{"id":319145,"date":"2026-06-25T08:22:22","date_gmt":"2026-06-25T08:22:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/319145\/"},"modified":"2026-06-25T08:22:22","modified_gmt":"2026-06-25T08:22:22","slug":"two-orlando-theme-park-updates-that-turned-out-far-better-than-expected","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/319145\/","title":{"rendered":"Two Orlando theme park updates that turned out far better than expected"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"RockScooter in the studio with Dr. Teeth & the Electric Mayhem Credit: Seth Kubersky<\/p>\n

Two weeks ago, I reviewed the revamped<\/a> flying theater attractions at EPCOT and SeaWorld, but those aren\u2019t the only exciting recent updates inside Orlando\u2019s theme parks. Here\u2019s a look at two controversial changes that turned out far better than many fans may have expected.<\/p>\n

Rock \u2019n\u2019 Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets at Disney\u2019s Hollywood Studios<\/p>\n

You can count me among the multitudes of Muppet faithful who were fighting mad when Walt Disney World announced the demolition of Jim Henson\u2019s final masterpiece, MuppetVision 3D, in favor of a Monsters Inc. area. Even the news that Kermit and co. would be evicting Aerosmith from their looping indoor coaster did little to assuage my disappointment. But while nothing will ever replace MuppetVision in my heart (except maybe a long-rumored VR version), now that Rock \u2019n\u2019 Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets is open, I\u2019m willing to declare it Disney\u2019s best attraction makeover since California\u2019s second-rate Tower of Terror was taken over by the Guardians of the Galaxy.<\/p>\n

From the exterior, the updates to G-Force Records are confined to colorful repaints of the entrance\u2019s iconic overhead convertible and oversized electric guitar, along with a wall of psychedelic posters, all pointing to the groovy influence of Dr. Teeth & the Electric Mayhem, whose imminent concert is the ride\u2019s new raison d\u2019\u00eatre. The too-short interior queue is where the fun begins, featuring a lengthy loop of side-splitting new Muppet skits starring everyone from Neil Patrick Harris to Danny Trejo, along with a display of authentic and replica musical instruments.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Rock \u2019n\u2019 Roller Coaster\u2019s recording-booth preshow, which was previously infamous for Steven Tyler\u2019s bored delivery and bawdy hand gesture<\/a>, now stars a stunningly expressive animatronic Scooter. His motion-captured performance perfectly reproduces puppeteer David Rudman\u2019s movements, and his reactions to the Mayhem\u2019s antics on the super-sharp \u201cwindow\u201d screen are especially re-watchable, thanks to randomized variations for the video cameos. (Stay to the very end for Scooter\u2019s exit and you can glimpse the robotic arm operating him.)<\/p>\n

Between the framed photos and album covers on the walls and the salvaged props from past Muppet projects lining the path to the loading dock, there are more Easter eggs than you can count before even arriving at the LIMO (Lengthy Immediate Motion Object) trains. <\/p>\n

As for the coaster itself, the actual ride is essentially unchanged, but instead of \u201cWalk This Way\u201d or \u201cSweet Emotion,\u201d you\u2019ll be screaming along to Muppetized covers of Blur, Steppenwolf and Def Leppard. After blurring by black-lit signs for Pizzerizzo and World Wide Studios, you glide past the old show\u2019s Statler and Waldorf figures \u2014 relocated, re-dressed and reciting newly recorded insults \u2014 before disembarking beneath the attraction\u2019s best detail: Look above and behind you at the photo kiosks to see Jim Henson\u2019s portrait still smiling down on his creations.<\/p>\n

\"UniversalCredit: Seth Kubersky<\/p>\n

Celestial Park Open Hub at Epic Universe<\/p>\n

One year after the debut of Epic Universe, Universal has begun experimenting with a polarizing potential adjustment at its newest park that has generated more views, likes and vitriolic comments than anything I\u2019ve previously posted on my Instagram feed. <\/p>\n

Late last month, Premiere Orlando: The Ultimate Beauty Experience drew more than 54,500 beauty industry professionals to the Orange County Convention Center for the largest such gathering in the nation. The West Concourse was louder than any IAAPA Expo floor I\u2019ve ever walked, and the fashions and hairstyles \u2014 not to mention the queues for product samples \u2014 could give MegaCon a run for its money.\u00a0<\/p>\n

But the real reason I accepted a press pass was to be among the first guinea pigs to test the long-rumored \u201copen hub\u201d access to Epic Universe\u2019s Celestial Park. <\/p>\n

Badge-wearing con attendees were allowed to park and enter after 5 p.m. for free, with new long-distance photo validation cameras positioned at the various world portals and ride entrances to prevent us from proceeding. \u201cAfter more than 30 years in Orlando, it\u2019s exciting to be able to offer our attendees a little extra magic during their time here,\u201d said a Premiere spokesperson. \u201cThis offering for Premiere Orlando show passholders reflects the many relationships we\u2019ve built throughout the community, and we\u2019re thrilled to continue growing and creating unforgettable experiences for beauty professionals.\u201d<\/p>\n

Aside from some passholders who had to pause, the system allowed most guests to pass through smoothly, while the (hopefully temporary) stanchions employed are a minor mar on the otherwise immaculate aesthetics. Otherwise, the experiment didn\u2019t appear to have any negative impact on paying park visitors \u2014 unlike the frequent private buyouts of Universal\u2019s older parks, which typically must close early for regular guests \u2014 with only a tiny fraction of con attendees taking advantage of the opportunity.<\/p>\n

Although I ached to board Stardust Racers, we were able to enjoy a full evening of eating, drinking, shopping and free live entertainment (shout-out to Plastered Owl\u2019s talented dueling guitarists) before watching the closing fountain show. <\/p>\n

I\u2019d return often to spend more time and money at Epic in the evenings, if it were an option. But based on surveys Universal sent out, it doesn\u2019t look like an all-access annual pass to the whole park is in the cards anytime soon. So once the bugs are worked out with more corporate customers, I\u2019d love to see this made available to onsite hotel guests and UOAPs \u2014 ASAP.<\/p>\n

\"Stay<\/p>\n

Related Stories<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Two\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\tRock \u2019n\u2019 Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets is Disney\u2019s best makeover since Anaheim\u2019s Tower of Terror was taken over by Guardians of the Galaxy\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"New\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\tPlus \u2018The Doomies,\u2019 \u2018Camp Snoopy\u2019 and, incredibly, \u2018Louis CK: Ridiculous\u2019 \t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"John\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\tMore than 35,000 entries for the contest were submitted from across the country.\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

This article appears in June 24-30, 2026<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\n\tRelated<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Scooter in the studio with Dr. Teeth & the Electric Mayhem Credit: Seth Kubersky Two weeks ago, I…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":319146,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[30546,58957,6113,108340,139,141,140,132584,132585,2411,3434,8064],"class_list":["post-319145","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-orlando","tag-celestial-park","tag-disneys-hollywood-studios","tag-epic-universe","tag-open-hub","tag-orlando","tag-orlando-headlines","tag-orlando-news","tag-rock-n-roller-coaster","tag-the-muppets","tag-theme-parks","tag-universal-orlando","tag-walt-disney-world"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/319145","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=319145"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/319145\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/319146"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=319145"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=319145"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=319145"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}