Over the 50 years that Walt Disney World Resort has been open, its four theme parks have seen a lot of changes. Even though it didn’t open until 1989, Disney’s Hollywood Studios may have seen some of the biggest changes, including its name. The theme park opened as Disney-MGM Studios and focused on the magic of movie-making. The theme park had a distinct Hollywood feel, including a functioning backlot. However, as time went on, Disney decided to focus more on its own films and franchises.
The animation sections of the Park, including the backlot, have since closed, and new areas have opened. Disney’s Hollywood Studios is now home to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and Toy Story Land. Toy Story Land opened in 2018 and Galaxy’s Edge opened one year later. Other classic attractions have closed or been rethemed in recent years as well. The Great Movie Ride closed and reopened as Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway. The building that used to house Sounds Dangerous! starring Drew Carey and The American Idol Experience now shows Disney Short films, but nothing permanent has been created.
One of the most popular rides in Disney’s Hollywood Studios is Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster starring Aerosmith. The attraction is located at the end of Sunset Boulevard. The coaster is across the street from another iconic attraction — Tower of Terror.
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster has been closed for several months, as it undergoes an extensive refurbishment. During its closure, many have speculated that the ride will be receiving a retheme, but that seems to be something that isn’t happening yet. However, one Imagineer recently revealed that he pitched an idea for a retheme. One that would be very exciting to see.
Theme Park reporter Scott Gustin recently tweeted a picture from The Muppets Mayhem and put The Muppets in the recording studio on Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster. It fit perfectly.
Reading an article about #MuppetsMayhem and I … I can’t unsee it.
Reading an article about #MuppetsMayhem and I … I can’t unsee it. pic.twitter.com/47a7twnMO9
— Scott Gustin (@ScottGustin) May 8, 2023
After Gustin tweeted the photo, former Disney Imagineer Kevin Lively revealed that he had pitched that exact idea. Furthermore, Lively said that he had a pre-show script completely written for it.
If only someone had pitched that a few years with a full preshow script and treatment…
If only someone had pitched that a few years with a full preshow script and treatment…
— Kevin Lively (@Livelyland) May 9, 2023
Lively was a show writer with Disney Imagineering since 2014 and had a hand in transforming some classic attraction scripts, including The Jungle Cruise, The Jingle Cruise, and Mater’s Junkyard Jam-BOO-Ree at Disney California Adventure. He was also one of the key writers for the Zootopia-themed land at the Shanghai Disneyland Resort. Lively left Disney in 2021, when Bob Chapek announced that Imagineers would have to move from California to Florida and work at Disney’s Lake Nona Campus.
