Can you handle the g-forces of Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster at Walt Disney World?
What thrill seeking guests get most excited about lately when visiting Disney’s Hollywood Studios is Galaxy’s Edge.
But if you aren’t a huge Star Wars person, then you will love the thrilling options at the end of Sunset Boulevard.
Before Galaxy’s Edge came to fruition, people would rush down Hollywood Boulevard and take that quick left on to Sunset to seek adventure within the walls of Hollywood Tower or Terror and Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster.
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster is a beloved favorite amongst fans and guests alike.
The combination of music, thrills and awesome theming gets everyone’s adrenaline pumping!
Aerosmith gives you a behind-the-scenes look at their world and that’s what I will do with this roller coaster on today’s Disney guide.
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Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Stats at a Glance:
- Height Restriction: 48 inches
- Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Height: 80 feet
- Max Speed: 57 miles per hour
- Inversions: 3
- Manufacturer: Vekoma
- Pros: Fun preshow, high-octane launch, blacklight effect, the music!
- Cons: Pre-show is begin to feel a bit dated.
- Recently reopened after spring 2024 refurbishment
What Makes Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster So Special?
This attraction is another wonderful example of Walt Disney Imagineering bringing something special, entertaining and memorable to its guests. This attraction is the only looping coaster on property.
In this article, I will be diving more into the details of how the attraction came to be, how Aerosmith wasn’t actually the first choice and what keeps guests coming back for more!
History of Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster at Hollywood Studios
When MGM studios (the old name of Hollywood Studios) first opened in May 1989, it was meant to be a beacon and representation of the glamour of Hollywood’s Film, Television and Radio elite.
Guests thought the park wasn’t living up to its promises or meeting expectations.
To be fair, Guests were not terribly far off in this thinking. Upon opening, there were only four attractions.
One included the Studio Backlot Tour which some may remember prior to it being closed was around 30 mins. Originally, it was 2 hours long prior to its refurbishment!
Back in the day, CEO Michael Eisner sprang into action to keep up with the folks at Universal Studios Orlando, who opened their doors the next summer in 1990.
Along with adding the Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular and Star Tours by the end of the year, he decided to expand the park by introducing Sunset Boulevard.
Sunset Boulevard is all about capturing that 1930s Hollywood vibe with cool eateries, shops, and 2 awesome E-ticket attractions waiting for you at the end of the road.
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Roger AKA Eisner’s Mickey Mouse
Eisner was eager to make the most of Eisner’s Mickey Mouse, also known as “Roger Rabbit,” a blockbuster that hit theaters in 1988.
Roger Rabbit was everywhere in every park at the time and quite popular.
They had this idea to make a Roger Rabbits Toontown at the end of Sunset Boulevard, but Disney and Amblin Entertainment just couldn’t see eye to eye on the character rights.
So, they went with a drop tower ride called Hollywood Tower of Terror instead. It was all set and ready to go by the summer of 1994, just in time for some Sunset vibes.
Unfortunately, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster was put on hold due to the failure of Euro Disney. Construction began 2 months prior to its announcement in 1998.
The Sunset Boulevard vibe was just right because all the cool rock ‘n’ roll musicians flocked to the strip back in the 60s.
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Finding the Perfect Band for Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster
Disney was on the hunt for a cool rock band to shine in their attraction. Surprisingly, Aerosmith wasn’t Disney’s top pick initially, but they eventually became the ride’s stars.
The Rolling Stones were like, “Sure, we’re interested,” but things didn’t work out when they wanted $10 million.
Next up was KISS, and they were keen too, but it didn’t happen because their asking price was even higher than the Rolling Stones.
Disney was considering using rock musicians from the 1950s and 1960s since they were in a bind and hadn’t signed a band yet.
Luckily, Disney teamed up with Aerosmith to make a song for the movie Armageddon.
Since they were already tight with the band, and Aerosmith’s price tag was just a fraction of what The Rolling Stones charge, Disney wasted no time in revealing Aerosmith as the attraction headliners in June 1999.
When did Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster open at Disney World?
After of this, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster would not open until July 29, 1999. Talk about cutting it close!
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Ride Experience
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster allows guests to tour G Force Records, a nod to the G forces you hit at launch on the ride.
Walking Through the Queue
As you go through the queue, you will see memorabilia from past bands who are signed to G Force.
You’ll be brought into a room where you catch Aerosmith at the end of a recording session as their manager rushes them out to make their concert across town.
But Tyler is like, “No way we’re leaving you hanging,” and hooks everyone up with backstage passes.
The band heads out while the manager orders a few super stretch limos for you to ride to take you across town to make it in time for the concert.
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Time to Board the Limo
You will be led down an alley to the parking garage where you’ll hop into their super stretch limos. Keep an eye out for awesome features, like a mini nightclub and more!
Every limo is loaded with two different Aerosmith songs which can be identified by their license plates.
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Manufacturer
Vekoma constructed the ride which has three intense inversions including a sea serpent roll and corkscrew.
How fast is Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster?
You will also experience up to 5 G Forces and will be launched from 0 to 57 MPH in 2.8 seconds on Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, making it second in speed to TRON Lightcyle Run at 59.3 MPH/Guardians of the Galaxy and third to Test Track which reaches 64.9 MPH.
When the ride ends, sadly you didn’t make it in time. But you do end up in the VIP backstage area aka the gift shop and you can scan your ride photos on your MagicBand for memories!
The shop is filled with unique merchandise themed to the ride so be sure to stop and take a peek before you head out.
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6 EASY Tips and Tricks for Your Hollywood Studios Trip
Here I will give a few quick tips, tricks and tidbits about Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster that I’ve learned from my time working at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and from my dear friend, Patrick Snipes , who worked the attraction in question.
1. Skip the Single Rider Line on Busy Days
If you are a solo traveler, it is best to skip the Single Rider Line on busy days.
Since it has two passengers per row, most groups have even numbers in them which makes the Single Rider Line goes super slow on peaks days.
You can use the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Single Rider Line when you first arrive as it tends to have the lowest wait times amongst the E-ticket attractions in the park during the morning.
2. Look Around for Hidden Details
Behind the garage is the signatures of every Cast Member to ever work at the attraction.
The license plates on the vehicles determine what song(s) you will get:
- 1QKLIMO: “Nine Lives”
- UGOBABE: “Love in an Elevator” (Rollercoaster) and “Walk This Way”
- BUHBYE: “Young Lust”, “F.I.N.E.*” and “Love in an Elevator” (Rollercoaster)
- H8TRFFC: “Back in the Saddle” and “Dude (Looks Like a Lady)”
- 2FAST4U: “Sweet Emotion” (live, as featured in A Little South of Sanity)
The ride includes references to various LA freeways, so you’ll spot a mix of highway and freeway signs throughout the track.
Also, the attraction features two Los Angeles Radio DJs as hosts of the “LA’s Classic Rock Station” on the ride. Joe Benson was the original host, and currently, it’s Bill St. James from Flashback.
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3. Look for Hidden Mickeys
Several Hidden Mickeys are throughout the attraction and queue. Some I have found include one on the attraction poster on Steven Tyler’s shirt.
Another is in the tile mosaic in the entrance to G Force Records. The carpet in the studio C room is all hidden mickeys.
This one in particular was the first I ever found on my own. Apparently, there are some on the license plates too but I haven’t noticed them yet.
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4. Experienced the Indoor Coaster
Vekoma built the attraction as an enclosed steel launch coaster with a height of 80-ft and a track length of 3,268-ft.
There once were two Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster attractions, with the other being at Walt Disney Studios Park. This was closed in 2018 to make way for an Iron man themed attraction.
Fun Fact: During a special, one night only Star Wars event, guests were able to ride Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster to Star Wars scores.
5. Change the Music on Your Ride
Cast Members have the ability to change the music for guests if you ask but it’s very rare that they will.
6. Get Your Own Poster
When you make it to the end, you will get your own specialized “musician poster” (aka the PhotoPass Photo) in the rotunda of G Force Records when you enter, truly making you feel like a rock star.
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My Final Thoughts and Review of Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster was a late bloomer in terms of attractions at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and if it wasn’t for the Roger Rabbit fallout, we wouldn’t have had it today.
But despite its late arrival and the hiccups along the way, its standing here 20 plus years later and still one of the go to attractions at the park.
You may even spot Steven Tyler as he’s known to visit the attraction and surprise guests!
This unique rock n roll attraction is a true testament to Walt Disney Imagineering and to the Sunset Strip of the 1960s.
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster is one of the best thrill rides on property for guests and the most fun for sure.
What musical artist would you love to listen to while riding this attraction? Let us know in the comments below!
About the Author
Victoria is a professional solo traveler here to make your solo trips as stress free AND enjoyable as possible for you.
She has over 5 years of Disney and Non-Disney travel experience and was featured by POPSUGAR as one of the Top 50 Black Disney Creators you should follow.
She is a Proud Native to Baltimore, Md but always will call Disney World home. You can find her at Disney Tea with V.
(Original Article Date: March 14, 2021/Updated by Editor on April 7, 2024)