Work has begun on the upside-down car at the entrance of Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Just days after the Aerosmith version closed on March 1, 2026, the side facing the Tower of Terror has been sanded down and painted with red flames outlined in orange. This rapid transformation signals a shift from the intense Aerosmith branding to a family-friendly Muppets theme, aligning with Disney’s strategy to move Hollywood Studios toward immersive intellectual properties. Less than 24 hours after the closure, Disney released a new park map, entirely replacing Aerosmith branding with the Muppets. The visible work on the car provides the first tangible evidence of the transformation, as guests can easily see the progress as they pass by on Sunset Boulevard.Fiery Makeover Begins on Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Upside Down Car at Hollywood Studioshttps://t.co/Z0Xs2Twzq0— WDW News Today (@WDWNT) March 4, 2026What The Disney Concept Art RevealsConcept art for the attraction has not shown what the upside down car will ultimately look like once the transformation is complete, leaving some mystery about the final design. However, the ride’s iconic guitar positioned near the entrance will receive a psychedelic Electric Mayhem-inspired makeover that reflects the band’s colorful aesthetic from The Muppet Show. The piano motif at the base of the guitar will include one gold key as a nod to Dr. Teeth’s gold tooth, creating a subtle character reference that fans of The Muppets will recognize and appreciate.The concept art also includes the new ride poster on the wall of the building, indicating that Disney is creating comprehensive visual branding for the Muppets version rather than just making minimal changes to the existing Aerosmith theming. This suggests significant investment in creating a cohesive Muppets experience that feels intentional and fully realized rather than a quick overlay that simply swaps out logos while maintaining the previous aesthetic.Credit: DisneyThe New Disney Attraction ExperienceRock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets will open sometime this summer, bringing a completely reimagined storyline to the existing coaster track and launch system. In this new version of the attraction, guests will join the Electric Mayhem, Kermit, Miss Piggy, and more Muppets at G-Force Records, a recording studio that has been bought by Scooter’s uncle, real estate tycoon and owner of the Muppet Theatre, J.P. Grosse. He put Scooter in charge of the studio, and guests will meet the manager in animatronic form in the new pre-show, representing a significant technological upgrade from the previous pre-show that featured video footage of Aerosmith.Guests on a V.I.P. tour will see the Electric Mayhem delayed in the recording studio before they head out to their concert across town, creating the narrative justification for the high-speed journey through Hollywood. Thankfully, Muppet Labs has souped up a limousine to get guests across Hollywood in time to reach the concert, maintaining the super-stretch limo vehicle concept from the Aerosmith version while adding Muppet Labs branding that connects to the broader Muppets universe and the mad science aesthetic associated with Dr. Bunsen Honeydew and Beaker.The scenery and landmarks guests pass during the ride will feature a Muppet twist, transforming the Hollywood backdrop into something more comedic and cartoon-like rather than the gritty urban environment of the Aerosmith version. Guests will also hear the Electric Mayhem playing iconic hits during the ride, though Disney has not specified whether these will be Muppets-original songs, covers of classic rock songs performed by the Electric Mayhem, or a combination of both.The Rapid Disney Map ChangeDisney’s quick release of a new Hollywood Studios park map, just 24 hours after the closure of Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith, marks a significant departure from past practices. Typically, Disney keeps closed attractions on maps for weeks or months, but the new map completely removes the Aerosmith branding and introduces the upcoming Muppets version instead. This change eliminates any indication that Aerosmith ever occupied the space, signaling a swift shift toward the future. The updated map features a logo for “Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets,” indicating that Disney is framing the space as a new attraction rather than a closed one, encouraging guests to focus on what’s next.Credit: Erica Lauren Inside the MagicWhy the Speed MattersDisney’s quick removal of Aerosmith branding from attractions and maps reflects a strategic approach to managing guest expectations during transformations. By immediately swapping branding, they create anticipation and maintain the active feel of Hollywood Studios. Theme park maps, often seen as minor details, reveal Disney’s long-term strategy, guiding guests’ perceptions toward progress rather than loss. This ensures that visitors see the park as evolving rather than diminishing.Disney Fan Reactions and Emotional ImpactReactions among longtime parkgoers to the rapid removal of Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith have been mixed. Some welcome the excitement of a new Muppets attraction after years of limited representation, while others feel the quick removal neglects the significance of a ride that defined Hollywood Studios for generations. The coaster was emblematic of Disney’s late-90s celebrity partnerships, creating lasting memories and vacation traditions for many. Its sudden disappearance from official materials leaves a disconnect, as new visitors may never know it existed.The Broader Hollywood Studios EvolutionThe removal of Aerosmith from the map is not just about one ride closing but represents how quickly Disney parks can evolve today compared to previous decades. Hollywood Studios has been transforming rapidly, transitioning away from its original studio-tour identity toward immersive intellectual properties, including Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and Toy Story Land, that already reshaped major sections of the park. The Muppets overlay continues that trend, leaning into recognizable characters with broader generational appeal rather than celebrity partnerships that may age poorly as musical tastes and cultural relevance shift over time.For now, the building still stands, the track still exists, and the launch tunnel waits quietly behind closed doors as crews work on transforming Aerosmith’s rock concert into The Muppets’ comedic chaos. But officially, at least on paper and increasingly in physical reality as the upside-down car receives its fiery makeover, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith is already history, and The Muppets have officially taken over even before the ride reopens this summer.The post Disney Already Painting Over Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster’s Iconic Elements appeared first on Inside the Magic.