The Electric Mayhem Takes Over Hollywood Studios This May

Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets Opens May 26

The long-awaited Muppets takeover of one of Hollywood Studios' signature attractions finally has a date and a soundtrack. Disney Parks Blog announced that Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets opens May 26, dropping guests into the chaos of The Electric Mayhem's biggest concert ever. Dr. Teeth, Animal, Floyd, Janice, Zoot, and Lips are headlining what the storyline calls "the most buzzworthy concert Hollywood has ever seen." There is, of course, a catch: the band is nowhere to be found, and your VIP tour kicks off inside what Disney is calling G-Force Records.

According to Disney Parks Blog, the set list features five tracks from The Electric Mayhem and "some of their friends," revealed via the official Disney Parks Instagram account. Disney describes the reimagined attraction as delivering "high-speed thrills, a pulse-pounding soundtrack, and a VIP list like no other." The ride sets up the concert premise inside G-Force Records before you ever hit the launch track.

This is a significant moment for Hollywood Studios. The Aerosmith overlay had been a fixture since 1999, and its replacement signals Disney's broader willingness to refresh legacy attractions with IP that serves a wider audience. The Muppets carry multi-generational appeal, and pairing that energy with the park's most intense thrill ride is a smart editorial bet. If you have been waiting for a reason to book a late-May trip, the calendar just gave you one.

The Parks

The Muppets headline is the flashiest park news this week, but the quieter story might matter more to your wallet. Disney Tourist Blog reports that 2027 Walt Disney World vacation packages, resort reservations, and park tickets are now on sale. That is earlier than many fans expected, and the post notes changes to on-site guest perks and add-ons for next year, though specifics on what is missing and what is returning are still being unpacked. Separately, TouringPlans confirms that the Deluxe Table-Service Dining Plan is back for 2027, a return that Disney had apparently been hinting at. For families who plan 12 to 18 months out, and that describes a significant chunk of the Walt Disney World audience, these two pieces of news open up the booking window in a meaningful way.

Meanwhile, Annual Passholders are getting a late-April gift. Both WDW News Today and MickeyBlog report that Walt Disney World has added four new Good-to-Go dates: April 27, 28, 29, and 30. WDW News Today notes that brings the April total to at least eight reservation-free days across all four parks and all Passholder tiers. The dates join previously announced openings on April 14, 15, 20, 21, 22, and 23.

BlogMickey offers some useful context here. The site points out that it has been nearly a year since it last covered Good-to-Go dates, and frames the recent expansion as evidence that Disney is "closer than ever to getting park reservations right." The Park Pass reservation system, BlogMickey notes, is a COVID-era creation of now-CEO Josh D'Amaro, developed when he led the theme park division. The site views the system as largely outdated but acknowledges the recent loosening as a notable shift. Editorially, the pattern is worth watching. More reservation-free days suggest either softening demand, a deliberate strategy to reduce friction for Passholders, or both. Either way, Passholders benefit.

If you are wondering what those open days actually feel like on the ground, Lightning Brain's daily park report paints a vivid picture. On April 16, Animal Kingdom posted a median wait time of just 14 minutes, earning a 2/10 (Light) crowd rating against a 30-day average of 40 minutes. Kilimanjaro Safaris and Expedition Everest both walked on at 15 minutes. Lightning Brain reports that every park at Walt Disney World came in below its 30-day baseline that day, with three of four posting single-digit crowd levels. This is what mid-April looks like after spring break's peak wave rolls out: warm, clear, and quietly generous to anyone still visiting.

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On the sustainability front, Disney Experiences is spotlighting its costuming efforts for Earth Month. According to Disney Experiences, the Disney Live Entertainment costuming teams are increasing use of sustainable materials in costume design year over year and have created internal upcycling and recycling programs. The initiative also includes donating costumes to local theater and school programs. It is a behind-the-scenes story, but one that touches every Cast Member and every parade float guests see on a given day.

And for those planning a European trip, a detailed trip report from WDW Prep School covers a family's March-to-April journey through London and Disneyland Paris. Cameron and Holly traveled with their daughters from Minneapolis, balancing theme parks and cultural highlights. Among the practical takeaways: heavy crowds at Frozen-themed areas, slow dining service, and the need to arrive early for airport queues on the return. If Disneyland Paris is on your radar, their notes on crowd patterns and logistics are worth reading in full.

The Screen

Disney made a bold play at CinemaCon this week with the announcement of Infinity Vision, a new certification program for premium large-format theaters. MickeyBlog reports that Infinity Vision theaters must meet strict technical standards, including massive screens, laser projection for sharper and brighter visuals, and high-end surround audio systems. The certification rolls out this fall and is designed to give moviegoers a simple signal: if you see the Infinity Vision label, you are getting a top-tier theatrical experience. In a market where premium formats like IMAX and Dolby Cinema command higher ticket prices and stronger audience loyalty, Disney is planting its own flag.

Also surfacing from CinemaCon, The DisInsider reports that the first trailer for 20th Century's "The Dog Stars" debuted during Disney's panel. According to the outlet, the film is based on Peter Heller's bestselling novel, directed by Ridley Scott, and features an ensemble cast including Jacob Elordi, Josh Brolin, Margaret Qualley, Guy Pearce, Benedict Wong, and Allison Janney. The post-apocalyptic drama gives Disney's 20th Century label a distinct genre entry to pair alongside its broader theatrical slate.

On the streaming side, D23 is marking World Simpsons Day on April 19, the anniversary of the show's 1987 debut as animated shorts on The Tracey Ullman Show. D23 notes that The Simpsons is now the longest-running primetime scripted TV series in history, with its current season 37 streaming on Hulu and all previous seasons available on Disney+. D23 also reminds fans to "stay tuned for the big The Simpsons Movie sequel, coming in 2027," a detail that should perk up anyone who has been waiting nearly two decades for a follow-up.

The media business side of Disney's screen ambitions is equally interesting. MickeyBlog reports that Disney is seeking $10 million for a 30-second commercial during its 2027 Super Bowl LXI broadcast. According to insiders cited by MickeyBlog, Disney is also asking advertisers to match that spend elsewhere in its media portfolio. The site notes that early demand has not matched what NBC and Fox saw in past years, with one source describing "a big delta from where they started to where advertisers want to be." Disney says it remains in active conversations. The Super Bowl ad market has always been a barometer for the broader media economy, and Disney's willingness to push the $10 million threshold tells you something about how the company values its live sports inventory, even if buyers are not yet fully on board.

ESPN, for its part, is flexing that live events muscle this weekend with WrestleMania 42. The Walt Disney Company detailed ESPN's expanding role in the two-night spectacle at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, with the first hour of WrestleMania airing on ESPN2 on Saturday and ESPN on Sunday. WWE's premium live events are now available through ESPN's direct-to-consumer service. The main events feature Cody Rhodes versus Randy Orton and Roman Reigns versus CM Punk. For Disney, embedding WWE deep within the ESPN ecosystem is about proving that live, appointment-viewing events still command massive audiences, the same argument that justifies a $10 million Super Bowl ask.

The Vault

A small but telling story made the rounds this week about the Magic Kingdom Monorail. Inside the Magic reports that a rumor spread across Disney fan spaces claiming Walt Disney World had restored the classic "ladies and gentlemen" greeting to the Monorail announcement, reversing a change made around 2021 when Disney removed gendered language from several park scripts. According to Inside the Magic, the story traveled quickly through fan communities before anyone verified it, and it turned out to be misinformation. Disney had not, in fact, restored the old greeting.

The episode is a useful reminder of how the Disney fan ecosystem works. Observations spread faster than verification. A single guest's misheard audio clip or misremembered loop can become a news cycle in hours. The speed and dedication of the community is genuinely impressive, but it occasionally outruns the facts. For a fandom that prides itself on noticing every changed trash can and every shifted queue rope, the Monorail story is a good-natured reminder to check the source before amplifying the signal.

Sources

Disney Parks Blog · MickeyBlog · MickeyBlog · MickeyBlog · WDW News Today · BlogMickey · Lightning Brain · Disney Tourist Blog · TouringPlans · Disney Experiences · WDW Prep School · D23 · The DisInsider · The Walt Disney Company · Inside the Magic