WATCH: Tom Hamilton Rides Disney World Florida’s Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster One Last Time Before Aerosmith Is Removed from the Attraction
Photo by gardener41, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Aerosmith bassist Tom Hamilton made a personal visit to Walt Disney World as one of the band’s long-running theme park ties nears its end. The musician stopped by Disney’s Hollywood Studios to experience Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith ahead of the ride’s scheduled closure in March.
Hamilton shared moments from the day on social media, marking what he described as a meaningful farewell. The indoor coaster, which has featured the band’s music for more than two decades, has been one of the park’s best-known attractions since it opened in 1999.
A Final Ride at Hollywood Studios
On Tuesday, Jan. 27, Hamilton, 74, toured the park and rode the coaster with members of his current band, Close Enemies. He reflected on the visit in an Instagram caption posted the following day.
“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.”
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Gratitude and Shared Memories
Hamilton also thanked the staff who helped mark the occasion. “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.
Photos from the visit showed him viewing a signed Aerosmith portrait displayed near the attraction’s large red guitar outside the building. Other images captured Hamilton and his bandmates seated together inside a ride vehicle, while videos showed them being guided through the queue as guests looked on.
End of an Era for the Attraction
The visit came shortly before the coaster’s final day of operation, set for Sunday, March 1, according to the park’s website. Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster has long stood out for its music-driven design and fast launch start.
The ride vehicles include a high-powered sound system with 125 speakers, 14 subwoofers, and a 32,000-watt setup that plays Aerosmith songs such as “Walk This Way,” “Back in the Saddle,” and “Love in an Elevator,” which was reworked for the attraction as “Love in a Roller Coaster.”
@sharonsdisneyshopping Seeing Aerosmith after getting off Rockin Rollercoaster was not on my bingo card for the day 😱😱 Disney Magic ✨✨ #aerosmith #disney #disneyworld #hollywoodstudios ♬ Dream On – Aerosmith
What Comes Next for the Ride
Changes to the experience had already begun in recent months. Reports noted that the ride’s pre-show video segment was removed, with the viewing area closed off without advance notice.
The coaster is set to be rethemed into a Muppets-based attraction. Park officials have announced that characters from Jim Henson’s creations will take over the space, with guests entering a recording studio featuring the Electric Mayhem band, penguin sound engineers, and Scooter preparing the group for a performance.
