In this post we give an overview of Rock 'n' Roller Coaster, a roller coaster at Disney’s Hollywood Studios theme park in Walt Disney World. We cover the basics of the ride, how to ride it, and our thoughts on the experience before closing with an FAQ. Read on to learn more!
Update: Muppets Re-Theme Incoming
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster will be re-themed to the Muppets at some point...soon.
Related Posts
This post is a quick guide to Rock 'n' Roller Coaster, but we have related content that dives deeper into topics. Our Hollywood Studios Lightning Lane post covers Lightning Lane strategy in depth. The Hollywood Studios Rides and Entertainment Guide gives brief introductions to all the park’s offerings. For putting together your day at the park, we have a One Day Plan for Hollywood Studios.
And if you want to dive into more about the other rides at Hollywood Studios, we have guides to each:
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith (you are here)
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Basics
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster is a roller coaster at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Walt Disney World. The ride:
offers rider switch
is a Tier 1 ride on Lightning Lane Multi Pass
is about 2 minutes long
Disney warns that persons not in good health and expectant mothers should not ride.
If you’re visiting Hollywood Studios with small children, you’ll need to mind the 48 inch height requirement. The ride offers rider switch, but the only good options for small kids nearby are lunch and two shows—Unfairly Ever After and Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage.
Where is Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster located?
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster is located at the end of Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood Studios.
Entering the park, you’ll walk down Hollywood Boulevard to the first big intersection (Sunset Boulevard, where the Starbucks is) and turn right, you can’t miss Tower of Terror at the end of the street, and Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster’s entrance is to the left of Tower of Terror.
If you’re riding it first at rope drop, guests are sometimes held in a queue outside the ride, on Sunset Boulevard, before the ride begins operating.
How to Ride Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster is a tier 1 ride on Lightning Lane Multi Pass. It can make sense as your initial tier 1 pick if you (1) have some other plan for Slinky Dog Dash and (2) prefer Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster to Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway.
Along the same lines, you might visit Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster at the start of Early Entry if Slinky Dog Dash and Rise of the Resistance are accounted for elsewhere in your plans.
Generally, the big thing to know about riding Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster is that you’ll ideally ride it as part of a visit to the end of Sunset Boulevard, which includes all of:
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster (ride)
Tower of Terror (ride)
Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage (show)
Unfairly Ever After (show)
You usually won’t able to get through all four of these in one swoop, but you do not want to have to walk up and down Sunset Boulevard four times throughout the day. It’s not the longest walk, of course, but when it’s 90 degree and you’re trotting down pavement, every step counts.
Otherwise, the ride has a single rider line if you’re hoping to cut down on waits. Personally, I’ve found this to be one of the worse single rider lines, with a typical experience being something like a posted 60 minute wait for the ride and a single rider line that takes 30-40 minutes.
Open Those Eyes—You Won’t Wanna Miss A Thing!
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster is an intense roller coaster in the dark (with some neon lighting throughout). You’ll go upside down. During the two-minute ride, speakers in your seat play one of several Aerosmith songs. The ride is perhaps most famed for its launch—it goes from 0 to 57 mph in 2.8 seconds.
When I was a teen spoiled enough to be given free rein of the parks, I took a lot of rides on Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster. I don’t know what the kids are saying for “awesome” nowadays, but I expect you’ll hear it a lot after this ride from that demographic.
As I got older, the cons started to outweigh the pros. I do still enjoy many coasters, but this ride doesn’t compare to rides like Velocicoaster or Hagrid’s down the street. The bulk of the queue is a covered (yay shade) cement box (ew everything other than shade). It can take a lot of resources—time in line or managing Lightning Lanes—to get on it, and then it’s done in 2 minutes.
Rock 'n' Roller Coaster FAQ
How fast is Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster?
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster tops out at 57 mph, and it reaches that speed in 2.8 seconds at launch.
Does Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster go upside down?
Yes, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster goes upside down three times.
Is Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster scary?
While the right isn’t meant to be “boo!” scary, it is intense and in the dark, so anyone potentially frightened by coasters might be scared (although in some cases maybe the dark is less scary).
All Your Other Disney World Planning Questions Answered
Don't be overwhelmed by Disney World planning! Take a second to check out our most important content and you'll not only be an expert, but you'll save big $$$ along the way.
Just starting out? Check out our Walt Disney World planning guide! If you're still picking dates, we've got everything you need to know about Disney World crowd calendars. For picking your hotel, check out our Walt Disney World hotels guide.
When it comes time to book we’ll help you find discount Disney World tickets. Decide whether you need a dining plan in our Complete Guide to Disney World Dining Plans! And don't forget to book those Disney World Advance Dining Reservations!
Don't forget to master your Disney World Lightning Lane Guide and Strategy a few months in advance. We'll keep you out of long lines so you can maximize the magical time in the parks! We've got park-specific guides as well: Magic Kingdom Lightning Lane Strategy, Epcot Lightning Lane Strategy, Animal Kingdom Lightning Lane Strategy, and Hollywood Studios Lightning Lane Strategy.
Know what to ride with our guides to: Magic Kingdom rides, Hollywood Studios rides, Epcot rides, and Animal Kingdom rides! Plus learn about the water parks with our guide to Blizzard Beach and our guide to Typhoon Lagoon! And for some some fun prep, check out our Ranking of Every Ride at Walt Disney World.
Finally, before you head out, be sure to check out our to-the-point packing list, 10 essentials you forget to pack for every Disney trip. And if you're interested in saving, there's no better list than our 53 Ways to Save on your Disney trip from start to finish.