Disney's Muppets roller coaster gets its opening date and set list

"for the greatest celebrity cameo in Disney Parks history - "Weird Al" Yankovic."

He already has a cameo in the film Pirates 4-D, which originally played at the Globe Theater at BGW and has run at numerous other theme parks around the world including Thorpe Park and Phantasialand. And nothing against Weird Al, but the greatest celebrity cameo in a Disney park has to be "Patrick" on Soarin', especially when you consider the time at which the attraction debuted just a few years after Seinfeld ended (and was in heavy syndication) along with the guest with the Mickey Ears who looks conspicuously like Jason Alexander.

Frankly, I'm a little underwhelmed by this initial track list and the lack of rockstar power collaborating with Electric Mayhem. I know the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has broadened what classifies as "rock and roll", but when I think of rock artists, Questlove, Jennifer Hudson, and Kelly Clarkson are not the first performers that come to mind - if you're going to do an American Idol reunion, at least include Daughtry or Adam Lambert singing a Queen song.

Def Leppard definitely fits the "rock and roll" theme, but Rock! Rock! (Till you drop) is not the song I would have picked from their immense catalogue, and probably would have been my 4th or 5th choice if limited to Pyromania (behind Rock of Ages, Foolin', Photograph, and likely Too Late for Love). Also, the lack of more modern or iconic rock songs is really disappointing - Born to Be Wild is from the 60's, Love Roller Coaster is from the 70s (and 90's), Walking on Sunshine and Rock! Rock! are from the 80's, and Song 2 is from the 90's. If you take Song 2 out, this could be confused for a rejected Peter Quill mixtape for GotG:CR (frankly, I wouldn't be surprised that's the reason these songs were chosen - WDI bought the rights to these songs initially for that ride and didn't think they worked on the EPCOT coaster).

Something tells me that they either didn't want to spend the time or money to get the rights to a solid track list here given this is such a quick and skim-coated overlay. Hopefully they have at least one "hidden" track in the attraction from Aerosmith. Disney ginned up a ton of social media/influencer attention this week for the announcement of this track list, but it's going over like a lead balloon (if only Disney could have ponied up for some Led Zeppelin instead).

When Rock 'n' Roller Coaster first opened, I had though that they would rotate the band featured every 5-10 years to make the coster feel new with only media swap and minor physical changes. Egg on my face for that assumption…

With this new approach, it seems the human characters are swappable and thus easier to mix things up without too much effort. Not to mention the track list which is freed from one particular band/artist for the whole set.

All this to say: I hope in the coming years there's efforts to change things up a bit every so often.

But don't ever take out Weird Al!

Introducing: Rock-adjacent'n'Roller Coaster featuring The Muppets, weird Al, and all the C-List Celebrities who owed us a favor!

This is lazy to say the least. Maybe they could move Muppets 3D over near there eventually. I'm not impressed by cramming all the IP they can into every part of the parks. And I know Aerosmith is technically IP, but it's not owned by Disney, and actually made sense for the ride's theme.

It's a crime to have Weird Al featured on this attraction & not have a polka on the set list.

"Small Ball" strikes again! Scroll down TPI's front page and you have Wendy & Pete, the Animation Hat and Muppets.

Low cost, New stuff.

And they drop the Muppets opening on Memorial Day weekend.

Brilliant!

Gotta say I'm a little disappointed (but not terribly surprised, I suppose) that the obvious "Rockin' All Around The World" from the "Muppets at Walt Disney World" TV special didn't make the cut. Maybe we'll get it as a bonus track...

My expectations for this were that it would be more like a glorified seasonal overlay than a truly reimagined attraction, and given that they're doing the project in under three months I suspect that's going to wind up being fairly accurate. Aerosmith was definitely at the point where their relevance was minimal and this swap allowing for a rotating mix of tunes isn't a bad move, but I hope it doesn't backfire because people had high expectations for it. At least it should be easy to redo once again in the event the Muppets wind up flopping with general visitors.

Not sure how it could "backfire". People will be heading to DHS for Toy Story Land, Galaxy's Edge and (soon enough) Monsters Inc. The Muppet coaster adds a modified ("new") attraction at a low development price. I'll wager the waits will hover between 30-60 minutes all summer.

It’s all fun and games until they have to modify the preshow because Dr. Teeth holds up his hand in a controversial way.

Ultimately it’s a roller coaster, so you could retheme it to Law and Order and it would still be popular. I understand why some folks are disappointed by this seemingly minimal retheme, but I just don’t see how much different people were expecting it to be, given the structure of the attraction and speed of the ride. It’d be one thing if they were re-theming a dark ride or theater show. I fully expect a very silly preshow and very silly songs on the ride. As for the randomness of the celebrities, I kind of feel like Muppetdom has always reveled in random celebrity interactions. Look at the original Muppet Show run and then on to the multitude of visitors on Sesame Street. Sure they’ve had A-listers, but they’ve also had some real randos lol. The stars here are the Muppets, of course and I would’ve been fine if it was just the Muppets. I’m just glad to see this back up and running and I’m also glad that the Muppets still have a presence in the park.

I get it TH, this refreshed attraction perfectly fits your definition of "small ball", but I really think Disney has skimped far too much with one of their most beloved purchased IPs. I'm just really disappointed in this track list, and let's not get confused, guests will hear those same 5 songs every ride, while the previous version anchored by Aerosmith had a rotating soundtrack that would play a random track of 4/5 Aerosmith songs. The Aerosmith version had a unique track list for each of the 5 limos (though I believe when it opened there was just one set track for all the limos), so when this new version debuts it will likely be a return to a set track for every single ride.

Again, it really feels like all but Song 2 were pitched for GotG:CR and rejected, and that's why they're ending up here - pinching pennies on music rights they had already cleared for the EPCOT coaster. It also seems like Disney feels some obligation to maintain a constant Muppet presence in the parks after MuppetVision closed to construct Monstropolis. Now, I do think it was smart for Disney to finally sunset one of Jim Henson's final works, but this feels like such a force and turning this attraction over so quickly feels incredibly haphazard that it could hurt the legacy of the Muppets more than it will help and connect with new audiences.

As others have said, this is still a roller coaster, so guests will gravitate towards it just for that (though if it has 30-60 minute lines as suggested by TH, that would be less than what the attraction saw in the year before it closed), but it's sad that more care and consideration does not appear to have been paid to ensure this retheme is an improvement on the original (a guiding principal of any retheme, refurb, or replacement) with a soundtrack that is inventive, exciting, and relevant. TH is absolutely right about Disney's effective use of minor tweaks and "small ball" improvements across WDW as an initial counter to Epic and in advance of massive additions coming the latter half of the decade, but even if the investment in this retheme has been minimal, it really feels like they're wasting an opportunity here to take the Muppets to the next level and it appears like they're delivering a subpar attraction just to get credit for doing "something".

TH, given that Rock 'n' Roller Coaster was typically a 30-45 minute wait in my experience, I would consider the remake a flop if it's not consistently exceeding that range for at least the first couple years of operation. However, what I'm more thinking as a backfire would be if people who weren't necessarily planning to visit decide to go because of "the new Muppet roller coaster" and discover that it's just a reskin of a rough 27 year old Vekoma they've ridden plenty of times before, thus leaving them bitter and less excited about other upcoming additions to the resort. I feel like this following up both the extremely well received Guardians and Tron as well as the more lukewarm reception of Tiana's makes it a bit risky if it's intended to be marketed as a new attraction, which could be the reason Disney is preserving the Rock 'n' Roller Coaster name (though in that case, it can't really be used as a new attraction to drive visits).

fattyackin, I don't think it would have been too much to ask for a retheme more on par with what Disney did for Guardians at DCA, where the attraction wasn't altered mechanically or structurally but thematically it wouldn't be recognized as Tower of Terror by those who don't know that's what it used to be. Instead, this feels like something more on the level of Hyperspace Mountain, where they're essentially slapping a new IP over what's already there and calling it a day. For me personally, my main grievance is that they aren't even swapping out the trains for Vekoma's newer design with significantly more comfortable restraints, as Rock 'n' Roller Coaster isn't the smoothest ride out there and really doesn't hold up now that Disney has some very modern thrill rides.

Russell, the way Rock 'n' Roller Coaster worked, each of the five trains had one specific song (or a medley with snippets from 2-3 songs) that played for every cycle. Given that five songs were announced for this ride, I'm guessing that the new version will use the same setup, which likely is a hardware limitation imposed by the late 90s technology in use. I agree that it would have been a lot more compelling to load 20-30 tracks onto the ride and put it on shuffle, though I'm guessing that's not logistically possible.

AJ: "TH, given that Rock 'n' Roller Coaster was typically a 30-45 minute wait in my experience, I would consider the remake a flop if it's not consistently exceeding that range for at least the first couple years of operation."

Me: That's ridiculous. A "flop"? This new version of the attraction cost Disney pennies. If it the Muppets version of R&RC (along with the new animation courtyard and the revamped Millennium Falcon attraction) helps DHS sustain its attendance it has to be regarded as a success. And once Monsters opens, the presence of the Muppet coaster will help maintain park capacity.

AJ: "However, what I'm more thinking as a backfire would be if people who weren't necessarily planning to visit decide to go because of "the new Muppet roller coaster" and discover that it's just a reskin of a rough 27 year old Vekoma they've ridden plenty of times before, thus leaving them bitter and less excited about other upcoming additions to the resort."

Me: Right. Well, according to TEA/AECOM DHS had 10.3 million admissions. Based on your assertion, how many people will be so alienated by the Muppets that they won't return to the park? A million? A million five? Also there's this from Fattyackin: "Ultimately it’s a roller coaster, so you could retheme it to Law and Order and it would still be popular".

Russell: "Disney has skimped far too much with one of their most beloved purchased IPs."

Me: "Most beloved"? As much as Stitch? As much as Anna and Elsa? Mickey & Minnie? My pals on the inside tell me that the reason the Muppets footprint in the parks has always been muted is because their merch doesn't sell as well as other Disney owned IPs. Next time you walk through the park, compare the number of Kermit (Muppet) t-shirts to those of Star Wars, Stitch, Anna & Elsa, etc. The Muppets' fans are certainly out there, but this small ball effort is commensurate with their actual popularity and ROI.

Russell: "I'm just really disappointed in this track list ..."

Me: That's a matter of taste.

Russell: "...and let's not get confused, guests will hear those same 5 songs every ride."

Me: Do we know this for a fact? Because AJ seems to blow that claim out of the water: "Russell, the way Rock 'n' Roller Coaster worked, each of the five trains had one specific song (or a medley with snippets from 2-3 songs) that played for every cycle. Given that five songs were announced for this ride, I'm guessing that the new version will use the same setup ..."

Russell: "Again, it really feels like all but Song 2 were pitched for GotG:CR ..."

Me: "Feels like"? So you could be wrong?

Russell: "... this feels like such a force and turning this attraction over so quickly feels incredibly haphazard ... "

Me: I believe the purpose of this effort was to put lipstick on a pig (which is a hilarious use of THAT particular metaphor), spend little or no money ("small ball") in order to sustain attendance until Monsters opens. And once Monsters opens, this B/C level attraction helps the park maintain capacity

Russell: "it could hurt the legacy of the Muppets more than it will help and connect with new audiences."

Me: Oh give me a break! Disney has bent over backwards to keep the Muppets in the public eye. The Jason Segel flick (how much do you think Jim Parsons and Emily Blunt charged Disney?), the Dr. Teeth series, the new Muppet show (which fell flat). Disney has invested in the Muppets for years (and will continue to do so). IMHO: This coaster is meant to maintain park revenue, not to expand the IP's audience.

TH, how come your praise Disney for "low budget small ball", but the Universal Studios Orlando "cheap retheme" area is universally disliked? I feel like this is gonna age as well as Jimmy Fallon.

Because Disney is doing it on multiple fronts. Go back to my discussion thread post and you'll see where a list multiple additions in pretty much every park.

And which ride at Universal did I refer to as a "cheap retheme"? Wondering so I can see if I had a genuine point or if I was just being a jackass. Either of those is a possibility.

By the way, what I like about Fallon is the queue (30 Rock). I wish they would change the Fallon ride into a film -- producing a nice air conditioned theater featuring a doc/flick about all of the classic NBC shows.

TH - I have acknowledged that your "small ball" theory has been a great strategy for Disney, but my point here is why did Disney need to spend ANY money on this retheme. As fattyakin noted, and you confirm, Disney could have rethemed this to Law and Order and people would still line up for it since it's a roller coaster.

When it comes to the popularity of the Muppets, I concede that the IP doesn't generate merch sales or has the recognition of other IPs in Disney's portfolio, but for my generation (perhaps I'm showing my age here), the Muppets/Henson were the go-to family franchise at a time when Disney was stuck in a cycle of mediocrity (The Rescuers, Fox and the Hound, Black Cauldron, The Great Mouse Detective, and Oliver and Company - personally, I love ALL those movies, but not a single one was good enough to earn any sort of lasting presence in the theme parks). When you grew up in the late 70's and 80's, like I did, the Muppets are a truly "beloved" franchise, so when that IP is featured in a popular theme park, you want it to be treated with reverence and respect, not as a throw-away substandard attraction that Imagineers threw together in an evening over some Chinese takeout and a case of Coors Light.

There's nothing wrong with taking more measured/restrained approaches to some attractions (not everything can be an e-ticket, as Universal is learning with Epic), but if you're going to go through the motions to retheme what once was one of the top thrill rides in all of WDW, at least make it look like you care and are giving more than a half-hearted effort. I don't think Disney needs to pull out all the stops for the Muppets, but when you're working from a base that's already pretty good (RnRC was already a solid attraction), it shouldn't take much effort to make it appear like you're trying to hit a double or triple instead of an attempt to leg out a single on a bunt.

When it comes to the soundtrack, it's very possible that AJ is correct and that each of the 5 limos will feature one of the five songs, but if that's the case, I think I would be even more disappointed with this track list, because none of these songs is good enough to singularly carry a 90-second ride. The Aerosmith tracks featured 5 different tracks that contained between 1 and 4 songs (depending on if you include minor snippets at the end) with the hooks of each of those tunes seamlessly transitioning synchronously with the layout. I also believe that the on-board systems got a significant upgrade in the late 2010's following it's first major refurb in 2007 when 24-volt systems producing louder audio to overcome track noise were installed to replace the original 12-volt systems. While the on-board audio systems are not as advanced as what you find on GotG:CR or other attractions opened in the last 3-5 years, they're not as antiquated as you might think, nor is it inconceivable that this retheme also may see another audio system upgrade that could allow for song randomization.

I believe the latest report is that each of the trains will be upgraded so that the songs are randomly generated à la Guardians of the Galaxy.

Regardless of how this re-theme performs, it accomplishes what Disney has probably been wanting to do for years now: it removes licensing fees on an attraction in favor of an in-house IP they don’t have to pay for. I would expect Tower of Terror to be the next to close for the same reason once Monsters Inc opens.

@James - While Disney no longer has to pay Aerosmith (it is believed that the timing of this retheme was triggered by a renewal clause in the licensing contract as well as recent reports of questionable conduct from lead singer Stephen Tyler), they'll still need to pay for the rights to the songs, though given the low-profile of these tunes, the cost for music is at least equal or less than what it was costing Disney to play Aerosmith songs.

If Disney pulls Twilight Zone theming off ToT, I think there would be a riot. An entire generation of Disney fans would need to move on from this planet before they could retheme ToT unless they're ready to take on the massive public ridicule that would come with such a move - it would pale in comparison to what they encountered when removing RoA. No attraction is sacrosanct, but the OG ToT is probably as close as it gets in a Disney theme park.

@TH - I do believe you had criticized the KidZone refurb to Dreamworks as a "cheap" retheme when noting the lack of additions to the legacy parks in advance of Epic's opening.

@Russell: I doubt that I used the words "cheap rethemes" (and no one has pulled a quote). However I will repeat that I am unimpressed with the DreamWorks expansion. And I don't consider it to be an example of "small ball" -- wherein a list of smaller new and upgraded attractions, as well as new and upgraded entertainment open across multiple parks.

Regarding Russell's theories on licensing ("it is believed that ..."), are all pure conjecture. He has no idea of the licensing rights or contract terms related to these songs. Nor does he know if Disney (a worldwide communications company that licenses music for theme parks, films, television shows, etc.) has other agreements with the artists, or their publishing companies.

I mean, come on!

"And I don't consider it to be an example of "small ball" -- wherein a list of smaller new and upgraded attractions, as well as new and upgraded entertainment open across multiple parks."

That seems rather hypocritical, particularly when you consider what Universal did with KidZone and Villain-con is very similar to what Disney has done or is doing to a number of attractions across WDW including TBA, RnRC, Tough to be a Bug, and Dinosaur. Universal rethemed an entire land and completely replaced a theater-based attraction, and you seem to be dismissing those because you're "un-impressed"? While I can't find you stating that DreamWorks was a "cheap retheme", I find it interesting how radically you seem to have changed your tune while going out of your way to promote your Disney Small Ball theory. When the Kidzone conversion was announced in 2022, you claimed it was "Exciting News" - https://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/202211/9214/ and after DreamWorks officially announced its opening date in 2024, you proclaimed "Well done Universal Orlando" - https://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/202404/10192/. It feels like you're ragging on Universal simply to put Disney over, but the reality is that both companies have utilized similar strategies on and off over the past 5 years. So explain how you can suddenly be "un-impressed" with a retheme that you lauded on multiple occasions, but others can't be similarly "un-impressed" with this Muppet retheme given recent news?

I'll also note on the "small ball" topic, in addition to DreamWorks and Villain-Con, Universal did introduce the Mega Movie Parade in summer 2024 (ahead of Epic's opening), which is far more substantial and notable than adding a new unit to an existing parade, yet the Peter/Wendy addition warrants recognition as "small ball" while the Mega Movie Parade goes unmentioned in your comparison.

And on licensing, we have no idea how much the Aerosmith licensing was costing either - keeping the original band on the ride might be minuscule compared to the cost of physically maintaining the coaster. There's a lot we don't know here, but what I can say is that this track list is WEAK.

They could have probably pulled songs straight from the OG Muppet Show that they already own and can be streamed ad nauseum on Disney+ that would have been miles better, more recognized, and more "rock-y" than what they've chosen here (Elton John, Alice Cooper, Debby Harry, Diana Ross, and Paul Simon). Muppets Tonight from the 90's featured performances from the likes of Prince, Garth Brooks and Paula Abdul (if you want to keep that American Idol connection), while Muppets Mayhem from 2023 featured Chris Stapleton, Tommy Lee (Motley Crue), Susana Hoffs (The Bangles), and Ziggy Marley, and the most recent Muppet TV production earlier this year was dominated by Sabrina Carpenter. Dave Grohl from the Foo Fighters and Nirvana famously has a drum battle against Animal in 2011's movie The Muppets. Again, WDI had tons of artists/tracks they could have tapped for this attraction that have actual relevance to the Muppets (and Rock and Roll), but what we're ending up with is a bargain bin/GotG:CR reject track list that has very little relevance to the IP or the attraction's theme. I mean the original artists in this track list save for Def Leppard wouldn't even get booked for Eat to the Beat they're that irrelevant. What's further frustrating is that Disney teased this track release like it was massive news (going back to optimization of their "small ball" strategy), but it fell completely flat and has garnered plenty of criticism beyond forums like this one. If you're going to do a big teaser, at least have something "big" to announce, but when that track list was released it was pure crickets - perhaps in true sarcastic Muppet fashion that was Disney's goal, but it certainly doesn't help the IP's image here nor garners excitement for May's debut.

I gotta be honest: I'm a bit disappeared by the lack of dad rock. Where's the Foo Fighters? Where's Green Day? Instead, it seems they are appealing to fans of grandad rock...

Russell, I don’t doubt that the backlash from Disney fans would be swift and intense if the Twilight Zone theming is dropped. But at the end of the day, they’ll still hop in line for it like they have for Mission: Breakout, Frozen Ever After, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, and soon-to-be Piston Peak.

Here’s the question no one‘s asking: what if it turns out great? I mean, ultimately, the thrill of the ride comes from the coaster itself and the immersion of being in the darkened building. Add to that the mad cap hilarity of the Muppets and I don’t imagine many would come off of the attraction feeling de-energized about the song that they heard while riding. Trust me, as a child of the 80s I definitely hold the Muppets and all things Henson in very high esteem. And to echo Russell’s point there was definitely a time when they were ubiquitous in the arena of family entertainment, and justly so.
And trust me when I say that nobody would rather hear the Beastie Boys’ Sabotage sung by the Swedish Chef or The White Stripes’ Seven Nation Army sung by Animal more than myself (sing with me now “drumz-drumz-drumz-drum-drum-druummm-drumz”). I don’t care if Disney is marketing this as a brand new attraction when it’s a retheme because Disney marketing is going to do their level best to get all of everyone’s money all the time. I think they are wise to keep this retheme as an inexpensive makeover because they are definitely spending the money elsewhere in the park, most notably in the old Muppet Neighborhood.
I guess what I’m trying to say is that even though the tracklist comes across as lame, when I think about the Muppets, I think about these songs being sung by the muppets ,or interrupted by them, and less so about the raw power or rocking element of the song itself. Hell, the Muppets recorded a Christmas album with John Denver for Pete’s sake and it’s fire lol.
Ultimately my expectations for this are a much sillier and lighthearted version of an already great ride. Nothing more.

Russell's comments here seem more than a bit off target

Russell: "So explain how you can suddenly be "un-impressed" with a retheme that you lauded on multiple occasions, but others can't be similarly "un-impressed" with this Muppet retheme given recent news?

Me: First of all, I've NEVER said others can't be be "similarly 'un-impressed' with this Muppet retheme". To each his own. Second, you need to read more carefully. I was excited by the announcement of the expansions. I am excited when any park or business in the Central Florida hospitality industry announces a new project. It directly benefits both the industry I work in and the local economy. As for me being unimpressed with the final product that is Comcast's Dreamworks expansion how is that inconsistent with being excited about new construction that will attract visitors to Central Florida?

Russell: "I'll also note on the "small ball" topic, in addition to DreamWorks and Villain-Con, Universal did introduce the Mega Movie Parade in summer 2024 (ahead of Epic's opening), which is far more substantial and notable than adding a new unit to an existing parade, yet the Peter/Wendy addition warrants recognition as "small ball" while the Mega Movie Parade goes unmentioned in your comparison".

Me: I'm sorry who is the one making "comparisons"? (Chuckle) RM: " In contrast to the massive addition of Epic, Disney has instead chosen to make minor tweaks to their park lineups in preparation of a major push during the later half of this decade". Gosh Russell, weren't YOU aware of Comcast's "small ball" projects? You know Villain-Con, Dreamworks and Mega Movie Parade? Why did YOU leave them out?

As far as me giving Disney more credit than Comcast, please revisit my thread over on the Discussion page and tell me which of the Disney "small ball" adds that I describe as "impressive"? I think the Wendy and Peter float thing looks pretty cool. But I also wrote "I mean, they basically ran a vacuum through the queue of 'Frozen Ever After' and when it re-opened as an allegedly upgraded "new experience" the line on the first day stretched from Norway to Germany."

Not exactly high praise.

However here's a quote from a TPI reg regarding the success of Disney's strategy: "Disney is getting a lot of bang from their buck by making small changes to their parks and doesn't appear to be giving up much market share despite Universal opening a brand new theme park on the other side of town."

Wanna guess who wrote that?

Fattyackin-
I mean, I see where you're coming from. I want this to be great - I really do- and I love the Muppets. I have since I was a kid (treasure Island is my personal favorite). But this set list and cameo reveal is not exactly boding well for it, is it? Because I'm almost sure that the only reason this is The Muppets is because they closed Muppetvison 3D. It seems like they have an old ride and an old IP they need to do something with and they're just smashing them together.

TH- it looks like you'll argue semantics until the end of time, but regardless of how you feel about "small ball" from a business perspective, it's certainly not very exciting from an artistic perspective. Theme parks are an art form, and new character meet'n'greets and lazy ride rethemes aren't very artistic in my opinion. They hold the most basic amount of entertainment value, especially because in this case we're talking about a thrill coaster, but Muppets Rock-'n'-roll isn't the most inspired decision, is it?

@V-Coaster: I won't make a judgement about the quality of a design or its execution until I actually experience the attraction. I would suggest making judgements before experiencing the attraction first hand can be an exercise in cynicism rooted in bias.

So when exactly did you get to ride (experience) the new Muppet coaster?

"I would suggest making judgements before experiencing the attraction first hand can be an exercise in cynicism rooted in bias."

So I would assume that you haven't ridden the new Muppet coaster yet either, right? So what makes you so certain it can't possibly "backfire" as AJ suggested or will illicit 30-60 minute waits? Those assessments sound like you're making a judgement before experiencing the attraction (chuckle).

It's likely nobody outside of WDI and/or their contractors have ridden this yet, so it could be a massive hit, or a huge miss for all we know. However, regardless of the ultimate popularity of the attraction, the selection of music tracks that Disney openly released in an attempt to gin up enthusiasm for the May debut is open for criticism, which is what I think this discussion needs to get back to.

None of the five songs announced have a historical connection to The Muppets (nor the original IP of the attraction) despite the wealth of tunes and artists they could have pulled from over the course of the history of the franchise or tangentially related to Aerosmith. The most recently released song of the bunch (Song 2 by Blur) is nearly 30 YEARS OLD (before the original debut of RnRC), so it's not like they're trying to make the Muppets appeal to younger audiences like they did when they featured Sabrina Carpenter in the most recent reboot special. The one legitimate rock song they selected from a still-touring band has more than a dozen other songs that are more recognizable than the one they chose.

I concede that it's hard to secure theme park music rights (and yes, I do have a bit of background on this from my reporting on Hard Rock Park and the extensive interviews I conducted with that park's designers - go back and read my story on what they had to do to secure rights to a single Led Zeppelin tune), but this track list is very underwhelming and feels like Disney is not giving this refreshed attraction the best opportunity for success by utilizing some true rock anthems and bangers - it's like they went to Temu for these tracks and are openly wanting this attraction to fail.

@Russell: Where did I say it won't "backfire"? I wrote "Not sure how it could "backfire". But, to be fair, that's more of an academic question and not a declaration.

And Russell, be honest, how can it be a "huge miss"? What does that look like? Again, they spent next to nothing. People (you used to call them "Disney Drones") will show up.

Again: What does a "huge miss" look like? Admissions drop by millions? Dogs and cats living together? Another 'Fast & Furious; Supercharged'? Do you believe they won't recoup their investment?

I think a huge miss is if the coaster doesn't maintain the popularity that the attraction had in the year prior to the refurb, which was 45-60 minute waits on normal days and up to 120 minute waits on busy days.

I doesn't really matter what the specific dollar amount that Disney spent on this, because this refresh is still costing Disney something (along with marketing and other ancillary costs), so there should at least be some return on that investment. My point is that if they were going to do this (and rightfully - IMHO - spend capital to maintain the Muppets' presence in the parks), they should at least put forward a decent effort. That's the rub here, because they are clearly spending money here - if they wanted to really do it on the cheap, they would have used songs straight from the original TV shows and movies that Disney already has under their control or done a fully original in-house Electric Mayhem soundtrack - but instead of trying to at least hit a the ball that's zipping down the heart of the plate, they chose to re-record these 5 completely irrelevant songs with non-rock artists paired with the Muppets at some expense. I simply cannot believe that WDI spent/wasted valuable time thinking about songs that could have been used for this coaster, and these were the five best songs they could come up with and afford?

Again, if they're just going to go through the motions, why bother spending any money on this retheme - just have a fully original soundtrack, utilize existing Muppet songs, or use some generic music theming like Freestyle Music Park did after HRP went under? It's one thing to play "small ball", it's another thing to go up to the plate and not bother taking the bat off your shoulder, even if the pitcher is grooving it to you.

TH, I never said I went on it. I said that it's an artless and uninspired decision. It's clear they're only using this IP because it needs a place to go, and they're only using this ride system because it needs an IP. And I don't think this kind of corporate decision drives creativity within the field.

"Small ball"? Is this the new term for ride re-skins, hats, and other things Disney does to cheap out? I'm glad it has a name now.

V-Coaster: It's clear they're only using this IP because it needs a place to go, and they're only using this ride system because it needs an IP.

Me: I think it's likely they don't have to pay for the IP because they already own it and the company knows its hard core fan base (measured in millions) will show up only because it's new.

By the way the latest version of Big Thunder Mountain will also be opening soon.

"Small Ball" ... (Chuckle) ... NEXT!

V-Coaster: TH, I never said I went on it. I said that it's an artless and uninspired decision."

Me: That's an opinion coming from someone who has never experienced the attraction. I reserve judgement until I have tried it out. Why do you have a problem with me holding back on my opinion?

Fattyackin - THANKS for putting that brainworm of Animal doing Seven Nation Army in my head - THAT'S gonna live in my head a while. However, instead of The Swedish Chef doing a song, would LOVE if he did the ride safety video & maybe have Scooter - or one of the other Muppets - "translate" what The Swedish Chef was saying.

TH, bold of you to tell me not to pass judgement onto a ride which you seem to be applauding already for being a great choice from Disney.

But again, using an IP just because you already own it and you know people are going to show up is exactly what I'm talking about when I say that this is uninspired. You're helping me prove my point.

@V-Coaster: Where exactly do I post anything that says the Muppets coaster is a good attraction, please? And, again, why do you have a problem with me holding back on my opinion until after I ride it?

In your first reply to this thread, you call it "brilliant" with two exclamation points. Sue me for thinking you thought this was a good idea.

Meanwhile, when did I ever have a problem with you withholding your opinion?

No. I call the small ball tactic of opening a new attraction built at a relatively low cost on Memorial Day weekend "brilliant".

And incidentally V-Coaster, in one of my posts on this thread I refer to the reskimmed R&RC as Me: "putting lipstick on a pig". That's hardly a ringing endorsement related to the quality of this attraction.

"And incidentally V-Coaster, in one of my posts on this thread I refer to the reskimmed R&RC as Me: "putting lipstick on a pig". That's hardly a ringing endorsement related to the quality of this attraction."

And see that's my main criticism here. I'm all for Disney playing "small ball", especially when they're clearly investing some big money over the latter third of the decade to deliver some major additions to the parks (Piston Peak, Villains, Tropical Americas, and Monstropolis), but I feel if you're going to do something, do it RIGHT the first time and not haphazardly go through the motions simply to claim you're adding something "new". I'm under no delusion that the Muppets are some lucrative IP that deserves massive investment in the parks, but the announcement of this set list just justifies the opinion that many had when this was initially announced that WDI was not putting their best foot forward on this retheme and they were going to do this on a quick turnaround and on the cheap.

Again, while Disney is not breaking the bank refreshing this attraction, they're still spending a decent amount of money that could have either been used somewhere else or upped the budget here to really make this a worthwhile addition to DHS's attraction lineup.

I'll again ask TH, why bother wasting time, effort, and money just putting "lipstick on a pig" when you could have either left the attraction alone or invested the appropriate amount of time and money to make this retheme worth the effort. Disney has been doing this quite a bit recently (Zootopia, Moana, TBA, and other seemingly budget-skimping renovations at EPCOT). The big additions coming on the horizon won't plaster over these half-hearted additions that will look like warts on their respective parks' landscapes for a decade plus or will force Disney to invest even more money to fix.

I'll again note that in my market Disney has been running ads for their "Cool Kid Summer" marketing campaign. This campaign highlights many of the "small ball" additions noted here including Zootopia, Bluey, Buzz upgrade, and MFSR Mando upgrade, but doesn't at any point show RnRC or show a single Muppet. Internally, I think Disney knows that this is a complete throw away, and even when they do put some effort to try to market this retheme, like they did last week in advance of the track list announcement, it's not getting any traction aside from the hard core theme park folks, who are contributing more negative publicity than helping to promote the refreshed coaster.

I'm fully on-board your "small ball" theory TH, but improvements and additions still need to be in scale with the attraction. RnRC is solidly a D-ticket attraction at DHS (and some might even argue that it should probably be an E-ticket), yet this retheme appears to treat this thrill ride like a C-ticket/throw away attraction.

Russell: "... this retheme appears to treat this thrill ride like a C-ticket/throw away attraction."

Me: And those folks you used to refer to as "Disney drones" will flock to the park and spend an hour in line waiting to ride. ROI. MITB.

Pretty sad how Disney's weird little cult following is gonna hurt the park in the long run once they realize how cheap some of the rides have gotten.

And regardless, the amount of diehard Disney Adults who show up does not reflect the quality of the ride. They'll show up for anything. You could remove a tree from LwtL and they'd show up in droves.

Wait, what's that? They did? Oh. . . it's almost like these people have no standard for what's good or not and will defend Disney no matter what they do.

V-Coaster: "... . it's almost like these people have no standard for what's good or not and will defend Disney no matter what they do."

Me: Almost.

When it comes to IP based attractions, there's a phrase that theme park designers reference as they're developing a concept: Waders, swimmers and divers. For example, when guests visit Galaxy's Edge, if they encounter R2D2, the waders will exclaim, "Oh my gosh! It's a robot!" Swimmers will exclaim, "Oh my gosh! It's R2D2!" Meanwhile divers will point out, "You're supposed to put a hyphen between the 2 and the D".

Those waders who visit DHS and experience, and love, the re-themed (Muppet) Rock 'n' Roller Coaster are not people who have "no standard for what's good or not". They're theme park guests who are enjoying themselves.

If I've ever posted something that contradicts that sentiment -- which, over the past 24 years I likely have -- then shame on me.

"If I've ever posted something that contradicts that sentiment -- which, over the past 24 years I likely have -- then shame on me."

I'll confess you've never directly contradicted that statement that I can recall, but your brashness and hyperbole sometimes insinuate the draw of WDW to the waders is more powerful than it really is, and that there is not a similar sentiment and hierarchy of fans over at UO.

It does rally bother me that you highlight the folks who will blindly cash out their 401ks and praise anything and everything that Disney does, but fail to acknowledge that there's only so much goodwill and reputation that Disney can draw upon to support delivering new attractions/entertainment that falls well short of what most recognize is their standard. It's a house of cards that may not appear solid until one more tipsy Olaf, hair pulling Tiana, or mediocre retheme causes it all to fail. Then Disney will have to work 2-3 times as hard to earn that trust and goodwill back.

My criticism of this playlist (and retheme as a whole) is because I want to see Disney succeed, and because it feels like Disney is missing a massive opportunity not only to make RnRC a better attraction than it was before, but to give the Muppets a showpiece in DHS that was lost when Muppetvision closed (and left to rot in the decade leading to its closure). Disney had so much potential here, and it feels like this short timeline and bargain bin playlist, suggesting a cut-rate budget, is going to leave the Muppets less off than they were before Mike and Sully came to DHS with their real estate agent. Also, as TH has noted, the Muppets don't exactly have the most universal and recognizable appeal, so my fear is that this half-hearted effort well reflect poorly on the IP and not result in strong demand (60-minute lines) for the coaster and higherups point the finger at the IP and not Imagineers (and PMs who didn't properly fund this project) who ended up putting "lipstick on a pig" instead of giving this attraction a proper refresh. If that happens, we may NEVER see the Muppets in the parks again.

It’s a roller coaster. Disney could theme it to Hannah Montana and it would still draw long waits. Even a divisive coaster like Rip Ride Rockit was always busy because some people just live for the thrill rides.

"It’s a roller coaster. Disney could theme it to Hannah Montana and it would still draw long waits."

And that's my issue with how Disney appears to be approaching this retheme. They seem to think that people will just show up, and utilizing the Muppets IP is just a matter of convenience. They're doing this on the cheap, and not coming anywhere close to the full potential of the attraction or IP, and if this somehow doesn't get traction, the blame will fall at the feet of Kermit and his friends, not the folks who didn't bother trying when presented with this project. Frankly, I would have rather Disney retheme RnRC to Hannah Montana, and kept the Muppets in reserve for a future attraction refresh where designers would have been more motivated to put their best foot forward.

Like others, I hope one of the hidden tracks for this ride is an Aerosmith song. It seems a shame to let "Love in a Roller Coaster" go away. Heck, why not bring Aerosmith back to sing a song with The Muppets? The inclusion of Def Leppard shows that Disney is fine with including, "Dinosaur Rock Bands." I'm also disappointed that the Main Song List for this ride includes no Muppet songs, no Weird Al or blink-182 songs (despite Al and Travis showing up in the attraction), and no songs from this century. Especially for a resort that already has Cosmic Rewind, this refurbishment seems weak on the surface, especially since we've obviously already lost MuppetVision.

Russell: "Also, as TH has noted, the Muppets don't exactly have the most universal and recognizable appeal ..."

Me: I don't think that's what I said. I think I said they don't sell merchandise. My theory (and it's only a theory) is that the merch (like t-shirts) depict the Muppets as cartoon characters and not their more popular puppet form. Again, it's just conjecture on my part.

Russell: "It does rally bother me that you highlight the folks who will blindly cash out their 401ks and praise anything and everything that Disney does, but fail to acknowledge that there's only so much goodwill and reputation that Disney can draw upon to support delivering new attractions/entertainment that falls well short of what most recognize is their standard".

Me: If that's the case, when do you suppose the impact of that scenario will manifest itself? Your comment reminds me of a classic quote delivered by a young Charles Foster Kane who famously said, "You're right, I did lose a million dollars last year. I expect to lose a million dollars this year. I expect to lose a million dollars *next* year. You know, Mr. (Meyer), at the rate of a million dollars a year, I'll have to close this place in... sixty years".

And incidentally, I never advanced any notion that The Muppets coasters needs to be a world-class gate-crasher attraction. In fact, I posted: ": I believe the purpose of this effort (Muppets coaster) was to put lipstick on a pig (which is a hilarious use of THAT particular metaphor), spend little or no money ("small ball") in order to sustain attendance until Monsters opens (2028). And once Monsters opens, this B/C level attraction helps the park maintain capacity."