Walt Disney World's Rock 'n' Roller Coaster refurbishment delayed

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Rock n Roller Coaster guitar refurbishment completed

Posted: Monday February 20, 2023 7:55am ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

Rock 'n' Roller Coaster at Disney's Hollywood Studios in Walt Disney World will remain open for a day longer than planned before it closes for an extended refurbishment.

The hugely popular roller coaster ride at Disney's Hollywood Studios will close February 20 2023 to begin refurbishment

The fan-favorite rollercoaster was initially announced to close on February 20, 2023, but a recent update to the official Walt Disney World website now says the refurbishment will begin on February 21, 2023. The rollercoaster will reopen in the summer of 2023.

The closure delay makes sense, given the parks have been busy for the Presidents' Day Weekend holiday, and Disney Genie+ sold out for the first time.

No changes are planned to the Rock 'n' Roller Coaster ride experience, with the refurbishment instead taking place on the launch system and general maintenance.

The ride has been experiencing extended downtimes in recent years, and this refurbishment may be addressing some of those issues.

Rock 'n' Roller Coaster will be closed for a couple of months in 2023

View all current and upcoming Walt Disney World refurbishments.

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BocabearOct 02, 2023

RNRC is a great coaster and a lot of fun...never found it to be too rough....I would love to see it get better interior sets that aren't just painted flats. I would love to see a re-theme to make it feel more in step with Old Hollywood...be it Muppets, or Roger Rabbit/Toontown theming.

SplashJacketOct 01, 2023

I notoriously take every jab at RnRc I can. Historically, I think it’s aggressively mediocre at best. Absolutely loved the ride today. Was fantastic! Felt smoother than normal (didn’t even experience head banging) and everything looked so vibrant. Honestly never even noticed the floor lights before today. Goes from a ride I couldn’t care less to skip to a ride I’ll wanna ride each visit to Hollywood Studios.

rd805Jun 22, 2023

I think it was just included in the very brief JOLLYWOOD Night offering announcment, which obviously isn't bible -- but after being down for 2+ months shutting it right down again doesn't seem likely. If it were me though? BRING ON THE MAYHEM!!

MisterPenguinJun 22, 2023

Yeah... if a full retheme was just a week away, all the CMs working RnRC would know about it and be spilling the beans.

GhostHost1000Jun 22, 2023

Not happening - the shut down next week anyways The retheme maybe one day. To what who knows

GalacticZeroJun 22, 2023

Just saw a tweet from someone I follow that said yesterday he was told by a castmember at RnRc that it is "closing next week to be re-themed"... I highly doubt this to be true since they just finished a refurb. However, down the road, and maybe announced at D23, it does sound like a re-theme to Muppets Electric Mayhem is a real possibility that has some legs. Anyone have any more about this?

wdwmagicJun 06, 2023

1 h 20 min delayed opening today

IncomudroJun 06, 2023

I never found it to be rough. I think it would be nuts to spend the money to re-track it. Space Mountain on the other hand...o_O Though the roughness does make Space fun in a way.

Jrb1979Jun 06, 2023

I never said it was shabby. Its a rough coaster and is in need of re-tracking. That was my point, spend money on improving the ride not just new lights and paint.

EricsBiscuitJun 06, 2023

It is not as rough as you make it out to be and neither is it as shabby as you make it out to be.

Jrb1979Jun 06, 2023

Brightening up the signs and making lights on the floor more visible doesn't make the ride itself better. At the end of the day it's still a rough Vekoma coaster that desperately needs the track to be refurbished. Same for Space Mountain. Universal had no issues with redoing the Hulk, why can't Disney spend the money and do the same.

EricsBiscuitJun 06, 2023

Rode today and it looks the best I have seen it in years. The signs are very bright and colorful. The map/city lights of LA on the floor is more visible than ever. Everything timed very well.