The smell of burnt rubber and the faint, distorted chords of a Gibson Les Paul have defined the Sunset Boulevard corner of Hollywood Studios since the turn of the millennium. It was a place where “limos” defied gravity, and Steven Tyler’s scream was the last thing you heard before being launched into a neon-lit Los Angeles.
But on Sunday (March 1), the high-octane marriage between classic rock and theme park thrills finally hit the brakes, leaving fans to scramble for one last 60-mile-per-hour goodbye.
The Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith attraction shut down after years inside the park, clearing the way for a new version built around the Muppets. The shift follows a Disney announcement from last year that the band Aerosmith would be leaving the ride, with the Electric Mayhem stepping in when the coaster reopens later this summer.
For fans, the final day turned into something like a quiet send-off.
A High-Speed Legacy Hits the Brakes
The roller coaster opened in 1999 and quickly became one of the park’s signature attractions. Riders were launched almost instantly into darkness, racing through loops and corkscrews while Aerosmith songs blasted through the onboard speakers. Tracks like Walk This Way, Back in the Saddle, and Love in an Elevator were part of the ride’s soundtrack for decades.
Before boarding, guests passed through a pre-show scene where the band invited them to speed across Los Angeles to make it to a concert on time. That sequence disappeared in December, one of the first visible changes ahead of the ride’s overhaul.
The new version will keep the same track and launch system, but the story will shift. Instead of Aerosmith preparing for a show, the ride will take place in a recording studio run by the Muppets’ house band, Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem. Early previews show Scooter scrambling to get the group onstage while penguins work the sound equipment.
Even Aerosmith’s Tom Hamilton stopped by earlier this year for a final ride. Posting photos from the park, the bassist thanked Disney employees and fans for the years the band’s music echoed through the coaster.
By the time the park closed Sunday, hundreds of guests had managed to squeeze in one last run.
Sources: Disney Parks, Disney World, People