In the midst of the absolute anguish I’m feeling over the news that Muppet*Vision 3D is now confirmed to close, I’ve been thinking about the other piece of recent Muppet news– that Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith will be rethemed to The Muppets.
I don’t have particularly strong feelings about losing the current theming at Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster in that I don’t think it needs to be Aerosmith, but I do have questions about how Disney will handle changing the theme to Muppets without losing some of what ties together the story of Sunset Boulevard….
Sunset Boulevard & Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith
In recent years, several areas at Disney’s Hollywood Studios have been re-themed or replaced altogether with theming that is a departure from what the park was originally all about. I’ll come back to this later, but for now, it’s important to note that Sunset Boulevard is really one of the only areas that keeps some of the park’s original theming (despite the fact that this side street off Hollywood Boulevard was only added during a 1994 expansion.)
Sunset Boulevard is set in the 1940s, with the shops lining the street covering the glamourous style of Hollywood in the 1930s and the restaurants across the street featuring some light theming around the patriotism that was a part of World War II. (If you’ve never noticed this before, emphasis on light theming. Look at the decor at quick-service restaurants like Rosie’s All American Cafe and you’ll see what I mean.)
The storyline of The Hollywood Tower Hotel (aka the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror) is set in 1939. Nearby, the Once Upon a Time gift shop’s exterior is actually a replica of the Carthay Circle Theatre, where Snow White (1937) premiered. The other attractions on Sunset Boulevard are theatre-style shows, like Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage and Fantasmic! Then we come to Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster….
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith might not seem like it fits into the setting of Sunset Boulevard, but from what I understand, the way we’ve sort of gotten around this is that the studio guests walk into during the preshow of the ride is from the 1940s. Okay, it’s a stretch (LOL, get it?) but technically the studio being from the ’40s works…I guess.
The Muppets at Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster
With The Muppets moving over to Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, I’ve had a couple of thoughts/questions. For one, are we going to be getting a new story altogether for Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, or are The Muppets literally going to take the place of Aerosmith? IE: Are we going to walk into the preshow and see Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem practicing before we’re all whisked away in a limo to their concert across town?
I lean toward that’s exactly what’s going to happen, because the thematic elements of Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster could easily be swapped out with any musical artist while keeping most details of the queue and even the views from the ride itself the same. It seems like it would be an easy change (and likely an inexpensive one which we all know is what Disney really wants) to just change out some of the posters of other artists with Muppets and re-do the pre-show and on-ride music.
I think a straight up parody of Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster done by The Muppets would be hilarious. I’m thinking we keep the pre-show word-for-word the same but with Muppets, even down to the small details like Steven Tyler’s ridiculous edited hand gesture.
However the design ultimately happens, we know it’s going to be at least somewhat similar to the current version of the ride since there really isn’t that much that could possibly change without gutting the whole building. My one concern here is that we’re going to get screens when we should have puppets or Animatronics.
I think there is so much potential to remove the screen in the pre-show and have Muppets physically be in the space (or at least some combination of screens and puppets, similar to Muppet*Vision 3D where most of the show is on the screen but you still have Statler and Waldorf, Sweetums, and Bean Bunny physically in the theatre.) Will we see this happen, though? On the one hand, knowing how tight Disney seems to be in terms of budgets in recent years has me very concerned, and I just have this feeling we’re going to get those exact Muppets in person (since they’ll no longer be at Muppet*Vision), and the rest on a screen. But we shall see….
I really am excited about Muppets coming to Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, I’m just also very curious as to how the new version of the ride is going to come out. I don’t feel any strong emotional connection to Aerosmith, and I really just think the music being piped into your limo is really what makes the ride special more than whatever band is playing. (I do still wish we could have gotten a Powerline re-theme, but I digress.)
Theming Changes at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
The reimagining of Muppet Courtyard to a new land themed to Monsters, Inc. (2021) is only the latest addition of pre-existing IP being added to a park at Walt Disney World. I know in this scenario, it’s replacing Muppet Courtyard, which on its own was a pre-existing IP, and maybe this is an unpopular opinion, but I sort of see Muppet Courtyard as an exception to the typical IP takeover.
While Muppets in general are obviously IP, the attraction in Muppet Courtyard and even the dining location with PizzeRizzo were original to Hollywood Studios (or originally, Disney-MGM Studios). Muppet*Vision 3D was also the last project Jim Henson worked on, so Muppet Courtyard is revered by fans for that reason as well. I know it’s difficult to compare Muppets to Monsters, because it’s not like either are all over the parks, but Muppets do seem like such a huge property with such a small presence at Disney World, that removing the only land totally themed around them just isn’t something I can wrap my head around.
Would it be too optimistic to still hope that Animation Courtyard could be re-themed? We know Muppet*Vision will have a “next act,” but without knowing what exactly that means, one can dream, right? I just keep thinking about the fact that the only Muppet attraction will be a thrill ride with a height requirement and an attraction the whole family can experience seems like reason enough to keep Muppet*Vision somewhere.
Back to Monsters, Inc.… I’m not mad about Monsters, Inc. coming to Disney World, but I am so concerned about the increase in IP where it doesn’t feel like it fits the rest of the park’s theme. I guess if there was anywhere for it to go, though, Hollywood Studios is the place. The park has become so far removed from its original intention that I think from here on out the only major additions we’ll see are new lands themed entirely to pre-existing IP.
And don’t get me wrong, I love Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, and I love Toy Story Land. The addition of the Monsters, Inc. door coaster will be huge in terms of an immersive thrill ride, too. I just wish we knew more about The Muppets’ future.
On the plus side, if Mama Melrose’s gets replaced with a sushi restaurant, I will make an ADR asap!
