The indoor coaster that races guests along the Los Angeles-style freeway track and through a series of unexpected Tinseltown twists and turns, including three thrilling inversions–two rollover loops and one corkscrew–to the tunes of Aerosmith, will temporarily close beginning Feb. 20, 2023, according to a statement on the Walt Disney World website. While shut down, the attraction will undergo regular refurbishments and updates so that future park guests can continue to enjoy the rhythmic ride. As of writing, Disney has yet to confirm a re-opening date; but it looks to be a few months as the theme park hopes to have the indoor coaster back up and running by summer 2023, as per the statement. Despite what some may see as a (temporary) loss, Disney loyalists are optimistic about the park’s plans–especially after the year Rock ‘N’ Roller Coaster had. The ride, which first opened in the park on July 29, 1999, was recently shut down numerous times after Disney Cast Members encountered technical difficulties with the attraction multiple times in January, April, and June of this past year. “Would love to see this updated with modern vest restraints,” one Twitter user wrote about the news. “this is NEEDED,” exclaimed another. Other fans, however, took the opportunity to sell Disney on re-theming the ride. “It’s time,” someone quipped, sharing a doctored image of the ride to replace Aerosmith with the band Weezer. Another Twitter user joked, “cmon hannah montana retheme.” There were also a few fans hoping the ride would be replaced with an ode to Disney Channel’s animated series Phineas and Ferb. And while fans may be sold on a re-theme, Disney has not hinted at completely renovating the ride; and given its months-long closure, the park likely doesn’t plan to re-theme it anytime soon as that would require more intense renovations and a longer shutdown.
