The Muppets have officially taken over Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The new version of the attraction — Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets — features The Electric Mayhem as the headliner instead of Aerosmith.
The ride is currently going through previews but officially opens to guests on May 26. however, we at WDWNT were granted early access to share our experience with you.
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets
Rock out with The Electric Mayhem as the Muppets take you on a high-speed ride through Hollywood!
Full POV Video
Courtyard
Guests enter the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster courtyard under an upside-down car on the head of a long guitar neck.
The car and 40-foot-tall guitar (a Fender Stratocaster) have been given colorful The Electric Mayhem-inspired makeovers. The car’s license plates read “MUPP3TS.”
The signage on the guitar has been updated to read “Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets.” And one of the piano keys below the guitar was painted gold as an homage to The Electric Mayhem frontman Dr. Teeth.
The entrance archway, gate, and show building were all painted gray. They were previously shades of beige.
The former KRNR The Rock Station snack kiosk reopens as FØØD by Swedish Chef.
Rock Around the Shop, the ride’s exit gift shop, has updated signage. The painted sign outside the doors includes Dr. Teeth’s arm pointing to the store.
The poster on the building features The Electric Mayhem members, Kermit, and Miss Piggy in one of the ride’s reimagined limousines (just like the upside-down car on the archway). Behind them are colorful lights and palm trees. The poster style is the same as the former Aerosmith attraction poster.
The courtyard has a new background music loop with 30+ songs, including The Electric Mayhem songs.
Height Requirement
The ride’s height requirement is 48 inches / 122 cm. Cast Members will little ones who aren’t quite tall enough to ride a special “Future Rock Star” card. It features Kermit’s nephew Robin and a spot to fill out the date when you’re “totally tall enough to ride.”
Queue
Just like the former version of Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, the concept of this ride is that guests are on a VIP tour of G-Force Records — under new management. Scooter’s uncle, J.P. Grosse (the real estate tycoon who also owns The Muppet Theatre) has bought the record company and put Scooter in charge.
Along the wall of the exterior queue is a series of new posters inspired by The Electric Mayhem. There’s a fresh poster design for each member of the band, as well as generic posters advertising their “one night only” Hollywood concert.
G-Force Records has the same logo, which appears throughout the courtyard and queue: a circular shape resembling a record with a hidden G and F.
The digital posters in the rotunda have been replaced by The Electric Mayhem posters and vertical videos. This “social media” feed depicts different Muppets and celebrities backstage at the concert venue trying to figure out where The Electric Mayhem is. There’s over 30 minutes of footage.
Celebrity cameos include Weird Al Yankovic, Awkwafina, Travis Barker, Wayne Brady, Yvette Nicole Brown, Darren Criss, Neil Patrick Harris, John Stamos, Danny Trejo, and Ken Marino.
Marino was the non-speaking music producer in the Aerosmith pre-show. He’s playing his character from the former attraction, now a “legend of G-Force Records”.
Guests exit the rotunda through the Artist Entrance.
Here is a display of Muppet props curated by Yolanda the rat, an employee of G-Force Records. Yolanda’s a little disorganized so the display is still “in progress,” as shown by a pile of cardboard boxes, lights, and other random objects to the right.
The finished displays include a green and pink polka-dot dress and matching hat worn by Miss Piggy.
Kermit’s banjo and some swamp props are on a dais. This is a replica of his original “The Rainbow Connection” banjo, which resides in the Walt Disney Archives. There’s a pink top hat and keyboard belonging to Dr. Teeth, the frontman of The Electric Mayhem.
Other The Electric Mayhem instruments include Lips’ trumpet, Janice’s guitar, Zoot’s saxophone, and Sgt. Floyd Pepper’s bass. Floyd and Janice’s guitars are originals from The Muppet Show. On the floor are dozens of The Electric Mayhem buttons and guitar picks.
Animal’s drum set is surrounded by discarded drumsticks.
The last few items include a Beethoven bust, old-fashioned gramophone, and candelabra. The bust is inspired by a Muppet that sometimes accompanied Rowlf in The Muppet Show.
A portrait of J.P. Grosse is on the wall before the next room. The placard below him reads, “Can we do it better and cheaper?”
On the walls in the next space are various photos of Muppets from over the years, including Kermit, Miss Piggy, Gonzo, Rowlf, and Rizzo. Miss Piggy’s dog Foo-Foo has her own album framed on the wall: “Foo-Foo Sings Notes Only Dogs Can Hear.”
Cast members organize guests into groups to enter the recording studio. The walls in this area were painted pale yellow instead of white and have brighter lighting, including new overhead lights.
Pre-Show
Guests enter the recording studio, where The Electric Mayhem is rehearsing their original song “Can You Picture That?” from The Muppet Movie (1979). Props include a PizzeRizzo box and many lava lamps.
Scooter is featured as an animatronic, which was created using motion capture of the real Scooter Muppet. Behind Scooter is a black Gibson Les Paul from the former Aerosmith pre-show.
Two animatronic penguins act as audio engineers.
Sam Eagle makes a cameo on the security screen behind Scooter. There are several random sequences that can be triggered here, including another scene with The Swedish Chef.
Kermit interrupts the rehearsal, concerned about the band reaching their concert across town on time. Scooter assures Kermit that the band will make it before muttering under his breath that he has no idea how.
Beaker of Muppet Labs then explodes through the wall into the recording booth with the band. Dr. Bunsen Honeydew appears on screen to explain their L.I.M.O. invention — Lengthy Immediate Motion Object. This super-powered vehicle will get everyone to the show on time.
You can watch the full pre-show below:
Guests exit into a hallway of Scooter portraits dubbing him Employee of the Month every month. At the end of the wall is a picture of Ken Marino, a G-Force Legend honored for Outstanding Lifetime Achievement. The quote on his placard reads, “Look at me now, baby!”
Cases on the walls display costumes for members of The Electric Mayhem.
Loading Area
Guests enter the alley behind the studio to board their L.I.M.O.s. The general theming is the same but there are new props, including a plethora of The Great Gonzo items. Gonzo has set up a new company — Gonzo’s Stunt School Hollywood. Single riders will pass by a door to the school.
The “Blast Off” billboard in the background is what Fozzie camouflages his car in front of while hiding from Doc Hopper in The Muppet Movie. In the ride’s storyline, the scaffolding is being used to paint the billboard.
Props include a plumber statue from The Muppet Movie (1979) and Gonzo’s Charles Dickens top hat from The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992). Many props are recycled from the pre-show of MuppetVision 3D, including Gonzo’s Curtis Moth plane and banner, storage crates, and feather boas.
A box of fireworks is labeled “Work in Progress Do Not Move.” You might also spot the cannon the penguins used to aim at the Swedish Chef and PizzeRizzo pizza boxes.
The Mona Lisa painting from Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano has also found its way to Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster.
Peeking out of one crate are Statler and Waldorf’s theater seats from MuppetVision 3D.
The neon LA Down Under Club sign now has a plank with “Comedy” added to it. Fozzie performs here sometimes.
A small door to the side has a “Squeakeasy” sign and small motorcycles parked outside. The sign says it was established in 1936, the same year Jim Henson was born.
Before the launch is Swedish Chef’s Høt Dergs stand.
Nearby flyers indicate someone has lost a bunny, a reference to Bean Bunny running away in MuppetVision. If you see him, contact Sweetums “or just yell real loud”. Other flyers reference artichokes, Angus McGonagle, Marvin Suggs’ Muppaphone, and PizzeRizzo.
Laundry hanging outside the fire escape includes Fozzie’s bowtie, a PizzeRizzo apron, and an Electric Mayhem tour shirt.
A painted street sign reads “1401 Flower St.” — the address of Walt Disney Imagineering headquarters in Glendale.
As guests enter the parking garage, they pass under screens and signs displaying safety information. The video resembles Muppet Labs sketches on graph paper. The L.I.M.O. experiment number is 07291999 — a reference to July 29, 1999, the opening date of Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith.
Signs illustrate how guests should store loose articles in the vehicle.
ATTENTION L.I.M.O. RIDERS:
Your loose articles, including phones, cameras and scientific doodads, must be stored properly.Please secure them:
– In your pocket
– In the vehicle storage pouch
– Or leave them with a non-riderDr. Bunsen Honeydew PHD. ESQ.
Some of the small signs next to the safety information stating things like “This means YOU!” and “Top Secret” are taken out of the MuppetVision 3D queue. The “Muppet Labs L.I.MO. Research” sign is new but made in the same style.
Between videos, the Muppet Labs Automotive Division logo is displayed.
Bunsen and Beaker have taken up shop in the ground floor of the parking garage. A garage door has the Muppet Labs Automotive Division logo. Among the props are their newly-signed lease.
The platform across from the loading area has new props like a chalkboard of coaster diagrams, a barrel of bubbles, and Bunsen and Beaker’s lab coats.
The Muppet Labs test vehicle is a redressed version of the Le Maximum car from 2014’s Muppets Most Wanted. It’s test #032114 — the release date of the film.
Near the back of the platform is the Muppet Mobile Lab, which once appeared at EPCOT, Disney California Adventure, and Hong Kong Disneyland ridden by free-roaming animatronics of Bunsen and Beaker.
Vehicles & Ride
Like the upside-down car outside, the limos have a new colorful design including music notes and stars. Their license plates all now read “MUPP3TS.” In the Aerosmith version, the license plates were different and corresponded to the track list, so guests in the know could figure out what song they would hear on the ride.
The LED countdown sign above the launch has been replaced by a screen that shows a Hollywood Fwy road sign then a new Muppets countdown.
On the ride, guests will hear one of these songs performed by The Electric Mayhem:
- “Song 2”
- “Born to be Wild” ft. Camilla the Chicken
- “Love Rollercoaster” ft. Jennifer Hudson & Questlove
- “Rock! Rock! (Till You Drop)” ft. Def Leppard
- “Walking on Sunshine” ft. Kelly Clarkson
Many of the billboards and signs of Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster have been replaced and updated with Muppet theming. The giant “Hollywood” sign at the start is the same.
The Whisky a Go Go sign on the left was replaced by a neon PizzeRizzo billboard based on the restaurant’s real billboard.
These include a sign for World Wide Studios, the movie studio seen in The Muppet Movie. The Civic Center sign now features Beaker crashed into it. A skyscraper was replaced by a fork.
A Waldo crossing sign is a nod to MuppetVision. A sign under that reads “Obligatory Easter Egg.” It replaces the corkscrew sign.
Muppet faces are now among the row of palm trees on both sides of the track. The “Watch Opposing Traffic” sign now reads “Caution Chicken Crossing” with two chicken silhouettes.
A yellow diamond sign with a guitar silhouette was changed to a right turn only sign. A burger sign was replaced by Sweetums holding a blue “Star Maps” arrow sign.
The Thai Taco sign was replaced by Super Gonzo on a rocket-powered skateboard. A donut prop that the cars go through is now a flaming ring of fire.
The former VIP Parking sign now has Miss Piggy to the side. It reads “VIP Parking Straight Ahead – Very Important Pig.” Some chickens are to either side of the track and Muppet posters are on the walls at the very end.
On-Ride Photo
There are three frames for the on-ride photo. One is a blue, purple, and pink design with the faces of The Electric Mayhem members. One features Animal and Sergeant Floyd Pepper on a poster. The third is a neon pink and green design including Miss Piggy and Kermit alongside a “Guest Pass” image.
Guests wearing a MagicBand will have all three versions of the photo automatically connected to their My Disney Experience account. Other guests can link the photos at screens in the exit area.
Exit
Right before the exit platform are Statler and Waldorf in a trailer. The animatronics are recycled from MuppetVision 3D, wearing slightly different outfits and with new dialogue — although repeating one of their most famous MuppetVision jokes about being bolted to the seats.
The exit area is still themed to a VIP entrance tent, now with The Electric Mayhem concert posters.
A projection screen above the on-ride photo displays shows The Electric Mayhem performing at their concert.
Above the exit is a portrait of the Muppet version of Jim Henson, which once hung in the MuppetVision pre-show room.
Rock Around The Shop
Rock Around The Shop still resembles a backstage area with equipment crates and instruments. There are a few more groovy, colorful touches plus it’s now packed with Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets merchandise.
Mirrors with brightly-colored frames and decals are among the displays. A light-up “Rock” sign hangs on a column.
The check-out counter made of crates has colorful splotches of paint across it. A neon “Rock On” sign hangs on the wall. There is a pile of tiny Muppet luggage on top of one display.
Hanging above the exit/entrance map are The Electric Mayhem concert posters.
Miss the old version of the coaster? Check out our last look at Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith.
For the latest Disney Parks news and info, follow WDW News Today on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
