This 40-foot replica of a Fender Stratocaster
stands outside the Rock 'n' Roller Coaster at
Disney's Hollywood Studios. Photo by dawnzy58
#8: Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith
Where: Disney's Hollywood Studios, Walt Disney World Resort
Launched: July 29, 1999
Design: Enclosed
Top speed: 57 mph
Inversions: 3
Duration: 1:22
Height restriction: 48 inches
Source: Roller Coaster DataBase
If you like your twists and turns set to a backdrop of rock and roll, walk this way to Disney's Hollywood Studios where you'll find the Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith.
Off the end of Sunset Boulevard and situated to the left of the Tower of Terror, the Rock 'n' Roller Coaster is not only revered for its ability to reach its peak speed in just 2.8 seconds, but for the attention to detail in its theming.
Anchored by a 40-foot replica of a Fender Stratocaster with a 32-foot neck, passengers queue through the studio of the fictitious record label G-Force Records. Inside the studio, it appears as if Aerosmith is wrapping up a recording session. Though the band is not really there, the magic of 3D technology gives guests the illusion that the Bad Boys from Boston are truly interacting with the theme park crowds. After the band's manager comes in and says the band is late for a concert, frontman Steven Tyler invites guests to come along with them as they hit the road.
But how do you get there, you ask? Once you exit the studio, passengers are ushered into a super-stretch limousine, which seats 24 passengers to a vehicle. Following a dramatic buildup to the launch, passengers "prepare to merge like you never merged before" as each limo takes off to the sound of screeching tires into a dark tunnel, going from zero to 57 miles per hour in a matter of seconds. The coaster zooms through the streets of Southern California as the sounds of Aerosmith are piped in from a built-in 125-speaker, 24-subwoofer, 32,000-watt sound system.
With over 3,400 feet of track, the Rock 'n' Roller Coaster runs for about a half mile and features three inverts during the ride. The takeoff uses a force of over 5 Gs, more aggressive than what astronauts experience in space shuttle launches. What the coaster lacks in a strong run time, it makes up for in the quality of overall thrills.
The Rock 'n' Roller Coaster is one of Disney World's most popular attractions, so if you don't want to wait in an line for an hour and a half to take a descent that lasts for a minute and a half, I recommend you read my article on how to enjoy a visit Orlando during the peak tourist season.
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