Walt Disney World has unveiled the full soundtrack and opening date for its reimagined Rock ânâ Roller Coaster starring the Muppets, confirming the attraction will debut on May 26 at Disneyâs Hollywood Studios, just weeks after the original Aerosmith version was retired.
The announcement has quickly gained traction among theme park fans as it marks one of Disneyâs fastest and most high-profile ride transformations, replacing a 25-year-old music partnership with a character-driven experience built around the Electric Mayhem band.
The updated coaster will feature five songs performed by the Muppetsâ house band, including âLove Rollercoasterâ featuring Jennifer Hudson and Questlove, âRock! Rock! (Till You Drop)â with Def Leppard, and âWalking on Sunshineâ featuring Kelly Clarkson. The lineup is rounded out by covers of Blurâs âSong 2â and Steppenwolfâs âBorn To Be Wild,â the latter featuring Camilla the Chicken.
Disney also confirmed that each ride experience may feature one of these tracks as guests race across Hollywood in a high-speed limousine, adding variation to repeat visits â a notable evolution from the fixed playlist of the previous version.
Inside the new Muppets storyline and experience
The attractionâs story places guests inside G-Force Records, a legendary recording studio now run by the Muppets. Visitors are treated to a VIP tour where the Electric Mayhem is in the middle of a jam session, reluctant to leave despite a growing crowd waiting for their concert across town.
The chaos unfolds as Scooter â appearing as a new Audio-Animatronics figure â and a group of penguin sound engineers attempt to get the band moving. With help from Muppet Labs, guests are whisked away in a âtwisting, turning, and screamingly funâ limo ride through Hollywood to make it to the concert on time.
The queue itself has been expanded into part of the storytelling, featuring celebrity cameos from Awkwafina, Danny Trejo, Darren Criss, John Stamos, Neil Patrick Harris, Travis Barker, Yvette Nicole Brown, Wayne Brady and âWeird Alâ Yankovic, adding a layer of pop culture recognition beyond the Muppets universe.
Disney has also previewed behind-the-scenes moments of the band performing âCan You Picture That?â â a callback to The Muppet Movie (1979) â reinforcing the blend of nostalgia and new content the company is aiming to deliver.
From Aerosmith to Muppets: a major shift
The original Rock ânâ Roller Coaster, which opened in 1999, was known for its high-speed launch and immersive sound system featuring Aerosmith hits like âWalk This Wayâ and âLove in an Elevator.â Its closure on March 1 drew large crowds, with long lines wrapping through the park on its final day.
Disney moved quickly to strip away references to the band, repainting the iconic guitar entrance and reworking the attractionâs theme within days â a sign of how strategically important the overhaul is for the parkâs future lineup.
The shift reflects a broader strategy by Disney to rely more on in-house intellectual property that can evolve over time, rather than fixed partnerships tied to specific artists. The Muppets, with their musical identity and cross-generational appeal, offer flexibility for updates, collaborations and new storytelling layers.
For visitors, the May 26 reopening adds a major draw to the early summer season at Hollywood Studios, a park already anchored by franchises like Star Wars and Toy Story. The addition of rotating songs and character-driven humor could help extend the rideâs longevity and repeat appeal.
At the same time, the change marks the end of one of Disneyâs most iconic music-based attractions, highlighting the companyâs ongoing balancing act between nostalgia and reinvention. More details about the attraction can be explored on the Disney Parks Blog, where Disney continues to share updates ahead of launch.
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