Rock 'n' Roller Coaster
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This article or section is missing citations or needs footnotes. Using inline citations helps guard against copyright violations and factual inaccuracies. (June 2008) |
- This article is about Rock 'n' Roller Coaster in Walt Disney World & Disneyland Resort Paris. For the Opryland ride, see Rock n' Roller Coaster (Opryland)
| Rock 'n' Roller Coaster | |
 Rock 'n' Roller Coaster logo |
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| Location | Disney's Hollywood Studios, Walt Disney Studios Paris |
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| Type | Steel - Enclosed - Launched |
| Status | Operating |
| Opened | July 29, 1999 |
| Manufacturer | Vekoma |
| Designer | Walt Disney Imagineering |
| Model | LSM Coaster |
| Lift/launch system | LSM launch with catch car |
| Height | 80 feet (24.4 m) |
| Length | 3,403 feet (1,037.2 m) |
| Max speed | 57 miles per hour (91.7 km/h) |
| Inversions | 3 |
| Duration | 1:22 (Pre-show is 3:12) |
| Capacity | 1500 riders per hour |
| Acceleration | 0 to 57 mph in 2.8 seconds |
| Max G force | 4.5 |
| Height Restriction | 48 inches (1.2 m) |
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Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith (commonly referred to as simply Rock 'n' Roller Coaster) is an enclosed steel roller coaster ride at the Disney's Hollywood Studios at the Walt Disney World Resort, and at the Walt Disney Studios park in France. The Florida ride opened on July 29, 1999 and is located at the end of Sunset Boulevard, next to The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror attraction.
The roller coaster accelerates from 0 to 58 miles per hour in 2.8 seconds (making this the second-fastest ride at the Walt Disney World Resort, behind only Test Track, and the fastest ride at the Disneyland Resort Paris), and the riders experience 4.5g (44 m/s²) as they enter the first inversion, more than an astronaut does on a space shuttle launch. Both versions feature six trains, although only four can run at one time. The others kept in backup and being serviced (each train is rotated out periodically).
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[edit] Disney's Hollywood Studios attraction
After winding through a shaded outdoor queue, guests enter the offices and recording studios of record label G-Force Records (a 68,131 sq. foot building), whose lobby is decorated with posters of real acts signed to labels owned by The Walt Disney Company.
Next, guests are led into a room looking into the recording studio where the five members of Aerosmith are shown finishing a recording session. The group's manager (Illeana Douglas) enters and informs them that they're late for a concert. Lead singer Steven Tyler expresses regret at being forced to leave the band's fans and requests backstage passes for the entire group. The band then departs by limousine "to the Forum" (a reference to a famous Los Angeles concert venue). The harried manager summons a "super stretch" limo to carry guests to the concert and directs them outside.
The pacing of the film is such that there is brief pause between the time that the band mentions to their manager that they should do something for their fans and Steven Tyler agreeing. The interval of time is just long enough that the line "How about some backstage passes" can be shouted from the audience (Often by the cast member who is acting as the tour's "host"), making it appear that the band takes the suggestion. Steven Tyler's next line is "Wait a minute, I love that idea. How about some backstage passes?"
Guests exit the recording studio and pass through an alley into a parking garage owned by "Lock 'n' Roll Parking Systems". In here, guests waiting in line can see the ride's launch, and sharp-eyed guests can spot the curtains in above 'apartment windows' sway from the 'force' caused by the launch. Guests then board a waiting 24 seat stretch limo for the trip across town to the concert.
After loading passengers, the "limo" stops at the entrance to a tunnel. Music is played, and an overhead variable message sign displays a series of several different messages until a countdown. After the countdown, the car is then shot into the tunnel at 57 mph (92 km/h), and the souvenir photo is taken. The roller coaster goes through three inversions (a roll-over which consists of two inversions, and a corkscrew) on a winding track intended to represent various Los Angeles Area Freeways; including Interstate 5, Interstate 10, and State Route 101 as evident by the street signs that periodically appear on the side of the coaster.
The attraction ends when the limo arrives at Aerosmith's concert backstage, letting guests off onto a red carpet.
While considered "extreme", Rock 'n' Roller Coaster has been described by roller coaster enthusiasts as being smoother, less jerky and less uncomfortable than some similar extreme roller coasters.
[edit] History
Cast member previews for the ride were initially held the last week of June, 1999. On July 29, 1999, the ride officially opened with a special, invitation-only party, with Aerosmith as the guests of honor. 96.5 WHTQ, a local radio station, held a contest in which listeners could win tickets for themselves and three friends to attend the special event. Winners rode to the Disney's Hollywood Studios in stretch limousines, and were treated to an all-you-can-eat buffet and bar. After a special performance by painter Denny Dent, winners got the chance to ride the roller coaster with one of the Aerosmith band members. At the exit of the ride, outside of the gift shop, there hangs a picture from the special event. The paintings Denny Dent made of the five band members hang in various employee office locations on Walt Disney World property.
The pre-show has changed from when the attraction first opened. Originally, band member Joe Perry would ask "Chris" to "grab my black Les Paul." A Disney cast member in the pre-show area would then pick up and remove a black guitar signed by Joe Perry from the set. The script uses the unisex name "Chris" so either a male or female could play the part. Although not used as often as when the ride first opened, the position is still used from time to time (Generally if the attraction is overstaffed). The film also includes a roadie saying "Hey Joe, I'll get it for ya" as a backup in the event that a cast member is not available for the part.
During the pre-ride, Steven Tyler displays a hand gesture that resembles the Shocker, that is considered vulgar by many. It is not clear if this is intentional or not. If a guest makes the gesture during the ride photo opportunity, it will not be displayed or allowed for purchase[citation needed] as all vulgar displays in photos at Walt Disney World are banned.
In 2007, the queue was modified to accommodate single riders in addition to FASTPASS.
[edit] Soundtrack
There are five speakers per seat, a total of 120 per limo. Aerosmith worked with Disney Imagineers to produce a special soundtrack for the roller coaster. The speakers on each car are located in the headrests.Each coaster train features different Aerosmith songs.
- The songs heard to each ride contain some new lyrics written specifically for the attraction. (Love in an Elevator is sung as "Love in a roller coaster," for example.)
- Songs heard on each car -Note: Updated Jan 2008 after 2007 refurbishment (Car license plate)
- 1QKLIMO: "Nine Lives"
- UGOGIRL: "Love in an Elevator" & "Walk This Way"
- BUHBYE: "Young Lust", "F.I.N.E.*" & "Loving A Roller Coaster"
- H8TRFFC: "Back in the Saddle" & "Dude (Looks Like a Lady)"
- 2FAST4U: "Sweet Emotion"
Note: These songs may change due to maintenance or technical reasons. There is no guarantee that a particular track will be playing in the mentioned coaster train.
The ride formerly featured Uncle Joe Benson, a well-known Los Angeles, CA rock radio DJ, as the station's DJ. Currently, Bill Hart (known as Bill St. James), the host of ABC Radio's "Flashback!", provides the voice for the DJ of "LA's Classic Rock Station".
[edit] Walt Disney Studios
Along with the one in Walt Disney World, there is another Rock 'n' Roller Coaster in the Walt Disney Studios in Paris, France. There are major differences between the two:
- Instead of going through the hectic LA freeway to the Aerosmith concert, the WDS is an over-the-top music video
- There are no road signs, instead, hundreds of lasers are housed in the main show building
- The record company is named "Tour de Force Records"
- The trains are "Soundtrackers" instead of limos
But, some things are the same:
- The music is the same on the WDS version
- The layout is exactly the same
Because of the lasers, there are different color schemes for each Soundtracker. They are:
- Green/Yellow-Soundtracker 1-Back in Saddle/Dude (Looks Like a Lady)
- Pink-Soundtracker 2-Young Lust/F.I.N.E./Love in an Elevator
- Multicolored-Soundtracker 3-Love in an Elevator/Walk This Way
- Red-Soundtracker 4-Nine Lives
- Blue-Soundtracker 5-Sweet Emotion (live)
Most of the audio of the pre-show is in French, but the music on the ride is still in English.
[edit] Hidden Mickeys
- One in the pre-show (found on the ground, formed by three coils of wire),
- One in place of each "Expiration Date" for the license plates on the limos
- Two on the ride track itself (one found on a yellow sign behind a red limo, one on the ground in a city scape area)
- Two in the tile mosaic in the room before the recording studio near the marble doors.
- One in the post show area to the right as one enters this area
- Many on Steven Tyler's shirt on the poster outside.
- One on Joe Perry's medalion on the outside poster.
[edit] See also
- Incidents at Disney parks - information on incidents and accidents involving the attraction.
[edit] External links
- Official Rock 'n' Roller Coaster web page (Walt Disney World)
- Unofficial Rock 'n' Roller Coaster web site (RocknRollerCoaster.com)
- Official Rock 'n' Roller Coaster WDS site
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