On our last vacation, our family had a need for speed after realizing that TEST TRACK* at Epcot was being refurbished. My 8 year daughter was really sad that she wouldn’t be able to experience Test Track, which she LOVED. After reading great reviews about Rock ‘n’ Rollercoaster in this article on the Top 5 Thrill rides (Rock ‘n’ Rollercoaster being #1), as well as this article on how Rock ‘n’ Rollercoaster is the BEST ride for teens, my daughter really wanted to try it.
Our Hollywood Studios touring day began with Toy Story Midway Mania and then we watched Voyage of the Little Mermaid. It was then that we made our way to the iconic “Guitar” in Sunset Boulevard. Actually, my daughter rushed there while I tried to catch up with her. She went to the Cast Member (CM) in the front of the ride, once the CM measured my daughter’s height and said she met the height requirements (over 48 inches), my daughter proceeded to run through to the regular line.
After about 25 minutes in the queue, we finally reached the super cool “marble door” of the G-force Recording Studio (the Imagineering imaginative Sound Studio). We tried to look for any hidden Mickey’s in the shape of marbles on the door but couldn’t find one. It was neat to go through the studio as if we were actually in one, marveling at all the awesome music related objects all around us. Then we entered the “room”. Here we met Aerosmith (Steve Tyler and his band on a screen) and their manager, explaining to us we are riding in the Limo to their concert and we needed to get there FAST!
The doors opened, my daughter again, proceeded to rush to the Limo’s, she sped, past the gate to try and find a car to sit in. A CM had to kindly guide her back behind the gate to wait our turn. AT LAST our “limo” pulls up. My daughter and I entered our car. Strapped in, excitement mounting, the car pulls to the front of the ride. The countdown began: 5, 4, 3, 2, 1……..
AND WE’RE OFF!! It was fun, it was fast, it was dark, it was exhilarating, I was laughing and enjoying myself until………
I heard a noise. At first I thought my daughter was enjoying the ride too, until I realized, SHE’S CRYING!!
I reached over in the dark with my hand to comfort her. I kept trying to tell her over the loud music that the ride would end soon. I held her hand tightly, and then it was over. I lifted her out of the car and we made our way outside. My husband was waiting and was expecting the worst. He had seen many boys, about my daughter’s age, exiting the ride crying as well.
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| Memory Maker Diva’s Son after the Rock ‘n’ Rollercoaster! |
Memory Maker Diva shared a similar story. Her son LOVES Everest in the Animal Kingdom. Her son is about the same age as my daughter. Memory Maker Diva thought, since he loves Everest, Rock ‘n’ Rollercoaster would not be a problem. During the ride, he didn’t cry or scream but once they got off, she asked him,
“Buddy, wasn’t that awesome?!”
And he responded with a straight face,
“That was the MOST TERRIBLE THING EVER!”
He grabbed a Rock ‘n’ Rollercoaster hat and pulled it over his head, the pulled it off, giggled and said,
“I’m outta here!”
He put the hat back on the stand and walked out!
Parents: Of course you know your child best. If you really feel your child LOVES thrill rides and it would not be a problem, then by all means go ahead. However, like what Memory Maker Diva and I experienced, we thought our children would love Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster because they love the other Thrill Rides at Disney World, but perhaps because of the extreme speed (and it is EXTREME), the insane turns and going upside down in the dark, this may not be a good ride to try until your child is older. My daughter said she might go on Rock ‘n’ Rollercoaster again – when she is a TEENAGER!
Height Requirements: must be 48 inches or taller
Accessibility: Transfer from an ECV to wheelchair, then transfer from wheelchair to “Limo”
Got Motion Sickness? As the Disney Diva says here, “yeah, don’t even think about this one!!”
Rider Swap: Check this article here for more information
Rock ‘n’ Rollercoaster is NOT recommended if you are pregnant, have heart problems, back or neck issues.
*The new TEST TRACK at Epcot is now open. You can read Nick the Devo (tee)’s review here.
