Walt Disney World officially shared a first look at the highly anticipated Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets pre-show today. Cast member previews just began at Disney’s Hollywood Studios ahead of the grand opening later this month. The big news centers around groundbreaking new Audio-Animatronics that bring classic puppet characters to life in a completely new way. These advanced figures will greet guests inside the fully reimagined G-Force Records studio line.
The star of the new pre-show area is the first-ever Audio-Animatronic figure of Scooter. Walt Disney Imagineering used motion-capture technology on an actual physical Muppet puppet to replicate realistic, loose puppetry physics. Scooter sits at a messy recording desk wearing his signature green satin jacket while holding a clipboard. The incredible fluid movement even includes the visible puppeteering arm sticks to maintain traditional Muppet authenticity.
Muppet Chaos Inside G-Force Records
Classic Muppet chaos and character reveals fill the rest of the recording studio. Two animatronic penguins act as audio engineers at the massive sound mixing board right in front of the studio glass. Through the window, guests can see Dr. Teeth and The Electric Mayhem actively rehearsing their hit song. Meanwhile, Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy appear on video screens to help drive the frantic new storyline forward. Take a look at the videos below:
The physical comedy extends directly into the high-speed coaster portion of the attraction as well. The ultimate Muppet hecklers, Statler and Waldorf, inhabit the ride as physical animatronics. They sit in a boxy vehicle bolted to their seats and heckle riders as the coaster vehicles blast past. The coaster vehicles now sport the name L.I.M.O., which stands for Lengthy Immediate Motion Object.
Aerosmith Easter Eggs Hidden In Plain Sight
Imagineers paid careful tribute to the original 1999 ride while completely transforming the space. They hid the black Gibson Les Paul guitar from the original Aerosmith pre-show in the background right behind Scooter’s desk. Outside, crews repainted the giant guitar, and the upside-down car now features a “MUPP3TS” license plate. Disney also installed a brand-new snack stand called FØØD by Swedish Chef in the courtyard.
Annual Passholder previews will take place via a virtual queue over several days next week. The attraction will officially open to the general public on May 26. This reimagining breathes new life into the Sunset Boulevard area while preserving the intense launch and inversions fans love. It stands as one of the most detailed character integrations Disney has attempted in recent years.
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