Disney Tips Your Guide To A Great Disney Vacation
Disney’s Hollywood Studios is about to get a lot louder—and a whole lot more critical. Ahead of next week’s highly anticipated grand opening, Walt Disney World has officially revealed the newest Audio-Animatronics additions to Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets: the legendary hecklers, Statler and Waldorf.
Originally the star attractions of the recently closed Muppet*Vision 3D theater, where they spent decades throwing shade from their private balcony, the iconic curmudgeons have found a permanent new home. According to a first look from the Disney Parks Blog, these updated animatronics are positioned exactly at the coaster’s unload and exit station.
Perched inside a backstage tour trailer complete with boxes of fresh tomatoes, the duo is primed and ready to roast breathless riders the exact second their super-stretch limos hit the final brake run.
Disney previewed a few of their custom-recorded audio tracks, which pull no punches when it comes to critiquing the ride:
- Statler: “You know, this concert reminds me of a roller coaster.”
- Waldorf: “How’s that?”
- Statler: “It’s all downhill!”
Another joke takes a hilarious swipe at their own permanent status as theme park figures: “We have time to go to the bathroom before the next song… We can’t, you old fool, we’re bolted to the seats!”
Everything We Know About the Ride Before Next Week’s Launch
With the Aerosmith era officially in the rearview mirror since late 2025, the countdown to this massive Muppet-infused remix is entering its final days. Here is everything you need to know before you board.
- The Launch Timeline: Previews for Annual Passholders begin May 21, 2026, followed by Disney Vacation Club (DVC) previews on May 24. The ride officially opens to the general public on May 26, 2026.
- The Storyline: The historic G-Force Records studio is now under the management of J.P. Grosse (Scooter’s notoriously cheap uncle and owner of the Muppet Theatre). During the pre-show, guests meet a groundbreaking Scooter Audio-Animatronic created using advanced motion-capture technology from a real Muppet puppet, replicating authentic puppeteer weight and movement. Scooter explains that Dr. Teeth and The Electric Mayhem are stuck in a rehearsal room, completely oblivious that their massive Hollywood concert starts across town right now. Assisted by audio-engineer penguins, guests must hop into high-speed L.I.M.O. transports to escort the band to the stage.
- The In-Ride Soundtrack: While the track layout and its signature 0-to-57 mph launch remain unchanged, the audio system features a rotation of five synchronized rock and pop anthems:
- “Song 2” – A high-octane rock cover by The Electric Mayhem (originally by Blur).
- “Born to Be Wild” – Steppenwolf’s classic, complete with clucking vocal assists from Camilla the Chicken.
- “Love Rollercoaster” – A funk-rock mashup featuring Jennifer Hudson and Questlove.
- “Rock! Rock! (Till You Drop)” – The hard-rocking hit by Def Leppard.
- “Walking on Sunshine” – A pulse-pounding pop-rock remix by Kelly Clarkson.
- Queue Cameos & Courtyard Upgrades: The outdoor courtyard features a colorful, psychedelic face-lift on the iconic giant guitar marquee. The nearby food kiosk has been rebranded as “FØØD by Swedish Chef,” serving a playful new snack menu. Keep your eyes open in the queue for celebrity poster cameos, including John Stamos, Travis Barker, and “Weird Al” Yankovic.
By pairing high-speed thrill-ride mechanics with the timeless, irreverent humor of Jim Henson’s characters, Imagineering has crafted an instant hit. Just be prepared to face the music—and the critics—when you slide into the unload station next week!
