Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith, a high-speed roller coaster for big kids, teens and adults, is amplified by the driving beat of a soundtrack recorded by the rock group Aerosmith specifically for this attraction. With the force of a supersonic F-14, accelerate from a stand-still stop to high speeds-then swoop into 3 inversions and discover a new twist on viewing Los Angeles: upside-down!
Step into the G-Force Record studio where you see the 5 members of Aerosmith wrapping up a practice session before their big concert on the other side of town. The show starts soon, the band's late and their manager is trying to get them on the road. You're invited to come along. But how's everyone going to get to the big bash? The solution: a super-stretch limousine that races across 3,400-feet of roller coaster tracks past Southern California landmarks and slices through the toughest of traffic on the LA freeways.
Each "car" is furnished with a 125 speaker, 24 sub-woofer, 32,000 watt, onboard audio system, built to blast. Careen through the neon-filled streets of Tinseltown, the rock 'n' roll adrenaline pumping through your veins, your body feeling the force from launch to loop at zero to 60 miles per hour in 2.8 seconds. This is one limo ride you'll always remember!
The coaster accelerates from 0 to 57 miles per hour in 2.8 seconds (making this the second-fastest attraction at the Walt Disney World Resort, behind only Test Track and the fastest ride at Disneyland Paris). The riders experience 4.5g as they enter the first inversion, more than an astronaut does on a space shuttle launch. Both versions of the attraction feature five trains, although only four can run at one time. The remaining train is kept in backup while being serviced (each train is rotated out periodically for safety reasons).
After winding through a shaded outdoor queue, guests enter the offices and recording studios of record label G-Force Records (a 68,131 sq ft building), whose lobby is decorated with posters of real acts signed to labels owned by The Walt Disney Company.
Next, guests are led into a room looking into the recording studio, where the five members of Aerosmith are shown finishing a recording session. The group's manager, portrayed by Illeana Douglas, enters and informs them that they're late for a concert. Lead singer Steven Tyler expresses regret at being forced to leave the band's fans and requests backstage passes for the entire group. The band then departs by limousine to "the Forum" (a reference to a famous Los Angeles concert venue). The harried manager summons a "super stretch" limo, to carry guests to the concert and directs them outside.
The pacing of the film is such that there is brief pause between the time that the band mentions to their manager that they should do something for their fans and Steven Tyler agreeing. The interval of time is just long enough that the line "How about some backstage passes" can be shouted from the audience (often by the cast member who is acting as the tour's "host"), making it appear that the band takes the suggestion, which is also echoed by a band mate. Steven Tyler's next line is "Wait a minute, I love that idea. How about some backstage passes?"
Guests exit the recording studio and pass through an alley into a parking garage, owned by "Lock 'n' Roll Parking Systems". In here, guests waiting in line can see the ride's launch and sharp-eyed guests can spot the curtains in above 'apartment windows', sway from the 'force', caused by the launch. Guests then board a waiting 24 seat stretch limo for the trip across town to the concert.
After loading passengers, the "limo" stops at the entrance to a tunnel. Music is playing and an overhead variable message sign displays a series of several different messages until a countdown. After the countdown, the car is then shot into the tunnel at 60 miles per hour (97 km/h) and the souvenir photo is taken. The roller coaster goes through two inversions, one of which are roll-overs and one of which is a corkscrew on a winding track, intended to represent various Los Angeles Area Freeways, including Interstate 5, Interstate 10 and U.S. Route 101, as evident by the street signs that periodically appear on the side of the coaster. The attraction ends when the limo arrives at Aerosmith's concert backstage, letting guests off onto a red carpet.
Touring Tips
- Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith is a FASTPASS attraction. Because this is such a great attraction, though, queues can still get quite long. Get your FASTPASS, then go over for a drop at the nearby Tower of Terror while waiting for your FASTPASS window to open.
- This ride is part of the Extra Magic Hour program at the park, which allows resort guests entrance to the park one hour earlier than normal operating hours on designated days.
- This is a very fast, very loud, very dark ride! Pregnant women and people with other medical considerations are advised against riding this coaster with its twists, turns and inversions.
- If you just want to see the pre-show, or if you change your mind about riding this attraction at the last minute, you can use the so-called "chicken exit." After viewing the pre-show, guests are guided into an alleyway - the chicken exit is located to the far left of the alleyway, just before the queue winds around for guests to board the limos. Be sure to tell the Cast Member that you do not wish to ride, and you'll be directed through the exit, which takes you into the gift shop, where you may await the rest of your party.
Facts
- Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith is sponsored by Hanes, and is located next to The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror attraction in the Sunset Boulevard area of Disney's Hollywood Studios theme park.
- This thrill ride features a high-speed launch of 0-60 mph in 2.8 seconds, three inversions, two rollover loops and one corkscrew -- all firsts for a Walt Disney World attraction.
- Guests experience a force of nearly 5 Gs as they transition from launch to loop at the ride's first inversion. For comparison, astronauts aboard the Space Shuttle experience 3 Gs at liftoff.
- At 3,400 feet, the coaster's track is more than a half-mile long.
- Each limo plays a different Aerosmith track. Among the popular Aerosmith songs heard: Dude Looks Like a Lady; Walk This Way; Sweet Emotion; and Love in an Elevator.
- While considered "extreme", Rock 'n' Roller Coaster has been described by roller coaster enthusiasts as being smoother, less jerky and less uncomfortable than some similar extreme roller coasters.
- For awhile, when this attraction first opened, there was a real person who was part of the Aerosmith video pre-show scene. He'd pick up a guitar for the band and bring it to their "limo". Day in, day out, for each endless group of riders, it was the same thing over and over. Fortunately, they set the poor guy free. (Rumor has it that he was last seen running down the expressway yelling "I didn't study Shakespeare for this.")
- In 2007, the queue was modified to accommodate single riders in addition to FASTPASS.
- In 2000, Vekoma constructed a nearly identical version of Rock 'n' Roller Coaster for Walibi Holland in the Netherlands. Initially called Superman The Ride, the ride was re-named Xpress in 2005.
History
Cast member previews for the ride were initially held the last week of June, 1999. On 29 July ,1999, the ride officially opened with a special, invitation-only party, with Aerosmith as the guests of honor. Winners rode to Disney's Hollywood Studios in stretch limousines and were treated to an all-you-can-eat buffet and bar. After a special performance by painter Denny Dent, winners got the chance to ride the roller coaster with one of the Aerosmith band members. At the exit of the ride, outside of the gift shop, there hangs a picture from the special event. The paintings Denny Dent made of the five band members hang in various employee office locations on Walt Disney World property.
The pre-show has changed from when the attraction first opened. Originally, band member Joe Perry would ask "Chris" to "grab my black Les Paul." A Disney cast member in the pre-show area would then pick up and remove a black guitar signed by Joe Perry from the set. The script uses the unisex name "Chris" so either a male or female could play the part. Although not used as often as when the ride first opened, the position is still used from time to time (generally, if the attraction is overstaffed). The film also includes a roadie saying "Hey Joe, I'll get it for ya" as a backup, in the event that a cast member is not available for the part.
Hidden Mickey
- One in the pre-show (found on a small chalkboard in the bottom right corner of the sound room (this one was made by a cast member and changes at times).
- One in the pre-show (found on the ground, formed by three coils of wire).
- One in place of each "Expiration Date" for the license plates on the limos.
- Many on the floor in Studio C, hidden in the carpet pattern.
- Two on the ride track itself (one found on a yellow sign behind a red limo, one on the ground in a cityscape area).
- Two in the tile mosaic in the rotunda before the recording studio near the marble doors.
- One in the post show area to the right as one enters this area.
- Many on Steven Tyler's shirt on the poster outside.
- One on Joe Perry's medallion on the outside poster.