Last November, Disney shocked the theme park world when they announced that the Monsters, Inc. land coming to Hollywood Studios (which itself had only been announced at August’s D23 Ultimate Fan Event) would be replacing Muppet*Vision 3D and the rest of the former Muppet Courtyard at Hollywood Studios… but that the Muppets would be “taking over” the Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster at the other end of the park.
For many Muppet fans and Disney aficionados, this led to a bit of emotional whiplash. They went from having their worst fear (rumors that Monstropolis was going to replace Muppet*Vision had been percolating since the land was announced) confirmed and mourning the loss of the Muppets to being either bewildered or overjoyed that the Muppets would remain in the park as the stars of an E-Ticket thrill ride. The first Muppets ride ever in fact, though not for lack of trying. Perhaps experiencing this emotional seesaw in the span of reading one Disney Parks Blog post is why many seem to be ignoring the glaring potential issue with the Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster retheme.
Disney’s theme parks are just that, THEME parks. From the opening of Disneyland in 1955, the hallmark of the company’s parks has been deeply themed lands, environments, and attractions that exist in a symbiotic way to fully immerse guests. Now, of course, this isn’t to say that there aren’t spaces of thematic inconsistency across Disney’s empire. With 12 parks and 70 years of development, that was inevitable and could likely fill up a list all its own (Interested?). However, our focus today is on the on the Muppets coming to Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster.
The Aerosmith-starring version of the coaster sits at the end of the park’s relatively realistic, if geographically fanciful, recreation of Hollywood’s Sunset Boulevard just next to the Tower of Terror (which in storyline of the area, is actually the “long abandoned Hollywood Tower Hotel). It’s located in the headquarters of the fictional G-Force Records, where the “Bad Boys of Boston” are recording a new album before departing for a concert in Los Angeles. Guests visiting the studio on a tour are offered backstage passes by the band, which launches (figuratively and literally) the ride experience.
While the Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster’s current story might not be the best that Disney has ever come up with (especially considering the near-perfect storyline of the Tower right next to it), it does fit the area and continues the story of the park’s version of Sunset Boulevard. Will the Muppet version do the same? Well, it remains to be seen.
When Disney first announced that the Muppets would be taking over the coaster, they wrote “Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy and more of their friends will be moving right along to Sunset Boulevard! The Muppets will be taking over Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, teaming up with some of music’s biggest stars for a rockin’ music festival!” and that “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!”
While those statements are a bit short, they do give us some information. If the theme of the ride is going to revolve around a “rockin’ music festival,” than it seems like the coaster could retain the same record company location theme, though it may be a bit of a stretch… err stretch limo.
Beyond the actual coaster, Disney also seems to imply at the Muppets overtaking larger portion of Sunset Boulevard. This would certainly not fit with the land’s current, somewhat realistic presentation. Though of course, if done well, some Muppet elements could be entertaining enough to negate those thematic issues.
Only time will tell if the Muppet takeover of the Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster breaks the theming of Sunset Boulevard (and if it matters of it does) but it’s certainly something to keep in mind as the project’s construction begins. Stay tuned to AllEars for more on the evolution of Hollywood Studios.
What Disney World is REALLY Losing With the Permanent Closure of Muppet*Vision 3D
Are you wary of the Muppets taking over the Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster? Let us know in the comments below!
The Electric Mayhem show released a couple of years ago on Disney Plus fixes this continuity somewhat.
I absolutely hate that retheme. Why not go with another classic Rock Band or something like that? Or a movie theme that would fit the area…but why Muppets?