Closure Update: Disney’s Controversial Coaster Future Confirmed, Lawsuit Verdict Arrives

At Walt Disney World Resort, one thrill attraction that many have been wondering the fate of just received an update, and it appears that any worry guests may have had in regards to the ride leaving the park have just been whisked away.

Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith is one of the more popular attractions at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, located at the end of Sunset Boulevard next to the looming Tower of Terror. The ride has been operating since 1999, and all these years later still thrills guests with its 0 to 57 mph launch. The ride is entirely indoors and takes place in a “super stretch limo” after the rock band Aerosmith gives us backstage passes to their upcoming concert.

Of course, in 1999 having Aerosmith not only star in the attraction via the preshow but have their classic hits blast as you move through the coaster was groundbreaking as Disney was pairing thrill with one of the hottest bands around. Now, years later, while Aerosmith is incredibly popular, they do not have the same fame that they once held over 20 years ago.

In Disneyland Paris, we saw their version of the coaster get rethemed to Avengers Assemble: Flight Force in their Avenger’s Campus starring Iron Man and Captain Marvel. With this change, many have wondered if Disney would ever remove the attraction at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Then, Steven Tyler underwent some very serious allegations of abusing multiple minors, which hit the media in a viral way. If we think about how Disney has dealt with their stars undergoing controversy in the past, cough cough Johnny Depp, Disney is known to back away from anything controversial before a verdict has even arisen, removing the actor from Pirates of the Caribbean entirely while innocent. 

Knowing this, coupled with the fact that the ride has been undergoing multiple back to back multi-month refurbishments, many wondered if the fate of the attraction was hanging in the balance.

Now, it has been reported by TMZ that a U.S. District Judge on Wednesday dismissed a lawsuit from a woman who alleges that Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler sexually assaulted her when she was 17. The case was one of two pending against the Grammy winner. The other, filed in California in 2022, is still in process.

TMZ went on to explain “last year the singer-songwriter was sued by Jeanne Bellino who alleged Steven kissed, groped and began “humping her pretending to have sex” twice one night in 1975 when she was 17.”

The court documents filed by the former American Idol judge assert his strong denial of the allegations.

The lawsuit was filed under New York City’s Victims of Gender-Motivated Violence Protection Act, which extends the statute of limitations for older cases. This law provides a new two-year window for individuals to make new claims for incidents that may have occurred many years ago. Bellino claims that the incidents in her case date back to 1975.

On Wednesday, the judge presiding over the case determined that Bellino did not meet the criteria for the new two-year window. This decision was based on the judge’s finding that Bellino did not claim behavior that posed a significant risk of physical harm.

TMZ further explained, “Basically, what the judge said in the decision handed down Wednesday is that Tyler allegedly forcibly kissing and dry-humping Jeanne — as she claims — might be distressing but didn’t rise to the level of presenting any risk of serious injury, so he tossed the suit.

It’s a pretty noteworthy decision, and unclear what future ramifications the precedent set by the judge today may have on other cases filed in New York City under the same provision.”

While this clears Tyler’s name for one of the lawsuits, there is still another at hand. That being said, as we just saw with Bellino’s case, if there was no significant risk of physical harm, Julia Holcomb will not be able to move forward on her suit either.

If Tyler was seen as guilty, it is likely that Disney would have to double think plastering his face on their billboards and leaving an attraction running with the singer heavily featured, but now, seeing as things are working out in favor of Tyler, there is less of an ethical implication on the House of Mouse to do something about it.

While Disney may eventually very well decide to retheme the coaster, we do know that the current lengthy closure that will last through to summer 2024 is simply to refurbish the attraction and that the Aerosmith theme will still remain intact. While Disney can still operate the attraction, they no longer own the rights to sell Aerosmith merchandise, and their lack of attempts to regain that licensing deal may hint that they expect change in the future.

Do you think that Disney should re-theme Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith? 

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