Rock n Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith: Disney’s Most Intense Roller Coaster To Date!
The foundation of any movie scene is the music; it alerts audiences to a villain hiding in the shadows or the inner stirrings of the heroine’s heart, simply with a few, well-chosen notes. Have you ever wondered what your life would be like if you had a soundtrack backing your day-to-day activities? Well, dream on, friends!
With Rock n Roller Coaster, you can experience life as propelled by music (at least for a few minutes!), with the legendary band, Aerosmith, as your personal maestro!
Located in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Rock n Roller Coaster is truly a-rockin’ ride, not only because of the jammin’ music but also because of its exhilarating speed and innovative track. Complete with a story that really immerses you in the ride, you’ll want to walk this way again and again!
An Allstar Collab
When it comes to famous mashups, Disney + Aerosmith probably isn’t the first combo to come to mind. Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler singing with Willie Nelson? You bet. Disney plus Build-a-Bear? Sure! But Tinkerbell with an electric guitar?
Okay, actually, that’s pretty cool. I can see it.
In the mid-90s, Disney was expanding the Sunset Boulevard portion of Hollywood Studios (then called Disney-MGM Studios), and they knew they wanted a Rock n Roller Coaster—a ride that would really get hearts racing and blood pumping—and what better music is there for life in the fast lane than Aerosmith? (Aside from the Eagles, perhaps.)
Construction began with band members Steven Tyler and Joe Perry helping Imagineers plan the ride’s pre-show, giving advice on how to authentically arrange the band’s studio, and even enjoying preview rides of the coaster!1
When did Rock n Roller Coaster open you might ask? The ride opened to thunderous applause on July 29, 1999, complete with a dedication ceremony featuring—you guessed it—Aerosmith!2
We’re in Treble Now
Unlike the Rip Ride Rockit at Universal Studios, the Rock n Roller Coaster comes with a fun backstory that sets the stage for the rest of the ride.
Aerosmith is busy recording in the studio when their manager rushes in to tell them they’re super later for a concert across town. Uh oh! As the band scrambles to their sleek, teal limo, they invite you to come along for what promises to be a wild ride.
Well, you’re not going to say no to Aerosmith, are you?
Climb aboard the stretch limo (which looks a lot like a ’62 Cadillac), and prepare yourself for launch. There’s a reason Aerosmith was recording with “G-Force Records” just now—this coaster shoots off from 0 to 60 in under 3 seconds! You’ll zoom past Southern California landmarks, road signs, and palm trees, all aglow in neon and black light. Even when you pass signs urging you to slow down, this train just keeps on rollin!
While regular, real-life Los Angeles traffic is more than enough to make one’s blood pressure skyrocket, this drive really takes the cake as the “highway” twists you through three inversions—two loops and a corkscrew! (So, if you were wondering, does the Rock n Roller Coaster go upside down? The answer is a triple yes!)
Of course, the most notable part of this indoor dark ride is the Rock n Roller Coaster music! Equipped with five speakers per passenger, 32,000 watts, and 24 sub-woofers, your limo will blast the best of Aerosmith for the entire ride!3 There are several different limos, and each one broadcasts its own Aerosmith song (and also has a unique license plate!). Potential song selections include the classic hits, “Walk This Way,” “Dude (Looks Like a Lady),” “Sweet Emotion” and “Back in the Saddle.”
Between the soundtrack and the actual track, this rollercoaster is often considered the most intense coaster at Disney World and the best in Hollywood Studios!
Rock This Way
Although Rock n Roller Coaster is nearing its 25th birthday, the ride remains incredibly popular, with wait times often soaring above an hour. As a general rule, the Single Rider line is significantly shorter, but you can also use Genie+ to secure your spot (and stay with your group!) if you’re worried about the long lines. The best time to ride and escape the line is first thing in the morning or during a relative lull between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.
Because of Rock n Roller Coaster’s awesome intensity, there is a height requirement of 48 inches. Parents can assess for themselves what they think their older kiddos can handle, but if worst comes to worst and your kiddos (or you!) get wigged out watching the limos launch into the darkness, you can always tell a cast member you’ve changed your mind; there’s a last-minute “chicken gate” to get out of the ride! (And while it might be referred to as a “chicken gate,” I wouldn’t judge you at all for ducking out!)
Although furiously fast and twistingly intense, guests report the ride itself is surprisingly smooth and that the music, though loud, isn’t overwhelming. Aside from the natural jarring of corkscrews and curly cues, there’s none of the rough and tumble those older roller coasters are sometimes known for. (Phew!) Nevertheless, proceed with caution—you will experience 5G on this trip, and we’re not talking about cell reception!4
Once you’ve experienced Rock n Roller Coaster for yourself, you’ll realize Aerosmith and Disney was the number one musical collab you never knew you needed. And with different Aerosmith hits and medleys playing in each ride vehicle, you’ll want to hop on again and again! After all, you don’t want to miss a thing.
Have you ridden Rock n Roller Coaster starring Aerosmith? What did you think? And what’s your favorite Aerosmith song? Let us know in the comment below!
Rock on!
Cover Image
Photo: CL Photographs via Flickr
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