Disney Tips Your Guide To A Great Disney Vacation
Since making its debut at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets has quickly become one of the park’s biggest headliners. Combining the high-energy musical chaos of Dr. Teeth and The Electric Mayhem with a 57 mph launched coaster, the attraction draws packed queues daily.
However, the ride’s popularity has also brought a major operational headache: guests pulling out smartphones to record point-of-view videos during the high-speed coaster run.
To combat loose-article hazards and eliminate unexpected ride shutdowns, Walt Disney World has implemented a new station protocol. Guests queuing up for the attraction have noticed a newly created efficiency and safety cast member position stationed inside the loading building, tasked with enforcing strict pre-boarding rules before riders ever step foot on the train.
Inside Disney’s New Station Safety Role
Positioned directly in front of the vehicle boarding gates, this dedicated cast member serves as an active checkpoint before guests step onto the vehicle platform.
Rather than relying on loaders who are already busy checking overhead shoulder restraints, this new position focuses entirely on pre-boarding preparation and queue flow:
- Early Bag Removal: Directing guests to take off backpacks, purses, and cross-body bags while standing behind the gates—well before the coaster vehicle arrives.
- Mandatory Phone Stowage: Giving direct verbal instructions to riders holding smartphones, cameras, or vlogging gear to put them away into zipped pockets, bags, or interior vehicle storage pouches.
- Boarding Gate Readiness: Confirming that groups are standing in their assigned row gates and ready to board instantly once the doors open.
By forcing riders to take off their bags while waiting behind the gates, the new role removes the usual station bottleneck where guests struggle to strip off backpacks inside narrow coaster cars.
Why Loose Phones Trigger Constant Delays
The crackdown comes as Disney looks to curb ride disruptions caused by unauthorized filming. Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster catapults guests from 0 to 57 mph in just 2.8 seconds before sending them through three inversions in the dark.
At those speeds, a dropped smartphone becomes a dangerous high-speed projectile that can injure riders in rear seats or trigger track sensors. Furthermore, Disney control room operators continuously monitor the launch track via security cameras. If an operator spots a guest holding a phone as a vehicle enters the launch bay, safety protocol dictates an immediate emergency stop (E-stop).
Clearing an E-stop requires resetting safety zones, running empty test trains, and conducting track checks—a process that halts the ride for 20 to 45 minutes and sends standby wait times soaring.
What You Need to Know Before You Board
Adding a dedicated safety cast member at the load gates creates a faster, smoother experience for everyone in line by keeping trains moving and eliminating preventable E-stops.
If you are heading to Hollywood Studios to experience Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets, keep these quick tips in mind:
- Zip phones and loose items safely inside bags or pockets while in the indoor queue.
- Hold your bags in your hands before the boarding gates open.
- Place large bags flat on the vehicle floor between your feet with a leg looped through the strap.
By taking a proactive stance at the loading gates, Disney is protecting riders and keeping one of its flagship thrill rides running smoothly all day long.
