News Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Closes After 27 Years — The Muppets Are Moving In
It's the end of an era at Disney's Hollywood Studios. Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith ran its final rides on March 1, 2026, closing after a remarkable 27-year run that began on July 29, 1999. On its last day of operation, the attraction drew wait times of up to 115 minutes — the longest in all of Walt Disney World — as guests lined up for one final launch through the dark.
What's Replacing It: The Muppets Take Over
The ride isn't going away — it's getting a complete makeover. Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets will transform the attraction with an entirely new storyline, soundtrack, pre-show, and theming built around Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem.
Here's what we know about the new version so far:
- Same ride system — Guests will still launch from 0 to 57 mph in 2.8 seconds and experience three inversions in the dark
- New storyline — Guests join the Electric Mayhem at "G-Force Records," which has been bought by Scooter's uncle J.P. Grosse
- New Audio-Animatronics — Including penguins, because of course the Muppets would bring penguins
- Completely new soundtrack — Trading Aerosmith's rock catalog for the Electric Mayhem's signature sound
- Target reopening — Summer 2026 (likely July or August)
The iconic guitar and stretch limo entrance elements have already been removed from the exterior, so the transformation is well underway.
Lightning Lane Tier Confirmed
On March 6, Disney confirmed that the Muppets version will be classified as a Tier 1 Lightning Lane attraction — matching its predecessor's designation. It joins Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway, Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, and Slinky Dog Dash in that top tier, meaning you'll need an Individual Lightning Lane purchase to skip the standby line.
What It Means for Your Visit
If you're heading to Hollywood Studios between now and summer 2026, you'll be missing one of the park's headline attractions. The good news is that the Muppets retheme keeps the same thrilling ride experience — the launch, the inversions, the speed — just wrapped in a completely different (and arguably more family-friendly) package.
For Aerosmith fans who never got their final ride: the closure happened quickly, and many were caught off guard. But for Muppets fans, this is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated attraction openings of the year.
We'll be covering the transformation as it progresses and will have a full review once the Muppets version opens this summer. Stay tuned.
