The countdown to the final riff begins — Disney’s just announced the timeline of when we can expect Aerosmith’s farewell run on Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster to take its final ride before The Muppets crash the stage.
©Disney
Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster’s transformation has been brewing for a while, and Disney’s been slowly setting the stage — literally! The Aerosmith pre-show has already been completely walled off, signaling the end of the backstage recording studio era as Imagineers prep for the attraction’s full Muppets takeover. When the coaster reopens in summer 2026, we’ll be trading rock legends for classic chaos as The Muppets bring their signature blend of music, mayhem, and humor to the high-speed launch Disney fans already love.
While we don’t have a whole lot to go on for now, Disney has officially confirmed that we will be taking our final ride on Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster in its current form by spring 2026. This means you’ll only have a few months into 2026 to take that superstretch limo ride through California to get to Aerosmith’s concert on time!
©Disney
Later in the summer is when we should expect Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets to officially open! Of course, we’ll be keeping you updated on all the latest changes right here as we learn them and follow along as we take one final ride on the beloved Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster before its re-theme.
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster
Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster has been a Sunset Boulevard staple since it first launched its riders into that neon-lit rush back in 1999. For 25 years, the attraction has been anchored by its iconic Aerosmith storyline — a backstage meet-and-greet, a super-stretch limo, and that famous “Make it a super-stretch!” moment that became a rite of passage for Disney thrill-seekers. Aside from routine touch-ups (that have most recently resulted in the ride being closed and opened like a bad case of “Red Light, Green Light” over the last few years), the ride’s identity has stayed remarkably consistent, making this upcoming overhaul the first true reinvention in the coaster’s history.
Aerosmith’s presence on the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster was a major change for Disney at the time.
That said, the road to this transformation has been paved with hints that change was coming. In recent years, Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster has experienced multiple closures (some scheduled, some extended) largely tied to refurbishments following the 2020 pandemic shutdowns. We along with countless other parkgoers watched the attraction go through lengthy downtime as Imagineers tended to both the coaster’s aging infrastructure and its complicated soundtrack and show elements. This left the door open to speculation that the attraction’s future was shifting prior to Disney’s official announcement that the ride would be receiving a complete overhaul with new Muppet management.
Rock on!
And now, with the pre-show space fully walled off and the final timeline revealed, we finally know where that road leads: straight into the wonderfully chaotic world of The Muppets. This move brings brand-new energy to one of Hollywood Studios’ most popular thrill rides. While we’re hopeful that high-speed launches and inversions that we love are here to stay, the characters, music, and mayhem will be completely revitalized for a new generation.
©Disney
It’s a bold change, but one that feels right at home on Sunset Boulevard, where nostalgia meets reinvention on the daily. And if there’s any crew equipped to take over a rock-themed coaster and dial the chaos to eleven, it’s Kermit and the gang — because when The Muppets take the stage, you know you’re in for a show!
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I sure do hope they will make this ride smoother, possibly by changing the design of the security ‘harness’ b/c it’s so close to the head that it has pretty much always caused massive head and neck banging throughout the ride. I did ride it last month and it was SO much worse than in previous years… we all departed the ride in misery 🙁