On 1st March 2026, after more than 26 years thrilling guests with high-speed launches and classic rock, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith at Disney’s Hollywood Studios closed permanently in its original form. The indoor launched coaster, known for blasting guests from 0 to 57 mph in 2.8 seconds through inversions and neon streetscapes, officially ended its run as fans flocked for one last ride before its transformation into a completely reimagined experience.

The final day felt more like a rock concert than a theme park queue, as wait times ballooned to some of the longest ever seen at Walt Disney World Resort. Standby lines at points stretched into the back of Sunset Boulevard and beyond, exceeding two hours, with reports of waits approaching three hours as guests lined up all day just to experience the attraction one last time. At times, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster not only had the longest queue in Hollywood Studios but the longest in the entire resort, beating out every other ride on property.

Part of what made the day so frenetic was that the ride had already been partially pared back in previous months: the original pre-show featuring Aerosmith was shut down late last year to allow retheming work to begin. That left only the intense launch, inversions, and iconic soundtrack from the onboard speakers — the very elements that endeared the ride to guests since its debut on 29th July 1999. Over the years it gained a devoted following as Disney’s first coaster with multiple inversions and as one of the park’s most electrifying experiences.

In the moments before closing at around 9 p.m., wait-time displays still showed significant queues, with standby times topping 135 minutes just before park closing. Cast members asked guests outside of the queue gates to depart as the attraction reached its final departure.

Now the iconic ride building will not sit silent for long. Disney is transforming the attraction into Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets, scheduled to open in summer 2026. The re-theme will keep the thrilling launch and track layout but swap out the rock-and-roll narrative for a Muppet-style romp with the Electric Mayhem band, including new pre-show elements and whimsical theming throughout. Classic rock fans watched the old marquee come down with mixed emotions, but there’s anticipation about how the beloved Muppet characters will energise the experience for a new generation.

The closure of Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith marks a major moment at Disney’s Hollywood Studios — the end of a chapter in the park’s history that began in the late 1990s and became a rite of passage for visitors seeking high adrenaline and loud guitars. Its legacy now passes briefly through memory before a fresh set of characters and stories take over from this summer.