Walt Disney World has announced that the popular attraction, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster starring Aerosmith, will close for refurbishment on January 8, 2024.
Over time, every attraction must temporarily close for refurbishment. Depending on the attraction, the closure may last days, weeks or even months. If the attraction is being redesigned or overhauled, the closure could last YEARS. When this occurs, the end result is usually a completely different attraction.
This Will RUIN My Vacation!
Whenever Disney announces that a ride or show or even a restaurant is closing for any length of time, we inevitably hear a chorus of “why does this have to happen during MY vacation?” and “this is going to RUIN our vacation!”.
Please keep in mind that EVERY ride, attraction, show, gift shop and restaurant must occasionally close for refurbishment. In the case of rides, it’s important for safety reasons. Every ride needs to be maintained on a regular basis to keep it functioning properly. Also, regular maintenance is important to keep the ride from breaking down during regular park operations. Shows, shops, and restaurants all close periodically for redesign, décor or structural changes.
However, I promise you–one attraction being closed during your vacation will NOT ruin your vacation unless you let it! There are still lots of terrific attractions that will be open and fully operational to keep you and your family entertained. Even if the closed attraction is a family favorite, there are still many things to do and see, you will still have a wonderful vacation. Just try not to focus on what you can’t do, and focus on all the fun things you CAN do!
How Long Will Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster be Closed?
Generally, when Disney announces a planned closure for refurbishment, they also include the length of the refurbishment, or the projected reopening date for the attraction. In the case of Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, however, we do not have a firm length of time for the refurbishment, nor do we have a firm reopening date for the attraction. What we have currently is a vague “reopens Summer 2024”.
What could this mean? Well, this is interesting because this same attraction was also down early 2023 for a multi-month refurbishment. Generally, the same attraction will not be down for long periods of time for more than one year, unless it’s a long term closure and the closure spans long periods longer than one year. But it is unusual for the same attraction to be closed for 3-4 months one year, and then closed for another 3-4 months (or longer) the next year.
Could This Be The End of Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster?
So, two lengthy refurbs two years in a row is unusual. So what? This may mean nothing at all. This may mean that the refurbishments needed last year were unable to be completed during the planned closure last year, so they needed to plan more time for this year. It could mean that last year’s refurbishment was for scheduled cleaning and maintenance and that all was completed as planned. BUT maybe something new came to light over the last few months and required a lengthy refurbishment this year to address.
Situations like this are also usually when we start hearing lots of speculation and theories. We’ve been hearing for a while now lots of theories that Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster might be rethemed to a different rock band. Another theory that has been floating around is that the ride might get an entirely new storyline altogether. We’ve also heard that the ride might close permanently, and the ride building be used for a completely new attraction completely. Almost ANYTHING is possible.
What is This Ride All About?
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster starring Aerosmith opened to the public on July 29, 1999. This indoor roller coaster features limousine themed trains that accelerate to 57 mph in 2.8 seconds. The premise behind the thrill ride is that the coaster trains are limousines heading to an Aerosmith concert “across town” and everyone’s in a hurry so go! go! go!
Each coaster train plays a different Aerosmith song during the ride, and the band appears in the pre-show video. Inside the ride, there is a lot of neon as you race through the darkness to get to the concert venue. The “driver” whips around sharp curves and the “limo” even goes upside down very briefly a couple of times. Post pre show, you head out into the “alley” to get loaded into your limo. The theming out here is really well done. When you arrive at the venue, it does have sort of a red carpet entrance look to the disembarkation area. Once you exit the vehicle, you’ll head down the hall to a gift shop (of course)!
The preshow has undergone some minor updates over the years, but the ride itself has not changed much over the years.
Does Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Need Updating?
Well, it IS an attraction that is more than 20 years old. Generally, MOST attractions need some kind of updating after 20 years. However, there are many classic Disney attractions that have gone largely unchanged for many more years than that without guest outrage. There are some elements of Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster that can make the attraction feel dated.
For example, Aerosmith, the band. Aerosmith was formed in 1970 in Boston. Over the years, Aerosmith has had many hits. One of their biggest surges in popularity came in 1998, when the band released the single, “I Don’t Want To Miss a Thing”. This song was featured in the Bruce Willis/Ben Affleck film, Armageddon. The band has continued to release music and tour throughout the 2000’s, announcing Peace: The Farewell Tour in Fall 2023. The songs featured in the limousine coaster trains are all pre-2000 Aerosmith hits. So while the songs are all popular Aerosmith songs, there is a bit of nostalgia to them.
Disney fans that don’t love Aerosmith have long argued that Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster needs to be overhauled. Aerosmith mega fans argue that the ride is should never change.
Has Disney Given Any Hints?
At this time, Disney has said NOTHING. All they have said is that the attraction is going down for a scheduled refurbishment on January 8, 2024. If it lasts the three months that the 2023 refurbishment did, we can anticipate that Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster will reopen mid-April. The longer the refurbishment, the later the reopening will be. IF this refurbishment extends for 8 months or more, I think we can start thinking some of the theories may be coming to fruition. If that happens though, hopefully, Disney will make some kind of announcement as to what is happening. The rumor mill may just go crazy otherwise!
The Bottom Line
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster is closing on January 8, 2024 for at least a few months for refurbishment.
Will this affect your vacation planning? Is this one of your favorite attractions? Are you in the camp that thinks this ride needs to be redesigned or the camp that thinks this ride is perfect as it is? Please comment below and let us know your thoughts.
