How Scary Is The Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster At Disney World?
While Disney theme parks are world-famous, they aren’t well-known for high-intensity, fast-paced, or hair-raising rides.
Despite this, they still have a few thrilling rides to get guests’ blood pumping.
Compared to most attractions at Disney World, the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster could be fairly scary for some riders. It’s one of the fastest rides in the resort, the only one that goes upside down, and large sections of the ride are completely dark. That being said, for more experienced riders, this attraction won’t seem scary at all.
In this article, we’ll discuss what to expect on Disney World’s Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster and compare it to other rides at the park.
What Should I Expect On the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster at Disney World?
The Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster is one of the most popular rides at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Orlando, Florida.
It’s also one of the fastest rides at Disney World, reaching 57 miles per hour (91.7 km/h) in under three seconds (only Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind and Test Track reach higher speeds).
Because the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster has some inversions, the minimum height requirement is 48 inches (122cm) to ensure the safety of riders.
Guests with experience on faster rides won’t be daunted by the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, but it is a big shift from the slow-paced rides generally found at Disney World.
Theme
Nothing about the theme of the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster is scary.
The ride is centered around 70s and 80s rock and roll, with the band Aerosmith headlining the attraction.
The story is that the band is late for a concert, with the ride speeding them to the venue.
The ride sends guests careening through palm trees, construction sites, and the dirty back alleys of Hollywood, all the while listening to some of the band’s biggest hits throughout the ride.
Guests enter the attraction at a recording studio, where they see the members of Aerosmith, and the ride ends when the band reaches the concert venue.
Ride Features
Guests afraid of going upside down will be surprised when it comes to the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster – even parkgoers who don’t usually like fast rides with inversions tend to be perfectly fine on this one.
The upside-down part is a fairly gentle inversion that flips riders for a short stretch and puts them upright soon after.
Immediately after this is a short corkscrew that sends riders through two loops, and both of these inversions are much milder and less intense than most guests expect.
Large sections of the ride are in partial or complete darkness; however, there are neon signs and lit-up graffiti to see as riders speed past.
While the ride is dark, there aren’t any jumpscares or frightening imagery to worry about or make it more alarming.
Also, even if a visitor doesn’t like fast rides, it only takes about 90 seconds to complete.
Looking at the theme, speed, and what to expect, the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster isn’t very scary, and anyone with prior experience on more intense thrill rides won’t have any issues.
More nervous guests who focus on the story and groove to the music as they race around the track will find much more joy than fear.
Each car plays a different Aerosmith song, and riders can tell which song(s) they’ll listen to by the license plate on their car.
- 1QKLIMO: “Nine Lives”
- 2FAST4U: “Sweet Emotion”
- BUHBYE: “Young Lust”, “F.I.N.E.” & “Love in an Elevator”
- H8TRFFC: “Back in the Saddle” & “Dude (Looks Like a Lady)”
- UGOBABE: “Love in an Elevator” (Rollercoaster) & “Walk This Way”
Just note that the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster is so short that the songs aren’t the original, full-length versions.
Is the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Scary Compared to Other Disney World Rides?
Only two rides at Disney World match the speed of the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster – Test Track and the Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, both located in EPCOT.
Test Track isn’t a roller coaster, even though it is the fastest ride at Disney World.
It reaches a top speed of 65 miles per hour (104.6 km/h) as riders sit in a simulated car being put through its paces.
The ride has no inversions, no steep drops, and few sharp turns, so despite the speed, it isn’t scary at all and is safe for riders of almost any age.
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind reaches a top speed of 60 miles per hour (96.5 km/h).
While it is a roller coaster, it doesn’t have the inversions or jumps found on the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, and the scariest part is the reverse launch that sends riders backward.
Technically, the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster is scarier just because it’s more thrilling.
Arguably, the scariest attraction at Disney World is Expedition Everest in Animal Kingdom.
It reaches a top speed of 50 miles per hour (80.4 km/h), but that isn’t what makes it so terrifying.
The ride reaches the top of the intimidating mountain and then screams back down – backwards!
It also has sections of complete darkness and sends riders down an 80-foot (24.3 m) drop.
While it used to be scarier when the Yeti at the top realistically chased riders down the mountain, even without that creature effect, Expedition Everest still takes the top spot for the scariest ride in the parks.
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror also instills more fear than the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster.
Spooks and specters greet guests as they enter, the drops are completely random, more than half the ride is in the dark, and the sound effects of snapping cables are definitely terrifying.
The Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster is arguably the best roller coaster at Disney World and is one of the most thrilling rides guests can take on.
That said, it isn’t very scary, especially when compared to neighboring attractions.
Conclusion
The Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster is the fastest ride at Disney World and the only one that flips guests upside down.
While this might turn off visitors who don’t enjoy thrill rides, the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster theme isn’t scary at all, and the whole ride only lasts 90 seconds.
Compared to larger roller coasters at other parks, it’s a less intense experience the whole family can enjoy.
