Crowds packed Disney’s Hollywood Studios last week as guests rushed to experience Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster Starring the Muppets for the very first time. Disney officially reopened the longtime coaster on May 26, 2026, after months of work transforming the attraction into a completely new Muppets-themed experience.
The reopening quickly became one of the biggest stories around Walt Disney World this summer.
Now, only days later, the attraction is already drawing attention for a completely different reason.
Guests have started noticing visible damage throughout sections of the queue, and photos spreading online have frustrated many Disney fans who waited months to see the attraction reopen.
Disney Reimagined a Hollywood Studios Classic
Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster remained closed for months while Disney refreshed the attraction with an entirely different story and theme. The coaster originally featured Aerosmith for decades and became one of Disney World’s most recognizable thrill rides because of its launch, inversions, and dark indoor layout.
Disney kept the actual coaster experience mostly the same while rebuilding the attraction around the Muppets.
Instead of rushing to an Aerosmith concert, guests now enter a backstage Muppets production full of comedy and confusion before boarding the ride. Disney also refreshed the queue and preshow areas to match the new storyline.
Opening week brought heavy crowds to Hollywood Studios as fans lined up to experience the reimagined coaster. Wait times climbed quickly, and social media was filled with guests' reactions to the new version of the attraction.
Some fans still preferred the original Aerosmith theme, but many praised Disney for giving the coaster a new identity while preserving the ride experience itself.
That excitement is part of why the recent damage has upset so many people online.
Paint Throughout the Queue Started Peeling Away
Shortly after reopening, guests began sharing photos showing paint peeling from several areas throughout the queue.
Large strips of gray paint appeared missing from parts of the walls and columns, exposing the layer underneath. According to reports online, once guests realized the paint could peel away easily, more sections throughout the queue quickly became damaged.
Some of the columns reportedly showed the worst damage.
Photos circulating online show several areas where the surface paint appears ripped off in long strips. In some spots, the peeling stretches across large portions of the queue, making the newly refreshed area already appear worn despite being open for only a short time.
The situation quickly frustrated many Disney fans online.
Some guests blamed poor preparation or paint issues, while others argued that guests intentionally caused the damage after noticing the paint could peel off. Many fans found the behavior embarrassing, especially given the anticipation surrounding the attraction’s reopening.
Disney Has Started Covering Some of the Damage
Disney has already made efforts to patch portions of the queue.
Guests visiting the attraction recently noticed fresh paint covering some of the damaged spots. A few areas that previously appeared heavily peeled now look repaired compared to earlier photos shared online.
Still, several damaged areas remain visible throughout the queue.
Guests continue to spot-paint some walls and columns, and in certain locations, the repaired sections remain easy to notice because the paint shades do not blend perfectly.
It also remains unclear how aggressively Disney plans to continue repairing the affected areas moving forward.
Disney could continue repainting portions of the queue as damage appears, but some fans question whether the company will keep doing so in the long term if guests keep peeling the paint off.
Fans Believe the Problem Goes Beyond This Ride
For many Disney fans, the damage surrounding Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster Starring the Muppets reflects a much larger issue inside the parks.
Online reactions quickly turned into discussions about guest behavior in general. Over the past several years, Disney fans have increasingly complained about damaged queue spaces, stolen props, and disruptive conduct throughout the parks.
That is one reason this story has resonated with so many longtime visitors.
Fans waited months for Disney to reopen the coaster with its new Muppets theme. Disney refreshed major portions of the experience, including the queue itself. Seeing visible damage appear within days disappointed many guests who had hoped the attraction would remain in pristine condition for longer than a single week.
For now, Disney is continuing to repair portions of the queue while the attraction operates normally at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Whether all the damaged areas will eventually be restored remains unknown.
