A major thrill ride at Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World is now closed, with upcoming changes and a new theme. This is one of the most popular rides at this already popular park, and its closure will affect crowd patterns ahead of the spring break season.
Let’s get into all the details on this closure and how you should plan your day differently at Hollywood Studios now. At Mickey Visit, we report on recent Disney news, like new discounts on Disney gift cards, changes to cast member training, and all the ride closures for March at both Disneyland and Disney World.
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Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Now Closed at Hollywood Studios
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith is now closed as it transforms into a Muppets-themed attraction. The last day of operation for this ride was March 1, 2026. Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster reached a reported 115 wait time on its last day. The ride already had a 110 minute line right when the attraction opened and had already built a long line at rope drop. Throughout the day the ride stayed steady at over an hour wait with cast members utilizing backstage areas to manage the long queue.
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Unfortunately for guests visiting Hollywood Studios this spring, the closure of this popular thrill ride will have negative impacts on crowds. Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith is located directly across from The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. A popular Early Theme Park Entry strategy for Disney World guests is to ride both of these rides first thing in the morning, especially since they are not blocked off before Early Entry begins. You can start lining up for these rides once you enter the park, with cast members often holding signs for each ride on Sunset Boulevard. Now that Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster is no longer an option on this side of the park, this is going to result in higher waits for The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, as guests have only this one ride to pick from.
I would suggest avoiding that area of the park, at least initially, and going for other attractions instead in the morning and revisiting The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror later in the day or prioritizing it as a Lightning Lane option.
Speaking of Lightning Lane Multi Pass, this will also impact this popular skip-the-line service. Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster was one of the four selections for top priority booking for Lightning Lane, which also includes Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, and Slinky Dog Dash. This is one park I always recommend purchasing Lightning Lane for, and this might become even more crucial now that the available popular rides are temporarily reduced.
While I am excited for this new Muppets theme, the closing date of Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster does come at a rough time for Disney World, as the spring break season will start ramping up in mid-March. This time of year often sees some of the highest crowd levels on our Disney World crowd calendar.
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As for the changes coming soon to Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, this transformation will switch the ride to a Muppets theme featuring The Electric Mayhem. The storyline follows the legendary Muppets rock band on its journey to headline its biggest Hollywood concert yet. Guests will be on a search for the band on the ride as they have mysteriously disappeared before the concert. Guests will then embark on a VIP tour of G-Force Records, the famed rock-and-roll recording studio, which is now operated by The Muppets.
As for the new Muppets-themed pre-show, this will direct guests inside a recording studio where the Electric Mayhem is rocking out, joined by penguin audio engineers, as band manager Scooter attempts to get the group moving. Scooter is clearly set to appear as an Audio-Animatronics figure, and as noted in our initial coverage, it’s also possible that additional characters, such as the penguins or even members of the Electric Mayhem, could be featured in the pre-show as well.
Once guests board the ride, they will see a Muppet twist on iconic scenery and landmarks of Hollywood. And throughout the ride, guests will hear the Electric Mayhem hit songs. The opening date for this new Muppets-themed version has not been released, but we know it’s set to open in summer 2026.
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But even sooner on the horizon is the new storyline for Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run, featuring Mandalorian and Grogu, which debuts on May 22. Also to be completed by this summer is the newly reimagined Animation Courtyard, which will be renamed The Walt Disney Studios and include a new Olaf Audio-Animatronic drawing experience and new character interactions. And these aren’t the only new projects underway at Hollywood Studios. A new Monsters, Inc. land is also in the works that will bring the iconic door roller coaster to the park.
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