At the ultimate day of MuppetVision 3-D, Walt Disney Global has introduced some ‘silver lining’ information in regards to the opening time frame for Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster Starring the Muppets, which can change Aerosmith in 2026. This covers the whole lot we all know in regards to the thrill trip reimagining, and whilst you would possibly be expecting the outdated coaster to near & new enchantment to debut.
The very first thing we all know to this point is that Monsters, Inc. Door Coaster and Monstropolis mini-land is getting began a lot faster than anticipated, with PizzeRizzo, MuppetVision 3-D and the remainder of Muppets Courtyard last these days (June 7, 2025). As of the following day, partitions will move up round Muppets Courtyard, leaving open handiest Ice Chilly Hydraulics, Baseline Faucet Area, and the Grand Road thoroughfare into Big name Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.
When saying the closure of Muppets Courtyard, Walt Disney Global published that Kermit the Frog, Leave out Piggy and extra in their pals will probably be shifting proper alongside to Sundown Street. The Muppets will probably be taking up Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster, teaming up with a few of tune’s largest stars for a rockin’ tune pageant. Because of a contemporary replace, we’ve got new information about the timing of this transfer.
Featured at the poster for Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster Starring the Muppets are the entire above-mentioned Muppets plus Dr. Tooth and the Electrical Mayhem Band, together with Floyd Pepper, Janice, Lips, Animal, and Zoot. It’s unclear of whether or not the ones are “a few of tune’s largest stars” or if that’s a connection with non-Muppets tune that’ll be performed at the coaster.
It’s conceivable that the Muppets are used because the storytelling tool within the queue and pre-show, however the trip revel in options mainstream tune (a los angeles Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind). By which case, possibly Aerosmith gained’t be completely evicted, in spite of everything!
As the primary Disney trip ever to characteristic The Muppets, there’s certain to be laughter, screams and new tunes for this enchantment for enthusiasts to experience during the journey and a lot of Muppets-themed products on Sundown Street! Within the intervening time, there’s nonetheless sufficient time to catch a super-stretch limo to the Discussion board to experience Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster Starring Aerosmith.
Consistent with a brand new Walt Disney Global press free up, Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster Starring Aerosmith is now formally set to near in 2026 for its trip reimagining. This nonetheless does no longer specify an afternoon, month, and even season but, but it surely does divulge that the reimagined Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster Starring the Muppets will even open someday in 2026.
From this, we will surmise a little bit extra in regards to the last and opening timeframes for each variations of Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster. However first, right here’s a amusing announcement video from Kermit the Frog:
Hello Ho everybody! @TheMuppets are packing up and shifting to Sundown Blvd for his or her first ever coaster! Seize your guitar (or banjo), as a result of Rock ’N’ Curler Coaster Starring @TheMuppets speeds into Disney’s Hollywood Studios in 2026! %.twitter.com/ldltI3dGmi
— Walt Disney Global (@WaltDisneyWorld) June 7, 2025
As a snappy apart, I’m nonetheless no longer used to that voice. Even though it does make me need to give Gonzo’s home made laundry chute curler coaster a move, and it’s great to have this ‘silver lining’ replace on Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster Starring the Muppets, particularly as some enthusiasts have speculated that it’s going to be quietly cancelled–that it used to be handiest introduced to placate enthusiasts and supply “quilt” for the closure of MuppetVision. (I’ve heard from more than one resources that this isn’t the case, and that there’s been energetic manufacturing for the queue and pre-show for some time now.)
For additional hypothesis about when Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster Starring Aerosmith will shut in 2026–and when RnRC Starring the Muppets will open–we must glance to different mission timelines at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and past.
Something we’ve already noticed just lately is the brand new Villains Unfairly Ever After and Little Mermaid Musical Journey degree presentations each debuted concurrently round Memorial Day. That used to be a smart move from a advertising standpoint, because it supplied a splashier bundle than a unmarried degree demonstrate. Nonetheless no longer moderately sufficient to compete with Epic Universe, however they attempted!
Taking a look down the street into 2026, there’s a equivalent setup at Disney’s Hollywood Studios as soon as once more. The New Challenge that includes Mandalorian & Child Yoda for Millennium Falcon Smugglers Run debuts on Would possibly 22, 2026.
Relating to the Big name Wars: Galaxy’s Edge enchantment, that date isn’t being selected strategically for the sake of Walt Disney Global. Would possibly 22, 2026 is just when the brand new film debuts.
At this level, it’s unclear whether or not that’ll necessitate a closure or be executed in a single day like the brand new scenes in Big name Excursions. As a extra elaborate enchantment, my hope is that Smugglers Run will move down for no less than a couple of weeks for minor adjustments to make the queue and pre-show mesh with the venture. Who is aware of, although.
After all, we’re skeptical that Walt Disney Global could be prepared to have Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster and Millennium Falcon Smugglers Run closed for refurbishment on the identical time. They’re two primary thrill rides which can be lovely common and assist take in crowds. Whilst having them each debut on Would possibly 22, 2026 would make for an intriguing advertising bundle, I’m greater than a little bit skeptical that’ll occur.
No longer simply on account of the refurbishments, both. (Once more, it’s nonetheless unclear Smugglers Run may have any downtime.) There’s additionally the truth that the brand new venture for Smugglers Run is a Big name Wars advertising device, no less than partly, so it’s much more likely that Disney will bundle a collection of improvements round that during Big name Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.
We’re addressing all of this as a result of there’s the chance that we’re improper, and Would possibly 22 is the objective debut date for Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster Starring the Muppets. That’s no longer a nasty wager, and at this level, there’s in reality not anything else at the calendar to attempt for.
With that during thoughts, every other factor to believe is the last date of DINOSAUR over at Animal Kingdom. Whilst that’s but to be formally introduced, each signal issues to mid-January 2026 after the vacation rush of crowds and Walt Disney Global Marathon is over. It’s totally conceivable that Disney will take the similar manner with RnRC, and likewise shut that during mid-January. This would set the desk for Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster Starring the Muppets to debut across the get started of Spring Destroy season.
Every other chance is far later within the yr, with RnRC Starring Aerosmith last after the tip of Spring Destroy season (mid-April 2026) or after the tip of summer season (mid-August 2026). By which case, Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster Starring the Muppets may just debut in June or July 2026 or between Fall Destroy and Veterans Day 2026. Every other very actual chance is that the closure and opening happen apparently at random, one thing that’s been going on increasingly with Walt Disney Global closures and openings.
But when that is strategic (and it almost certainly is since DHS has capability constraints), the objective could be dropping the RnRC capability when it’s wanted the least, and gaining the capability of Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster Starring the Muppets proper ahead of a large vacationer season. We’d absolutely be expecting that to be how this performs out.
There’s additionally the query of simply how lengthy the Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster reimagining will take. Check Observe goes to finally end up being closed for over a yr. Ditto Large Thunder Mountain Railroad. DINOSAUR’s conversion into Indiana Jones Journey will (expectantly) take no less than 18 months.
If RnRC’s reimagining is analogous, Walt Disney Global would possibly as an alternative paintings backwards from the best reopening time frame to dictate the closure date. By which case, you could think that since Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster Starring the Muppets goes to open someday in 2026, the model Starring Aerosmith wishes to near ASAP in 2026 to deal with. We may well be speaking a January last simply to have a possibility at a November 2026 opening!
We strongly suspect the RnRC reimagining gained’t take any place close to that lengthy. The curler coaster observe and format are virtually without a doubt going to stay unchanged within the present gravity development, and adjustments to any of that’s what would balloon the timeline of this mission. It’s almost certainly no longer getting a brand new facade or any structural adjustments to the outside.
Given the concept that artwork, we all know the trip cars aren’t converting (with the exception of cosmetically). It’s additionally most probably that the weight space, release, and dump will most probably keep the similar. If we needed to wager, Imagineering will create tale contrivances that provide really extensive overlap with Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster Starring Aerosmith.
Possibly it’ll be the Muppets racing to get from their studio at the Jim Henson Corporate Lot in Hollywood to Downtown Los Angeles for a demonstrate. That might permit for numerous what’s lately a part of RnRC to stay unchanged. In all probability, that is going to be what they name a “no dough” reimagining–that’s almost certainly how Imagineering were given the pitch licensed within the first position.
Being a curler coaster at the hours of darkness with minimum props, there’s almost certainly a good quantity of prepwork that may be executed after hours whilst Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster Starring Aerosmith remains to be operational with out visitors noticing. It’s additionally totally conceivable that the present props don’t in reality alternate if the enchantment keeps the Los Angeles live performance conceit.
The trickier and time-consuming adjustments will occur within the queue and pre-show. Even then, it’s our figuring out that Disney has contingency plans in position that will permit the corporate to take away all references to Aerosmith in a single day. That Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster may just proceed running, with out closure, within the match of an Aerosmith scandal that required Disney to distance itself from the band instantly. That is not anything new–those plans had been almost certainly formulated all through the enchantment’s construction.
This identical contingency plan may just permit for a reimagining with minimum downtime. When you’ve executed RnRC early within the morning, overdue at evening, or all through After Hours occasions, you could know that it’s occasionally conceivable to avoid the pre-show. It is because, in contrast to many different sights, the non-skippable protection spiel isn’t all through the pre-show.
With the doorways open on that pre-show room taking into consideration visitors to cross via, this theoretically opens the door for the Muppets Mayhem takeover to come back to lifestyles with out RnRC ever happening for refurbishment. Which means it might shut as “Starring Aerosmith” someday and reopen as “Starring the Muppets” the following. This isn’t what we predict to occur–simply illustrating the chance to underscore how paintings may well be executed whilst the trip is operational. That is how the Jungle Cruise reimagining used to be carried out post-COVID, for reference.
Truthfully, I am hoping this isn’t the case–and doubt it’ll be. Much less downtime is the worst-case state of affairs from my standpoint, because it method the ambitiousness of the reimagining and its finances are low.
It could imply we virtually without a doubt aren’t getting any of the Audio Animatronics from MuppetVision 3-D or another “meaty” additions to Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster. That can be a welcome reduction to these of you who’re keeping out hope for a real preservation of MuppetVision 3-D, and most likely the advent of a Muppets Courtyard again right here when Villains Unfairly Ever After ends its run.
Truthfully, I’m the other. Whilst I’d love for Disney to carry again the MuppetVision property for a revival of that demonstrate, I simply don’t see it taking place in any real looking state of affairs. And then again, the fewer that’s invested in Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster Starring the Muppets, the much more likely it’s that this is the stopgap answer.
It’s totally conceivable this RnRC reimagining is handiest being executed to placate Muppets enthusiasts and since Disney needs to ditch Aerosmith within the near-term. This complete nook of the park may well be destined for every other objective, most likely a Surprise-ous one, someday within the 2030s after Villains Land debuts in Magic Kingdom. However I digress.
The extra time and money that’s spent on Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster Starring the Muppets, the easier. If this can be a wonderful 6-month mission that installs Audio Animatronics and makes rather bold adjustments to the queue, pre-show, and post-show, that’s nice. If it by some means takes 11 months? Completely exceptional.
No longer handiest does it imply that Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster Starring the Muppets will probably be a greater enchantment, but it surely will increase the chance that the joys trip will stick round for no less than a decade, most likely extra. The longer the closure and the extra money spent, the longer Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster Starring the Muppets sticks round.
My trustworthy hope is that Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster Starring Aerosmith closes on January 5, 2026 and Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster Starring the Muppets opens on December 11, 2026. That will be the best-case state of affairs according to what we now know. I extremely doubt it’s going to be that gigantic of an opening between closure and reopening, however that will be the dream.
In the long run, that’s a variety of chances and it’s in reality tough to are expecting the perhaps result. My intestine is {that a} January closure that coincides with DINOSAUR (very same date) and reopening in time for Spring Destroy 2026 is Choice #1. On the other hand, a closure round early to mid-August and reopening between Fall Destroy and Veterans Day is Choice #2. I’m almost certainly about 50/50 on the ones at this level relating to probability–the latter makes extra sense, but in addition turns out extra unsure because it’s additional into the long run.
Even though my worry is that the mission will have the ability to be completed totally in a single day (wherein case the timing may well be on every occasion), I doubt that’s the truth. Much more likely is that the RnRC reimagining necessitates a closure starting from a couple of weeks to a couple of months. We already know that it’ll be not up to a year-long mission, however I’d wager on it being not up to a 6-month mission, with 3-4 months almost certainly being the candy spot.
The saving grace for Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster Starring the Muppets is that there are hardcore Muppets enthusiasts in Walt Disney Imagineering. That signifies that they’ll additionally combat for a wholesome finances, moderately lengthy reimagining, reusing components from MuppetVision that will differently be discarded, and having as a lot distinctive Muppets humor as conceivable. This being a zeal mission is an excellent factor, even supposing it’s completed on a decent finances (that’s how we were given PizzeRizzo).
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YOUR THOUGHTS
When in 2026 do you suppose Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster Starring Aerosmith will shut? What about a gap date for the Muppets Mayhem model? Suppose this will probably be a brief reimagining or a long one? Be expecting a gap by means of Spring Destroy or after Summer season? Large finances or “no dough” mission? Are you disenchanted in regards to the Muppets changing Aerosmith, Monsters changing MuppetVision, or each? Do you settle or disagree with our exams? Any questions we will assist you to resolution? Listening to your comments–even whilst you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please percentage your ideas underneath within the feedback!
