Disney and nostalgia go hand in hand for me. I remember going to Disneyland as a little kid, standing at the bottom of Splash Mountain, staring up at its massive drop and thinking it was the biggest fall any human could ever go down. I'm far from alone in having emotional memories tied to Disney parks, which is why every time Imagineers start tinkering with those core memories, I viscerally feel the tightrope they're walking between honoring what people love and creating something new.
Disney is no stranger to change. Splash Mountain became Tiana's Bayou Adventure. Pirates of the Caribbean added a new projection-mapped pirate with a... let's call it questionable approval rating. Recently, Rock 'n' Roller Coaster at Walt Disney World also got a full Muppet-ified makeover.
When I had the chance to talk with Imagineer David Brescia, who worked on the Rock 'n' Roller Coaster update, I had to ask how he balances fans' resistance to change with evolving a beloved attraction. He told me he and the team know they have to be "careful."
We tried to take a careful touch. We know how important, I mean, both of these kinds of franchises are. Rock’n’ Rollercoaster was my first rollercoaster that I fell in love with growing up. So I felt it too, you know? So keeping that kind of foundation there, it's still an exciting, thrilling ride. Music is at the core, we know Muppets are so important to so many people. And so really trying to represent them authentically and try to bring as much Muppet fun everywhere we could throughout the attraction was kind of our approach to it.
From my perspective, they nailed it. The heart of the original ride is still beating underneath Animal's drums. The queue is packed with Easter eggs paying homage to Aerosmith alongside a metric ton of Muppet deep cuts.
That balancing act isn't unique to just one attraction, though. I also spoke with one of the Imagineers behind the new Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run adventure featuring The Mandalorian and Grogu. She said:
I remember when I came and rode the Falcon for the first time. It's that first pull, right? Going to light speed, flying the Millennium Falcon for the first time. I think keeping those key moments in the spirit of an attraction alive while adding new experiences for our guests and more things to do. It's that balance.
If they'd taken away the jump to hyperspace, I would've rioted myself. Thankfully, they didn't. That iconic moment is still there, and now you don't have to be a pilot to have a blast on the ride.
Change is inevitable, especially if you've been around Disney Parks long enough. Even attractions that once felt untouchable, like Carousel of Progress, are getting updates. But as that very catchy song reminds us, "There's a great big beautiful tomorrow shining at the end of every day." Disney has always been about looking ahead while remembering where it came from... though I really hope they don't change the song.
