I’m way overdue for reviewing Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring the Muppets–there’s several reasons for that, but I’m excited to share my thoughts on this remake–not just for the coaster but for the muppets in the park. And that’s not all that’s going on at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Monsters Inc. is in big build mode–everything in scaffolding and iron girders going vertical. We’ll talk about the approach to this land. And then I share my emotional impressions of the new Magic of Disney Animation courtyard, which now has an opening date of September 14th, 2026. All this and more, plus a really good churro makes what’s happening at this park really exciting. Join us for this Muppets Rock & Roller Coaster Review, Monsters Inc. buildout & Magic of Disney Animation Opening Date.

This podcast is produced by myself and Performance Journeys, which offers training, development and consultant support to organizations big and small and entrepreneurs new and established. With a wide variety of resources and long-time in-the-trench experience, we offer workshops, online learning, coaching and more to organizations that want to build their teams, raise organizational excellence, improve leadership and create customer loyalty. Check us out at PerformanceJourneys.com.

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Monsters Inc. Buildout

There is considerable work going on in the new Monster’s Inc. area. From the parking lot and from a few streets around the Studio one can see that the Monstropolis factory, which will house the new coaster has gone considerably vertical. Included in that is the actual coaster system itself, being added at the same time the building infrastructure is being created. Interesting that with the height of the construction so far, one can’t quite make out the flattened A frame that is signature to the factory.

From Grand Avenue, one can see that every building remaining from the Muppet Courtyard has scaffolding on it. Permits have been pulled for what will be the Glob Theater, which is the former MuppetVision Theater. Curious that the clock from the original buildings seems to remain.

When completed, Monstropolis will pick up after the events of the original film, welcoming humans into the monster city for a cultural exchange celebration called “H.U.M.A.N. (Humans Understand Monsters Are Nice) Day”. It sounds familiar to other “Open House” attraction experiences to including Monster’s Inc. Laugh Floor.

As mentioned in an earlier podcast, I very much doubt we will see the coaster in 2027, but it’s still possible to see the front area in the latter part of that same year. D23 has an opportunity to share a lot of details regarding suburban section, to include the kind of restaurant going into where PizzeRizzo was, as well as the name and description of the show going into the Glob.

Also, with the expected gate up front, I don’t perceive that Grand Avenue will be changing, or will be morphed into part of that land. Nor do I expect Ice Cold Hydraulics will receive any change. The mural on the side of the building near the seating area shows a woman enjoying her soda at the beach. It is very Californian as is Grand Avenue–a location where I spent a good deal of time with a client few years ago.

In passing, I noted a new meet ‘n’ greet area for Disney Jr. across from ABC Commissary, not far from the Mickey and Minnie meet ‘n’ Greet. This includes Sofia the First and Super Kitties.

NOTE: We spent time checking out any updates to One Man’s Dream before visiting the revised Smuggler’s Run, which includes the Mandalorian and Grogu. This has not been nearly the hit that Rock ‘n’ Roller starring the Muppets has been since it opened.

Magic of Disney Animation Opening Date & Courtyard

• Walt Disney Studios Signage Out Front
• Look and Design by Architect Kem Weber
• Art Deco Streamline Moderne Style with Kem Weber Font
• Building Colors and Brickwork Matching Burbank
• Parklike Feeling with Big Shade Trees, Grass & Foliage in stark contrast to the Previous Open Plaza
• Shaded Pergola with Bench Seating All in Similar Style to the Studio Commissary
• Fencing with Small Mickey Mouse Motifs in the Design

• Characters Scattered Around Just Like in Once Upon a Studio with
  • Sir Hiss Chatting with Fru Fru
  • Diablo, the Raven from Sleeping Beauty along with Cinderella’s Bird Friends
  • Pua the Pig from Moana along with Thumper from Bambi
  • Zazu from The Lion King looking down on Lucifer the Cat from Cinderella
  • Jimmy Cricket from Pinocchio
  • Jaq & Gus of Cinderella with Timothy from Dumbo
• Baby Care Center Has the Same Once Upon a Studio motif with Characters like Michael and Baby Pegasus Coming Off the Pictures

• Footprints
  • Beauty & The Beast side by side with rose
  • Robin Hood & Little John side by side
  • Ursula with Tentacles bordering the pavement
  • Hercules Hands with Pegasus’s Hoof Prints
  • Mirabel side by side with Bruno
  • Pirate John Silver with Mechanical Hand
  • Chicken Little’s Hands and Feet in a Sextagon
  • The Big Bad Wolf
  • Oswald the Lucky Rabbit

• Center Focus is Roy E. Disney Animation Building with Sorcerer Hat
• The Little Mermaid Studio Theater with an Old Walt Disney Studios Hyperion Style Sign
• Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live in Soundstage 1 with Font and Styling Matching the Studios
• Movie Poster Signage from Old & New Films Like Tangled & Zootopia but Also Dumbo & Lady & The Tramp
• Pluto’s Corner with Hydrant and Signage at the Corner of Mickey Avenue & Dopey Drive from The Reluctant Dragon
• Wonderful Disney Music Playing Songs Old and New

All of this is reminiscent of my time working at the studio on my Master’s Thesis.

The Magic of Disney Animation opens on September 14th, and will include

• Once Upon a Studio Theater
• Off the Page Character Meet ‘n’ Greet
• Olaf Draws
• Drawn to Wonderland
• Gallery
• Studio Store

For those who want no spoilers, you may want to miss this, however, in truth, you may miss it all. Much of what happens, happens fast, and if you don’t know what you’re looking for you may not see it. Indeed, you could visit a few dozen times and still see new things you didn’t see before. This is an experience that has been dipped in details.

You can see this entirely on our YouTube page by clicking here.

• Got there 20 minutes prior to closing
• Line didn’t move so we opted for a Mayhem Soft-Serve Float with Frozen Fanta Blue Raspberry, Vanilla Soft-serve and Pink Cotton Candy
• Came back the Next Morning an Hour Before Opening and Waited, Wondering Why. Had been invited to a Club 33 preview, but travel and work had gotten in the way from attending.
• The entrance and building has been painted in grays. It distinguishes it from other studio buildings in the park.
• The big guitar is psychedelic in true Mayhem fashion as is the upside down limo. One of the piano keys is gold in recognition of Dr. Teeth
• Exterior queue was still horrible but with some shade and lots of fans blowing air
• Everything Was Very Seventies to include Levis and Paisley Shirts on Cast Members
• Queue inside was Engaging–Favorite Parts Included
• Circular Rotunda with Videos of Muppets with Big Stars like Aquafina, Travis Barker, Wayne Brady, Yvette Nicole Brown, Darren Criss, Neil Patrick Harris, John Stamos, Danny Trejo, and “Weird Al” Yankovic. Illeana Douglas also does a vignette as the manager of the Muppets. There is a host of video segments here, and people move quickly through this small rotunda, so your results may vary.
• The next hallway has a host of memorabilia on display. Many are instruments. One senses a lot of heritage even and back story from Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem.

• The hallway has lots of vinyl covers and shots of the muppets over the years. One vinyl has Sam Eagle in the center with text around the side saying G-Force Records proudly presents a global musical spectacular–Sam Eagle–A tribute to national anthems-but mostly America
• From there we head into the Pre-Show, which is set up as our visiting as a VIP tour only to find that Electric Mayhem is still in the studio recording when they should have been at the concert venue hours earlier. The solution is that Dr. Bunsen Honeydew and Beaker from Muppet Labs have invented a “Lengthy Immediate Motion Object” or L.I.M.O. (Limousine) that will get us there and get us there quick. Here are some insights on this pre-show.
  • The scene is flipped around with you in the mixing room looking out at Mayhem in the studio
  • Everything is much more proximate
  • The plot is parallel to the original Aerosmith show
  • Love the fish on ice between the two penguins
  • PizzzeRizzo boxes are laying around
  • There is a rush of studio personnel heading to the show, similar to the start of the original MuppetVision film
  • The good and bad is that the pre-show starts before many have entered and ends after many have exited.

• Moving into the next hallway there are employee of the month plaques given to Scooter followed by an Outstanding Lifetime Achievement G-Award being given to Ken Marino, who was at the board in the original Aerosmith pre-show
• At the loading station we see that we are at Muppet Labs Automotive Division with many props associated with them to include the Muppets Mobile Lab vehicle that Dr. Bunsen Burner and Beeker Traveled in when visiting Epcot.
• Exiting into the alley we see a host of Muppet props, many of which came from the MuppetVision theater lobby.
• Waited 30 minutes in a 45 minute statement
• Ride was smoother than remembered. Highlights were similar but Muppetzized. Still, seemingly brighter
• Statler & Waldorf Greet You As You Arrive for the Concert. Lots of one liners here, more than you will here in any visit. In truth, there is more to see and pick out from all this than you can ever see in one visit–or 25.
• Gift Shop is Nice But Half of the Old Shop with Photo Processing is Bricked Off
• Churro Drumstick with Mixed Berry Sugar, Rasberry Sauce and Assorted Sprinkles plus Chocolate Sauce Along with Pond Water Limade with Green apple and Boba Pearls.

Again, you can see this entirely on our YouTube page by clicking here.

In summary, I think that Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster starring the Muppets is a hit–and is truly an acknowledgement to Muppet fans that Imagineering not only heard them, but understood them, and sought to make it the best possible. Certainly the queue is testament to it, which is far beyond what benefit Disney found in adding Grogu and Mandalorian to the Millennium Falcon attraction. This version of R&RC is better than the Aerosmith version, and it falls beautifully with more recent Imagineering efforts like the revised Buzz Lightyear Astro Blaster Spin, the Country Bear Musical Jamboree, the revised Big Thunder Mountain, the new evening parade, Disney Starlight, and Soarin’ Across America. I expect the Magic of Disney Animation to be in this same category as well.

Want to Visit Disney?

Hopefully this podcast has made you realize you need help and support in planning your next trip to Disney. David and Leah with Zanolla Travel know Disney in ways few do and they can make your next trip on land or sea an exciting one–or at least less stressful! Be sure to contact them as you explore your next vacation, whether it is a Disney theme park vacation, a cruise, or an Adventure by Disney. There is no charge to utilize their services, but it will save you enormous time getting all the details right, and with their insight you can be assured you’re going to experience the best trip possible. Contact them today!

Disneyland Insights: Inspiration, Ideas & Magic for You and Your Organization

For over a year I’ve been capturing and sharing stories of Disneyland, while creating a new online tool for you to explore all of them in one place. It’s called Disneyland Insights: Inspiration, Ideas & Magic for You and Your Organization and it’s an interactive, multimedia experience. This is truly designed for those who are seeking to find new ideas that will guide you to 

1. Provide Individual & Organizational Leadership Excellence
2. Create Employee Engagement & a Team Culture
3. Offer a Superior Customer Experience

Not only does the content through examples, stories and models play to these themes, but each section provides “Souvenirs for You and Your Organization”. They are reflective questions that may be used to better the work or operation you may be lead or be part of. And in that instance, it is more of a business focus. In fact, many may utilize funding set aside in their organization for training and development to purchase this volume.

Click here to order Disneyland Insights: Inspiration, Ideas & Magic for You and Your Organization. It’s also available on the show notes page of our podcast. Whether you’re on a comfy sofa at home or on Main Street, U.S.A. this experience allows you to navigate through all nine lands to explore some 100 locations where you can find Disney insights that will be inspire and guide you and your organization. 

Books From Your Host at Disney Insights

Also, if you’re looking to grab something today, go to Amazon where you will find four of my books available for purchase. Three explore Disney at length, and one explores world class businesses to include Disney. Check them out!

My newest book, A Century of Powerful Disney Insights, Volume I 1923-1973, The Walt & Roy Disney Years is available! 

Also, check out my two of my other books, The Wonderful World of Customer Service at Disney and Disney, Leadership and You. 

Also, for those examining other business benchmarks beyond Disney, check out Lead with Your Customer: Transform Culture and Brand Into World-Class Excellence.

Thanks for joining us for this podcast. Know that as in the title of my organization, Performance Journeys, it’s as much about the journey as it is about performance. Find the second star to the right, and keep going straight on till you reach it. Follow the compass of your heart, and know that with a smile and a song, a little faith, effort and pixie dust, your dreams can come true. After all, if we can dream it, we can do it. Until next time, bright suns, we’ll see you real soon!