After a lengthy refurbishment in 2023, it looks like Disney is starting the new year with another multi-month closure for the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. It has been confirmed that the fan-favorite attraction will close right after the holiday season ends on January 8, 2024, and will not reopen until sometime in summer 2024.
The timing of these back-to-back closures is certainly interesting, and have prompted some serious speculation about why Disney is closing this attraction again so soon, and for so long. However, Disney has confirmed some important details about this refurbishment that will help shed some light on what exactly is happening.
Will there be a re-theme of the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster?
If there’s one attraction Disney fans LOVE to speculate about regarding a potential re-theme it’s the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith. This attraction, which opened in 1999, hasn’t exactly aged well, with many suggesting that the Aerosmith theme makes the ride feel dated, as the band hasn’t produced any new hits in quite some time, and their older music isn’t as timeless as other bands from their era.
While there was speculation in 2023 about a re-theme of the ride to Muppet band Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem, it looks like Disney is shutting down any fan theories about any potential re-theme early as they have confirmed that the 2024 closure will be a routine refurbishment to address mechanical issues. Though this might be a little disappointing for those who were hoping that Disney would finally be updating the theme for this ride, it looks like there are still no plans for the immediate future to update the theme or soundtrack for this attraction.
A faulty braking system may be the root issue causing all these refurbishments
According to a poster on the WDWMagic forums, this refurbishment time will be used to primarily fix the ride’s braking system, which was replaced back in 2023, but is still having issues. The poster says that the metal used in the final brake is prone to over-heating and causes frequent shutdowns of the attraction during the day, which would explain why this ride has still been having operating issues still following its 2023 refurbishment.
Other posters on the forum have mentioned experiencing inconsistent lighting and effects on the ride, which could also be fixed during this refurbishment. Some are also hoping for new restraints on the ride vehicles as well.
Though there is quite an appetite for a full re-theme of this attraction, it seems that Disney still isn’t ready to seriously consider the possibility of making substantial changes to this 24-year-old ride. Though fans have suggested other themes over the years, including incorporating fictional bands like Powerline and the aforementioned Electric Mayhem as well as other classic rock bands like Queen or even contemporary musicians, it looks like, for now, the Rock ‘n’ Rollercoaster will celebrate its quarter-century anniversary next year with Aerosmith still at the helm of this classic attraction.
