Walt Disney World has introduced that Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster will now not be starring Aerosmith, as that band might be changed by the Muppets as a comfort prize for Monstropolis inflicting the closure of MuppetVision 3D at Hollywood Studios. This covers the small print together with previous rumors in regards to the trip 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 necessary infrastructure work–changing parts of the monitor, upgrading the launch system, or in any other case refreshing elements of the coaster to increase its life. Principally, that the refurbishments would function a basis, and permit for a shorter subsequent closure to reimagine the thematic elements of the attraction. Now we all know that’s precisely what has occurred, as Walt Disney World has introduced a Muppet retheme of the trip that’ll substitute Aerosmith!
To make manner for the Monstropolis over in Muppet Courtyard, Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy and extra of their mates might be transferring proper alongside to Sundown Boulevard! However there’s extra to the story: The Muppets might be taking on Rock ‘n Curler Coaster, teaming up with a few of music’s greatest stars for a rockin’ music pageant!
In line with Walt Disney World, the Muppets and their power might be an ideal match for this coaster. Plus, as the primary Disney trip ever to characteristic The Muppets, there’s positive 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 last 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 may very well 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 received’t offset these losses, but it surely may very well be deemed “adequate,” particularly if the reimagining of Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster finally ends up having a reasonably fast turnaround time. And I anticipate that it could, for the reason that greatest adjustments will doubtless be within the pre-show. Purely guesses on my half, although–we’ll maintain 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 precise takeover earlier than–it was a rumor courtesy of Jeff Yorkes, co-creator of The Muppets Mayhem sequence on the Disney+ streaming service. Relating to rumors of a Muppets takeover of Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster, Yorkes stated: “Not gonna lie–this was completely a part of our unique 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. Provided that, we thought the percentages of such an attraction decreased considerably, as with out synergy, there wasn’t a lot of a cause for the Muppets to be given the keys to a really costly and in style tremendous stretch limo.
This additionally isn’t the primary time in recent times that there was notable dialogue in regards to the Muppets taking on Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster. In response to a different tweet suggesting a reimagining, former Imagineer Kevin Vigorous stated, “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 are actually below the purview of Walt Disney Imagineering, and have been for the previous few years. That’s doubtless how we bought 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 trip on Spaceship Earth simply final month to advertise the brand new Disney+ sequence.
As we’ve talked about repeatedly over time–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 probability after probability 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 scores of any of the characters’ reveals or motion pictures for the reason that 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 sensible, 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 title 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 almost 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, but it surely’s a non-zero quantity. Within the time since Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster opened, Disney has gone on an acquisition-spree and turn out to be extra laser-focused on inner synergies. If the trip opened at the moment, there’s zero probability the corporate would look outdoors 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 end result there, the allegations are unsettling. As a rock band from a “completely different period,” there’s a excessive likelihood that there are extra skeletons in Aerosmith’s closet that may 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 may enable 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 can be rethemed to Queen.
From my perspective, altering the trip is a reasonably simple determination for Walt Disney World. Reimagining Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster isn’t just the secure transfer, however it could be cash effectively spent. It presents a possibility for Imagineering to simply inject new life in an attraction that’s inherently in style as a thrill trip, and would give the corporate one thing to market whereas in-between improvement cycles.
With that stated, I’ve gotta admit to being stunned that the Muppets are the winner of the Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster retheme sweepstakes. We’ve achieved a number of posts on the topic, and though the Muppets acquired devoted protection, I nonetheless figured they had been a longshot. It was merely wishful considering on my half, and I wished to will my most popular idea into existence. (Mission achieved, I suppose, however at what value?!)
For anybody who cares, I might’ve put the next forward of the Muppets when it comes to chance: 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?)
However, I’m happy that the winner is the Muppets. Since particulars are pretty scarce on the trip reimagining at this level, I’m going to share just a few of my different previous concepts for this Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster trip 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.
Another choice can be a “Nice Muppets Music Journey” that options these characters within the queue and pre-show, however encompasses a random trip soundtrack of precise rock music from a rotating roster of bands. That is a part of Cosmic Rewind’s recipes for fulfillment, would supply the specified disconnect between band and music, whereas additionally giving the coaster infinite re-rideability. It might additionally supply flexibility in altering out songs, seasonal overlays, and extra.
Transferring the Muppets to the again nook of Sundown Boulevard has numerous potential. Remodeling the doorway and queue to Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster may open up this space, which may very well be a bona fide Muppets Studio land. Sundown Showcase may very well 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 thought in Imagineering ever dies, and maybe this may very well be the partial realization of the Muppets Studio land idea from a long time in the past. That was purported to characteristic not simply MuppetVision 3D, but in addition a Nice Muppet Film Journey, 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 at the least cautiously optimistic in regards to the Muppet takeover of Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster. To make certain, it isn’t the identical. As somebody who far prefers meatier sights with coronary heart and humor to curler coasters, there’s no manner this reimagined trip will reside as much as MuppetVision 3D for me. I already know that based mostly by myself preferences–I’m not making an attempt to be pessimistic.
Nevertheless, 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 wished MuppetVision to get replaced–clearly I didn’t.
It’s that MuppetVision has had an extended and incredible run–far longer than some other 3D movies on the parks. Whereas it’s dismissive to confer with MuppetVision, a real nationwide treasure, as solely a 3D movie, that’s doubtless how Walt Disney World and most visitors view it. So assuming MuppetVision can be retired within the subsequent decade (this was lengthy earlier than the Monstropolis announcement at D23), I wished 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 favor curler coasters to 3D movies. On the threat of stating the plain, Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster is an attraction with way more mainstream attraction than MuppetVision. Many extra visitors will expertise it than did MuppetVision on a mean day. With that, maybe some children will trip the coaster, go residence and take a look at the Muppets, and new followers might be cast within the course of.
On a private be aware, it saddens me that we received’t be capable of take Megatron to see MuppetVision when she’s sufficiently old to grasp it. However alternatively, I’m already excited that the Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster Starring the Muppets might be her first “huge” 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 can be an excellent substitute for Aerosmith? For those who may select the retheme of RnRC, what would get your vote? Do you agree or disagree with our evaluation? Any questions we will help you reply? Listening to your suggestions—even whenever you disagree with us—is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!
