Disney World Shares First Look at Muppets Rock 'n' Roller Coaster
An era has officially ended at Disney World, but the replacement is gearing up to be a total showstopper.
Following the permanent closure of the original Aerosmith iteration back in March, Disney World has released a stunning first look inside the heavily anticipated, completely overhauled Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets. The high-speed indoor coaster is shuffling its lineup to feature Dr. Teeth and The Electric Mayhem, and the newly revealed details inside G-Force Records are already driving theme park purists wild.
With Annual Passholder previews kicking off on May 21, 2026, ahead of the grand public opening on May 26, Disney pulled back the curtain on the attraction's incredibly advanced new preshow.
Reality-Bending New Animatronics
The centerpiece of the new queue experience is the first-ever Audio-Animatronics figure of Scooter, acting as the chaotic band manager for The Electric Mayhem.
To bring the character to life, Walt Disney Imagineering utilized cutting-edge motion-capture technology. Instead of programming the movements from scratch on a computer, Imagineers attached tracking sensors directly to the physical Scooter Muppet, recording a live puppeteer's real-world performance. The result is a figure that replicates subtle expressions and organic Muppet physics down to the smallest detail.
Disney World just shared a first look at the animatronics feature in Rock ‘n' Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets at Disney's Hollywood Studios. pic.twitter.com/zhiMY3GIoo
— ThrillGeek (@thrillgeek) May 15, 2026
The preview image showcases Scooter sitting at a chaotic desk inside G-Force Records, clutching a clipboard and wearing his signature jacket. The studio backdrop is a treasure trove of Easter eggs, complete with dangling guitars, vintage recording equipment, and a retro lava lamp.
Adding to the classic, absurdist Muppet humor, the preshow also introduces two state-of-the-art penguin audio engineers manning the massive mixing board. The penguins wear professional headphones and frantically slide the dials on the recording console while the band rehearses in the background.
The Fast-Paced New Storyline
The ride's revamped narrative places guests right in the middle of a VIP recording studio tour. Upon entering Studio C, riders discover that The Electric Mayhem is trapped in an endless jam session of their classic hit "Can You Picture That?" instead of heading over to their massive concert across town. Scooter is frantically trying to convince the band to wrap things up for their increasingly restless crowd of "Mayheads."
Once the preshow wraps, guests exit into the alleyway to board the Lengthy Immediate Motion Object (L.I.M.O.).
While the fundamental rollercoaster track, layout, and intense three-inversion physical launch remain identical to the legacy attraction, the ride vehicles themselves have received a massive, psychedelic makeover. On-ride photos leaked by Disney PhotoPass reveal that the sleek, single-colored limos of the Aerosmith era have been repainted in a vibrant, swirling blue and purple color scheme matching the Electric Mayhem's iconic aesthetic.
The super-powered vehicles - thematically upgraded with the latest technological advancements from Muppet Labs - will launch riders from zero to 57 mph in a blistering 2.8 seconds.
A Star-Studded New Setlist
What's a high-speed road trip across Hollywood without a killer soundtrack? Disney also confirmed the brand-new, adrenaline-pumping on-board audio setlist that will blast through the vehicle's massive 32,000-watt speaker system. The tracklist features The Electric Mayhem covering legendary rock and pop anthems alongside massive music superstars:
- "Song 2" – The Electric Mayhem
- "Born To Be Wild" – The Electric Mayhem feat. Camilla the Chicken
- "Love Rollercoaster" – The Electric Mayhem feat. Jennifer Hudson & Questlove
- "Rock! Rock! (Till You Drop)" – The Electric Mayhem feat. Def Leppard
- "Walking on Sunshine" – The Electric Mayhem feat. Kelly Clarkson
NEW: Walt Disney World shared a video of the Rock ‘n' Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets preshow.
— Drew Smith (@DrewDisneyDude) May 15, 2026
We will watch The Electric Mayhem rehearsing for their biggest concert yet before boarding a L.I.M.O. to make it to the concert on time! pic.twitter.com/LvVWW0xgXy
To keep the good vibes rolling after the final brake run, the surrounding courtyard has also been fully updated. Guests exiting through the gift shop will stumble right into FØØD by Swedish Chef, a reimagined quick-service dining location offering a fully refreshed menu of snacks and drinks.
This story was originally published by Men's Journal on May 18, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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This story was originally published May 17, 2026 at 9:58 PM.