The Muppets Are About to Rock Hollywood Studios Into a New Era

Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets Gets Its Set List

We are about a month away from the opening of Rock 'n' Roller Coaster starring The Muppets at Disney's Hollywood Studios, and the picture is getting clearer by the week. BlogMickey reports that Walt Disney World revealed the full song list for the reimagined attraction alongside last week's opening date announcement, confirming that Annual Passholder previews could put guests on the attraction even sooner than the general public. Music has been the beating heart of Rock 'n' Roller Coaster since its Aerosmith-fueled debut in 1999, and the decision to hand the keys to Kermit, Animal, and the rest of the ensemble raised the obvious question: what does a Muppets rock concert actually sound like?

The answer, according to BlogMickey, involves the Muppets "teaming up with some of music's biggest stars for a rockin' music festival." That framing matters. Disney is leaning into the idea that the Muppets are not just performing covers but hosting an event, which gives Imagineering a narrative framework for the chaotic energy Muppet fans expect. The early fan reaction has been mixed in the way that early fan reaction to any beloved attraction change is mixed, which is to say loud, passionate, and ultimately impossible to judge until someone actually rides the thing.

What we can say is this: Rock 'n' Roller Coaster has always been a thrill ride wrapped in a concert. The personality layered on top is what changes, and the Muppets bring a personality that Disney has been trying to find a bigger home for at Hollywood Studios for years. With previews on the horizon and the full opening roughly a month out, this is the attraction story to watch heading into summer.

The Parks

May is shaping up to be one of the busiest months for Walt Disney World changes in recent memory. Disney Food Blog outlines eight major shifts arriving across the resort, headlined by the reopening of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at Magic Kingdom. The beloved attraction has been closed for over a year of refurbishment work, and its return gives Magic Kingdom back one of its most popular draws heading into the summer season. Over at EPCOT, Disney Food Blog notes that an existing attraction is getting a brand-new overlay tied to a special celebration, adding another reason for guests to revisit World Showcase and Future World.

Annual Passholders get their own headline in May as well. Disney Food Blog reports that V.I.PASSHOLDER Summer Days kicks off on May 1st and runs through July 31st, bringing exclusive merchandise, increased dining discounts, hotel stay discounts, and a special Passholder magnet. For Passholders who have watched perks fluctuate over the past few years, this is a substantive summer-long program that rewards repeat visits during a stretch when Walt Disney World historically courts locals and regional guests.

Meanwhile, if you were at EPCOT this past Sunday, you felt the crowd shift firsthand. Lightning Brain's daily park report recorded EPCOT as the busiest park on property at 6/10 (Average), with a 20-minute median wait that came in slightly above the 30-day baseline. Magic Kingdom, by contrast, posted a surprisingly comfortable 4/10 (Moderate) with a 14-minute median. Hollywood Studios landed at a 31-minute median wait, well below its typical 45-minute baseline. Lightning Brain attributes the flip to the convergence of Springtime Surprise runners cooling down and the EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival drawing heavy foot traffic to the food booths and topiaries. The peak hour at EPCOT hit at 9:00 AM with a 30-minute median, a classic rope-drop surge from guests targeting Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind and Test Track before the festival crowds arrived.

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Looking further ahead, TouringPlans reports that Disney has released 2027 Walt Disney World ticket prices and vacation packages through October 31st. If you are already thinking about next year, the pricing window is open.

The BoardWalk continues to evolve in ways Disney has not fully confirmed. Disney Tourist Blog reports that the mystery construction project announced last holiday season, which began around Thanksgiving and continues throughout 2026, may involve replacing empty restaurants. The scope and scale remain unconfirmed, but the theory that Disney is finally addressing the BoardWalk's long-vacant dining spaces would be welcome news for resort guests who have watched that stretch sit underused.

On the sustainability front, Disney Experiences is spotlighting its costuming efforts for Earth Month. At Walt Disney World and across global parks, Disney Live Entertainment costuming teams are increasing their use of sustainable materials in costume design, supporting local theatre and school costume programs through donations, and running internal costume upcycling and recycling programs. Cast costumes cycle through an enormous volume of use, and these efforts represent a meaningful operational commitment behind the scenes.

And one story that is pure joy: WDW News Today reports that a Golden Oak home belonging to John Ruskai and Karen Hooper Ruskai features a home theater modeled after The Great Movie Ride. Built by Dream Vision Interiors, the space includes a light-up marquee, an archway resembling the Chinese Theatre facade, a ticket booth with a mannequin inspired by the Spaceship Earth cinema scene, and display cases filled with props including Dorothy's red slippers, Star Wars lightsaber hilts, Mary Poppins' umbrella, and Indiana Jones' hat and whip. The floor is lined with handprints and autographs on a red carpet, and a retro Disney-MGM Studios rug sits at the entrance. Dream Vision Interiors plans to share video of the theater interior soon. If you have ever missed The Great Movie Ride, someone in Golden Oak is keeping it alive.

The Screen

Randy Newman is coming back for Toy Story 5. WDW News Today confirms that Newman is composing the score for his fifth consecutive Toy Story feature, maintaining an unbroken streak across the entire franchise. The film releases on June 19 and brings back Tom Hanks as Woody, Tim Allen as Buzz, and Joan Cusack as Jessie. New characters include Lilypad, voiced by Greta Lee, and Smarty Pants, voiced by Conan O'Brien. The plot finds the Andy's Room gang confronting "what kids are obsessed with today... electronics." With two months until release, Disney and Pixar are kicking off a "Roundup Reveal Week" of merchandise including toys, collectibles, apparel, and accessories from collaborations with global brands. Newman's involvement is the kind of detail that signals continuity and care. "You've Got a Friend in Me" is woven into the emotional DNA of this franchise, and having the same composer return for a fifth time means the sonic identity stays intact even as the story pushes into new territory.

Elsewhere on the content side, D23 celebrated World Simpsons Day on April 19, marking the anniversary of The Simpsons' 1987 debut as animated shorts on The Tracey Ullman Show. D23 notes that the show's current season 37 airs on FOX and streams on Hulu, with all previous seasons available on Disney+. D23 also points to a Simpsons Movie sequel coming in 2027. The Simpsons remains the longest-running primetime scripted television series in history, and Disney+ serves as the definitive library for the show's complete run.

One report worth flagging with appropriate caution: The DisInsider is exclusively reporting that Disney is developing a live-action series about mermaids, tentatively titled Saltwater. According to The DisInsider, discussions about a sequel to Disney's live-action The Little Mermaid may be stalled, but the studio is exploring aquatic storytelling through this new series instead. This is a single-source report from a publication we treat with some skepticism, so take it accordingly until further confirmation emerges.

On the corporate entertainment side, The Walt Disney Company detailed how ESPN is bringing WrestleMania 42 to fans from Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. The two-night event features Cody Rhodes versus Randy Orton and Roman Reigns versus CM Punk. WWE's premium live events are now available through ESPN's direct-to-consumer service, with the first hour of WrestleMania airing on ESPN2 on Saturday and ESPN on Sunday. The integration of WWE into the ESPN ecosystem represents one of Disney's most significant sports entertainment plays, extending the company's live event reach well beyond traditional athletics.

The Vault

Disney Lorcana continues to build its community. Disney Parks Blog published a comprehensive guide for new and returning players of the Disney Lorcana Trading Card Game, which launched in 2023 with The First Chapter. The game positions players as Illumineers who wield magical ink across six categories (Amber, Amethyst, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, and Steel) to summon reimagined Disney characters. Developed by Ravensburger, Lorcana has carved out a dedicated player base, and the Disney Parks Blog hub promises ongoing updates on release dates, product news, and gameplay insights. For a company that has historically struggled to build durable gaming franchises outside of video games, Lorcana's continued support through official Disney channels suggests the TCG has earned internal confidence.

Disneyland Paris drew a detailed trip report this week from WDW Prep School, where Cameron and Holly documented a March 25 through April 6 journey from Minneapolis to London and then Paris via Eurostar. Their observations include heavy crowds at Frozen-themed areas, slower-than-expected dining service, and the importance of arriving early for airport queues on the return through Dublin. For Walt Disney World regulars considering their first Disneyland Paris visit, these practical details are more valuable than any marketing brochure.

Sources

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