Thursday, January 17, 2008

Disney Must See Day 5: Rock N' Roll!

OK, I have 3 days left and my 3 absolute "If I don't go on this ride I'll just die" rides left. Today we're going to focus on one of the best roller coasters ever - the Aerosmith Rock 'N Roller Coaster at Disney's Hollywood Studios.

I had never heard of it until the first year we went to DHS (Back when it was MGM Studios) and there was some highlight show coincidentally on the Travel Channel that talked about it. As a chick who has ALWAYS liked roller coasters, I felt the deep need to make sure we went on that ride while we were at the park. Since it's conveniently located across from another ride that I'll discuss either tomorrow or Saturday that I absolutely love... it made it even easier to Fast Pass and get on.

You start by being queued into a studio where Aerosmith appears to be rehearsing for their show that night. Their manager comes in to hurry them out, and Steven Tyler says "Hey! We can't leave our friends here! They have to come with us!". The manager sighs and says she'll get their "friends" a really fast limo to get to the show. You are then brought into a line to wait for your limo to get to the show.

At a launch of 0-60 MPH in 2.8 seconds, it is not only an awesome launch but a great glimpse into the awesome technology that can be seen all over the Disney parks. Here's a great video I found on YouTube that discusses the technology (and also offers a quick spoiler to the entry I already alluded to... just forget you heard it...).



Oh yeah. It rocks.

Danielle's Disney Dining Recommendation: Since we're talking about things with cars, and we're already in Hollywood Studios - I recommend a place that Steve and I ate at for the first time this year. It's the Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater located on Commisary Lane at the Studios. The food is good - but I recommend this place more for the atmosphere. The tables look like cars and you sit in the front or back seat with a small counter-style table. The dining room is decorated to make you feel like you're in a drive-in theater, and there are even the old-style speakers at every table. Trailers from hokey sci-fi movies are played along with traditional "Come to the Snack Bar" advertisements on a large screen in front of you. If you're patient enough, you'll even see a couple of sci-fi-ish cartoons (we saw a Tom & Jerry cartoon). I definitely recommend parking it here for dinner.

7 comments:

kat said...

Now you made me drool. I think we share a love for rollercoasters. That is one awesome rollercoaster. I am all giddy just looking at the video. Sigh

Kimberly Pye said...

Three things.

One. DHS in Maine means Department of Human Services (which I think is DSS here -- Dept. of Social Services). So that's funny because your DHS is way cooler than going to my DHS.

Two. I've been to that car place with my family. I remember it being pretty pricey for a family of four, but with two people it would be fine.

Three. I like "go to the snack bar" ads. Have you seen the Aqua Teen Hunger Force Movie? Please do. When I buy it you can watch it. Best movie ever (in an "I seriously had three cups of coffee this morning and I'm excited about stitchin' and the long weekend so I'm a little hyped up and enthusiastic right now" kind of way.

Kimberly Pye said...

Close parenthesis.

Steve Athanas said...

So, while I think Rockin' Rollercoaster is a great ride, and I most certainly do, it's the Disney touches that make it a fun ride. It's the sights and sounds that are happening while in the coaster that are impressive. The ride itself is probably not as adrenaline producing based on its pure "flight path" as some other high-end roller coasters, like Kraken at Sea World, or many of the Busch Gardens rides.

Instead, the theming of the ride along with the starting show creates a suspension of disbelief where you're thinking more about the story that's being told than "wow, I likey roller rides."

With all of that out of the way, it's a freakin awesome ride.

I now conlude my statement.

Anonymous said...

When did MGM change to Disney Hollywood Studios? I was just down in Florida last June and I swear that they were still referring to it as MGM. Then again we never got around to visiting that park because we decided to go to Animal Kingdom instead.

Steve Athanas said...

They changed on January 7th.. The very day we went there. How neat is that. We got to see a lot of their signage changing, from maps to signs at resorts, etc. Pretty neat.

Maggie Moo said...

When they were putting this attraction together, Aerosmith stayed at the hotel I worked in (BoardWalk) and it happened to be around my birthday. My friends in Concierge joked with me that they were going to have Steve Tyler come in to sing to me...well, on my actual birthday they (Aerosmith) came walking through the back office where I worked and my heart dropped. I thought-holy cow, they're really going to do it!

But they didn't. They were just in the back b/c fans were in the lobby...I know I built this up so much that you thought they were going to sing...sorry 'bout that! :)