NEED TO KNOW
Aerosmith bassist Tom Hamilton doesn’t want to miss a thing ahead of Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith’s permanent closure in March.
On Tuesday, Jan. 27, the rock band musician, 74, visited Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World in Florida to ride one of the resort’s premiere indoor roller coasters “one last time before it takes its final lap.”
“What a day at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, with my new band, @closeenemiesofficial,” the “Sweet Emotion” co-writer captioned his Jan. 28 Instagram post. “It’s been an absolute honor to share this ride with our fans for so many years.”
“Huge thanks to the amazing cast members for the warmth, hospitality and respect for what this moment means. Thanks for letting us all #RideThisWay,” Hamilton added.
In the post, Hamilton shared a variety of pictures taken throughout his visit to the park. In one image, he looks at a signed portrait of Aerosmith posing outside Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster’s iconic red guitar on the building’s exterior facade. Another photo shows the musician riding the coaster alongside members of his band, Close Enemies, which is currently on tour.
Videos included in the post show the band members being escorted through the attraction’s queue as onlookers cheer them on.
Park guest Al Rodriguez tells PEOPLE he was in line for the coaster when the band members arrived.
“It’s not something you expect, and everyone was excited,” he says.
The band also stuck around the ride’s show building and took photos with fans, as seen in a video sent to PEOPLE by Sharon Dee.
“It was so surreal walking out of Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster for the last time before the March closing and being treated to such a send off!” Dee tells PEOPLE in an email. “Rocking ride, amazing music, and an awesome final memory!”
Hamilton’s visit comes less than two months before Aerosmith will be removed from Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster forever. The last day of operation will be March 1, according to the park’s website.
Yaroslav Sabitov/Shutterstock
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith opened in 1999. The ride vehicle features a 125-speaker, 14-subwoofer, 32,000-watt audio system that plays Aerosmith hits like “Walk This Way,” “Back in the Saddle,” and even “Love in an Elevator” rewritten as “Love in a Roller Coaster.”
Back in December, Entertainment Weekly reported the ride’s pre-show entertainment was permanently scrapped from the attraction. The video, which was shown in a room prior to the coaster’s loading area, was seemingly boarded up and covered overnight.
The quiet changes came ahead of the ride’s transformation into a Muppets-themed attraction set to open later this year. In June 2025, park officials announced the future arrival of Jim Henson’s beloved characters on Hollywood Studios’ Sunset Boulevard.
Guests will once again be welcomed into a recording studio, this time occupied by members of the Electric Mayhem band, penguins working as audio engineers and Scooter, who’s rushing to get the band on stage in front of fans.
Courtesy of Disney
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While a specific opening date has yet to be announced, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring the Muppets is set to debut in summer 2026.
