The Muppets are taking over for Aerosmith in Disney World's latest ride renovation.
Iconic attraction "Rock ‘N’ Roller Coaster starring Aerosmith," located in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, will be given a whimsical reimagining into a Muppets-themed ride, Disney Parks Blog announced Friday.
“We know so many of you share our love for The Muppets and know their energy will be a perfect fit for this coaster,” Disney shared. “Plus, as the first Disney ride ever to feature The Muppets, there’s sure to be laughter, screams and new tunes for this attraction for fans to enjoy throughout the adventure and plenty of Muppets-themed merchandise on Sunset Boulevard!”
No timeline for the existing attraction’s closure or the opening of the reimagining ride has been shared, however Disney shared that there’s still plenty of time for park goers to experience.
"Rock ‘N’ Roller Coaster" opened in 1999, and stars the famous rock band Aerosmith. The ride underwent an extensive refurbishment earlier this year and rumors long swirled about what its future would hold.
The announcement is positive for Disney fans who have long been asking for more representation of Kermit, Miss Piggy, and the gang in the theme parks. The change also comes as Disney continues to have success with the the 2023 Disney+ series, The Muppets Mayhem.
And with the news, Disney also shared an update on the previously announced Monsters, Inc. land, which was revealed earlier this year at D23. The new land, and first ever dedicated to Monsters, Inc., will feature a suspended roller coaster that recreates the film’s door vault scene, shopping, dining, and a new theater show.
In order for guests to step into the magical city of Monstropolis, the new Monster’s, Inc. land will replace the existing Muppets Courtyard. It’s currently home to "Muppet*Vision 3D" and several dining locations, including Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano and PizzeRizzo, which will all close to make way for the new development.
Muppet*Vision 3D is a longtime fan favorite that opened in 1991. It is also one of the last projects Jim Henson worked on before his death. And Disney is already making preparations to preserve the attraction and Henson’s legacy.
“As we move forward with these changes, we are having creative conversations and exploring ways to preserve the film and other parts of the experience for fans to enjoy in the future” the blog post shares.
The news comes at a time of great changes at Walt Disney World. Other reimagining projects include a new Cars-themed land coming to Magic Kingdom and Encanto-themed attraction coming to Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park.