Rock Star Says Farewell to Disney Attraction Before It Closes Forever in March
Tom Hamilton, bassist for Aerosmith, visited the Disney attraction Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster at Disney’s Hollywood Studios on January 27, 2026, with his new band to experience the attraction before its permanent closure in March.
The Final Visit to the Disney Attraction
Hamilton made the trip with his new band Close Enemies, which features his longtime bass tech Trace Foster, guitarist Peter Stroud, drummer Tony Brock, and vocalist Chase Hampton, a former Mickey Mouse Club Mouseketeer. Twin brother rock band Kamenar, who is opening for Close Enemies on tour, also joined the visit.
The group experienced the attraction during its final weeks of operation before it closes permanently on March 2, 2026. The last day for guests to ride Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith will be March 1, 2026.
The Disney Attraction’s History
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith opened at Hollywood Studios in 1999 as the park’s first major thrill ride. The attraction features a launched roller coaster that accelerates riders from zero to nearly 60 miles per hour in under three seconds.
The ride takes place almost entirely in darkness with multiple inversions and high-speed turns while onboard audio plays Aerosmith songs including “Sweet Emotion,” “Dude (Looks Like a Lady),” “Love in an Elevator,” “Back in the Saddle,” and “Walk This Way.”
The storyline places guests at G-Force Records where Aerosmith is recording. When the band learns they have a concert across town, they offer guests a ride in their super-stretch limo through Los Angeles traffic.
The Upcoming Transformation
After March 2, the attraction will transform into Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets, featuring the Electric Mayhem band. The coaster track layout and ride system will remain unchanged, maintaining the same launch acceleration, inversions, and high-speed elements.
The new version will feature Muppets theming and music instead of Aerosmith. The exterior will receive a psychedelic makeover including updates to the giant guitar in Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Courtyard. The piano motif at the guitar’s base will include one gold key as a nod to Dr. Teeth’s gold tooth.
The new storyline places guests on a VIP tour of G-Force Records where the Electric Mayhem have a concert across town but are delayed in the recording studio. Guests will see this setup in a new pre-show before boarding.
What Stays and What Changes
The physical coaster experience remains identical. Riders will still experience the intense launched start and multiple inversions in darkness. The track layout doesn’t change.
What transforms is the music, visual theming, and narrative context. Instead of racing to an Aerosmith concert while listening to their hits, guests will experience the Electric Mayhem’s music and Muppets-themed visuals.
Fan Reactions
The closure has generated mixed responses. Many guests have nostalgia for the Aerosmith version and regret its permanent replacement, particularly those who grew up experiencing the attraction and associate memories with Aerosmith’s music at high speed.
Others welcome the Muppets integration and believe the Electric Mayhem provides fresh theming appealing to broader age ranges including younger guests who might not connect with Aerosmith the same way older generations do.
Making Final Visits to the Disney Attraction
Guests wanting to experience Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith before closure should visit before March 2. The attraction will likely see increased wait times during final weeks as fans make farewell visits.
The final operating day on March 1 will probably experience particularly high demand as guests make last rides on the Aerosmith version before it transforms permanently.
Tom Hamilton’s visit with Close Enemies represents a personal farewell to an attraction that featured his music for nearly 27 years. For fans of the original version, the March 1 closure marks the end of an era at Hollywood Studios that began in 1999 when the attraction first opened.
After the transformation, the Aerosmith version will exist only in memories and videos shared by guests who experienced the collaboration between the rock band and Disney during its nearly three-decade run.
