go down within the second half of 2025. My guess is that each could possibly be closed concurrently (or thereabouts) throughout the late summer time or early fall low season with out there being a lot disruption to operations at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
That is doubly true since each the brand new Little Mermaid and Villains Magic Mirror stage reveals open round Summer season 2025. That added capability gained’t offset these losses, however it could possibly be deemed “ok,” particularly if the reimagining of Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster finally ends up having a reasonably fast turnaround time. And I count on that it could, because the largest modifications will doubtless be within the pre-show. Purely guesses on my half, although–we’ll hold you posted as Walt Disney World reveals official timelines (or they’re rumored).
Right here’s new idea artwork of the Muppets retheme of Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster:
This Muppets retheme of Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster is each shocking and unsurprising. The latter half is as a result of we’ve actually coated this actual takeover earlier than–it was a rumor courtesy of Jeff Yorkes, co-creator of The Muppets Mayhem collection on the Disney+ streaming service. Relating to rumors of a Muppets takeover of Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster, Yorkes mentioned: “Not gonna lie–this was completely a part of our authentic pitch and is one other piece of this dream. Fingers-crossed that it occurs.”
The shocking half is that The Muppets Mayhem underperformed and was cancelled. On condition that, we thought the percentages of such an attraction decreased considerably, as with out synergy, there wasn’t a lot of a purpose for the Muppets to be given the keys to a really costly and well-liked tremendous stretch limo.
This additionally isn’t the primary time in recent times that there was notable dialogue in regards to the Muppets taking up Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster. In response to a different tweet suggesting a reimagining, former Imagineer Kevin Energetic mentioned, “if solely somebody had pitched that just a few years with a full preshow script and remedy…” So clearly, that is an concept that has been circulating in Imagineering and Muppet Studios for some time now.
To that time, it’s additionally once more value noting right here that the Muppets at the moment are below the purview of Walt Disney Imagineering, and have been for the previous couple of years. That’s doubtless how we acquired Muppets Haunted Mansion (and why it was so good) and in addition explains the promotional appearances of the Muppet characters, together with Floyd Pepper from the Electrical Mayhem band taking a journey on Spaceship Earth simply final month to advertise the brand new Disney+ collection.
As we’ve talked about repeatedly through the years–even earlier than Imagineering took over the characters–there have to be somebody excessive up at Disney who’s championing the Muppets. There’s no different clarification for why they’ve been given likelihood after likelihood regardless of middling outcomes.
Now, along with the Muppets being front-of-mind for WDI, their newest outings on Disney+ have really been actually good. The Muppets Mayhem has the greatest critic and viewers rankings of any of the characters’ reveals or motion pictures because the Jason Segel-led movie in 2011 that basically introduced the characters again into the highlight.
As we’ve additionally been saying for years, there are a ton of causes {that a} reimagining of Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster not solely is smart, however is an inevitability in some unspecified time in the future within the subsequent 5 years. For one factor, Aerosmith simply doesn’t have the identify cachet that they did within the late Nineteen Nineties when Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster opened. Sure, the band is among the many all-time greats, however not practically to the identical diploma with present park-goers.
For an additional factor, Disney is paying to license the band’s music and likenesses. There’s no indication as to how a lot that prices, however it’s a non-zero quantity. Within the time since Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster opened, Disney has gone on an acquisition-spree and change into extra laser-focused on inner synergies. If the journey opened at this time, there’s zero likelihood the corporate would look exterior their very own portfolio.
Lastly, sticking with Aerosmith presents intercourse scandal threat. Days after the refurbishment was introduced, Steven Tyler was formally named in a lawsuit and is accused of sexual assault, sexual battery, and intentional infliction of emotional misery. Whatever the final result there, the allegations are unsettling. As a rock band from a “totally different period,” there’s a excessive likelihood that there are extra skeletons in Aerosmith’s closet that will not be perceived positively if ligitated within the court docket of public opinion (or precise court docket).
Merely put, showcasing a rock band from the Nineteen Seventies is an pointless legal responsibility for Walt Disney World. Not simply Aerosmith…all of them. Between elevated social scrutiny and Disney’s family-friendly picture, it’s merely an pointless and imprudent threat. That is additionally why Disney has contingency plans in place that will permit the corporate to take away all references to Aerosmith in a single day. All of that is additionally why we’re extremely skeptical of “rumors” that Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster could be rethemed to Queen.
From my perspective, altering the journey is a reasonably simple choice for Walt Disney World. Reimagining Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster is not only the protected transfer, however it could be cash effectively spent. It presents a chance for Imagineering to simply inject new life in an attraction that’s inherently well-liked as a thrill journey, and would give the corporate one thing to market whereas in-between improvement cycles.
With that mentioned, I’ve gotta admit to being shocked that the Muppets are the winner of the Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster retheme sweepstakes. We’ve finished a number of posts on the topic, and though the Muppets acquired devoted protection, I nonetheless figured they have been a longshot. It was merely wishful pondering on my half, and I needed to will my most popular idea into existence. (Mission completed, I suppose, however at what price?!)
For anybody who cares, I’d’ve put the next forward of the Muppets by way of probability: Taylor Swift, Zootopia, Marvel, Powerline, and random rock ‘n’ roll. (Again earlier than D23, I gave odds to all the potential ideas in Will Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster Be Reimagined?)
Nonetheless, I’m happy that the winner is the Muppets. Since particulars are pretty scarce on the journey reimagining at this level, I’m going to share just a few of my different previous concepts for this Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster journey reimagining.
Years in the past, one in every of my concepts for a ‘Muppets Takeover’ of Disney’s Hollywood Studios was a Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster reimagining that includes nationwide treasures Dr. Tooth and The Electrical Mayhem Band and a redone entrance to Pantages Theater, Amoeba Information, or Roxie Theatre.
An alternative choice could be a “Nice Muppets Music Experience” that options these characters within the queue and pre-show, however encompasses a random journey soundtrack of precise rock music from a rotating roster of bands. That is a part of Cosmic Rewind’s recipes for fulfillment, would provide the specified disconnect between band and music, whereas additionally giving the coaster infinite re-rideability. It could additionally provide flexibility in altering out songs, seasonal overlays, and extra.
Shifting the Muppets to the again nook of Sundown Boulevard has a number of potential. Remodeling the doorway and queue to Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster might open up this space, which could possibly be a bona fide Muppets Studio land. Sundown Showcase could possibly be changed with one other Muppets attraction as soon as the Villains Magic Mirror Present is completed, and there’s most likely additionally area for a restaurant, too.
No good concept in Imagineering ever dies, and maybe this could possibly be the partial realization of the Muppets Studio land idea from many years in the past. That was presupposed to characteristic not simply MuppetVision 3D, but in addition a Nice Muppet Film Experience, plus two eating places: “The Nice Gonzo’s Pandemonium Pizza Parlor” and “Swedish Chef’s Cooking College.”
As a lot because it pains me to lose MuppetVision 3D–the opposite half of this information–I’m no less than cautiously optimistic in regards to the Muppet takeover of Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster. To make sure, it isn’t the identical. As somebody who far prefers meatier points of interest with coronary heart and humor to curler coasters, there’s no approach this reimagined journey will stay as much as MuppetVision 3D for me. I already know that primarily based by myself preferences–I’m not making an attempt to be pessimistic.
Nonetheless, I’m additionally a realist. A part of the explanation I advocated so strongly for the Muppet Mayhem Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster retheme was as a result of I believed it was already on “borrowed time” and sure on the chopping block in some unspecified time in the future. It’s not that I needed MuppetVision to get replaced–clearly I didn’t.
It’s that MuppetVision has had a protracted and improbable run–far longer than some other 3D movies on the parks. Whereas it’s dismissive to seek advice from MuppetVision, a real nationwide treasure, as solely a 3D movie, that’s doubtless how Walt Disney World and most company view it. So assuming MuppetVision could be retired within the subsequent decade (this was lengthy earlier than the Monstropolis announcement at D23), I needed to see the Muppets immortalized elsewhere at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
I may acknowledge that not everyone seems to be me, and most of the people desire curler coasters to 3D movies. On the threat of stating the apparent, Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster is an attraction with rather more mainstream enchantment than MuppetVision. Many extra company will expertise it than did MuppetVision on a median day. With that, maybe some children will journey the coaster, go residence and take a look at the Muppets, and new followers will probably be cast within the course of.
On a private notice, it saddens me that we gained’t have the ability to take Megatron to see MuppetVision when she’s sufficiently old to know it. However then again, I’m already excited that the Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster Starring the Muppets will probably be her first “large” curler coaster and a cornerstone ceremony of passage second at Walt Disney World for her. See? I’m making an attempt to be optimistic–not pessimistic!
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Your Ideas
What do you consider a Muppet takeover of Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster? Assume the Electrical Mayhem band could be a superb substitute for Aerosmith? Should you might select the retheme of RnRC, what would get your vote? Do you agree or disagree with our evaluation? Any questions we can assist you reply? Listening to your suggestions—even whenever you disagree with us—is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!