Rock ‘N’ Roller Coaster

Opened: June 20, 1999

Location: At the end of Sunset Boulevard.

Continue past Tower of Terror and you’ll see it in its own courtyard area.

Extra Magic Hours: Morning, Evening.

Ride Length: 90 seconds.

Type: Indoor roller coaster.

Similar To: A much faster, more exciting Space Mountain.

Requirements: Must be 48” or taller to ride.

Scary Factor: Medium. Rock N Roller Coaster is Disney’s fastest, (arguably) most intense roller coaster. It features three inversions, a corkscrew, numerous hairpin turns, and an initial takeoff that takes riders from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 2.8 seconds. Other than lit-up billboards, neon signs, and flashing lights, the ride is completely dark, which actually makes the ride less scary.  It’s so fast, so dark, and so smooth, that you actually have no idea where you’re going or where you’ve been. If riders could see what the track actually looks like with the lights on it would probably scare many more people away than it does.

If you enjoyed Expedition Everest, Thunder Mountain Railroad, or any of the more intense coasters at another theme park then you’ll be fine on Aerosmith. Rock ‘N’ Roller Coaster is much faster and more intense than Thunder Mountain Railroad, but the smoothness of the ride makes it seem less so. If Space Mountain or Thunder Mountain was too much, then you may want to reconsider. Like with the Tower of Terror, you can exit the queue before boarding if you decide not to ride.

What to Expect:  Unlike many of Disney’s other new-ish rides, the queue for Rock ‘N’ Roller Coaster is nothing more than a long, boring, outdoor, single-file line until you get inside of the building.

About 75% of your time in line will take place outside. If the line exceeds 20 minutes, you’ll want to strongly consider taking advantage of a FastPass+ or returning late in the evening. This is not a queue you want to be stuck in for an extended period of time.

Once you traverse the line, you will be taken into a room with a 3D-like video of Aerosmith, who will invite you to a concert they’re performing in just a few minutes. You then move to another queue area which takes another five or so minutes to complete. You will then be seated on a 24-person roller coaster vehicle themed like a stretch limousine. The vehicles are low to the ground, which can make it difficult for people with mobility problems to get in and out, but the seats are wide and there is plenty of room for two people per row.

The vehicle will then propel out of the gate with the force of a supersonic F-14 jet and you’ll be well on your way through (arguably) the most intense coaster Disney has to offer.

Where to Sit: The front row supplies the best view. When the cast member at the front of the line asks how many are in your party, request the front row and they will put you in a separate line. You must tell the person that asks how many are in your party to be put in the front row. Otherwise, any row is fine. With two seats side by side, neither seat provides a better view.

If you have someone that may have difficulty getting in and out of the seats, have them sit on the right (enter the row second) so that they don’t have to climb over an additional seat. If you’re apprehensive about riding, sit somewhere in the middle where it’s less obvious what’s happening around you. You won’t be able to see the track/turns/loops/dips as easily.

On-Ride Photo: The photo is taken during the initial takeoff right after the ride starts.

FastPass+: Yes, high priority. Toy Story Mania and Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster are both Tier 1 FastPass+ selections and guests may ordinarily only select one in advance. Toy Story Mania will save more time in most situations and FP+ are also more limited, but those that prefer to re-ride Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster may elect to make it their Tier 1 selection.

What You Miss Using FastPass+: Very little other than the long, boring wait. You may walk past some of the props and posters faster than standby, but that’s it.

Total Experience Time with FastPass+: 25 minutes.

4th FastPass+ Availability:

Expect to Wait:

When To Go: Either first thing in the morning, immediately after Toy Story Mania in the morning, in the last hour of operation, or with FastPass+. Waits swell quickly after opening with FastPass+ returners and those forgoing Toy Story to ride the roller coaster first thing. You really need to hurry after Toy Story to ride both in standby in the morning.

Single Rider Line: Like Expedition Everest at Animal Kingdom, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster offers a single rider line. Unfortunately, it’s impossible to know how many people are in line for it before you actually get to where the line starts after the indoor preshow area. From there, it’s difficult/impossible to exit because the line is so narrow. Because single riders have the lowest priority (you won’t be seated until there’s an empty seat next to someone in the standby/FastPass+ line), you can end up waiting just as long as you would have in the standby line. I don’t recommend it unless the posted wait is 30 minutes or less. When the posted wait is longer, more and more people head to the single rider line, often causing it to swell to 30+ minutes as well

Length: The preshow video introducing Aerosmith lasts about three minutes. The ride itself has a duration of just under 90 seconds.

Rating: 9/10

Commentary: Rock ‘N’ Roller Coaster is an intense, fun experience that equates to one of the two best roller coasters at Disney World. Expedition Everest may be better, but that’s just a matter of opinion. The smoothness of the ride coupled with the inability to see the inversions and corkscrews makes Rock ‘N’ Roller Coaster an accessible ride to anyone that can work up the nerve. I would highly recommend giving it a shot if you enjoyed Space Mountain, Thunder Mountain, Expedition Everest, or any other similar ride. My only complaint is that at only about 80 seconds, it’s much too short.