SATURDAY SIX: Our Favorite Details, References, and Easter Eggs in ROCK ‘N’ ROLLER COASTER STARRING THE MUPPETS

This week’s SATURDAY SIX takes a look at two of our favorite things at the theme parks: roller coasters and The Muppets!

We’ve been in Muppet mourning since Disney closed Muppet*Vision 3D last year, but the black armbands are now being ripped off as Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster (RNRC) has now officially reopened with a new theme dedicated to Kermit the frog and all his pals. As is typical with anything related to the Muppets, the attraction is loaded with great jokes and sly references appealing to kids and adults. Even better, Disney Imagineers have also added in plenty of wonderful Easter Eggs paying tribute to the original version of RNRC and Muppet*Vision along with our favorite Muppet films from over the years! Thanks to Ace Photographer Diservations, we’re going to look at our favorite details starting with…

# 6 – Jim Henson

This photo of Muppet creator Jim Henson (in Muppet form) was formerly in the pre-show of Muppet*Vision and thankfully has been brought over to be one of the last things you see during your RNRC ride experience.

Jim Henson was a true icon in the world of entertainment and one of the most creative people of the 20th Century. His genius, and – more importantly – his empathy and kindness have been passed on to future generations. A quote from Jim Henson, “Leave the world a better than when you got here” can also be seen.

Jim Henson’s portrait isn’t the only one you’ll see hanging at RNRC, as one wall in the pre-show is filled with Employee of the Month awards won by Scooter. However, it’s another person pictured on that wall which you have to see…

…because directly next to Scooter is a framed photo of a “G-Force Legend” who has the Outstanding Lifetime Achievement award. While this legend is not named, the man pictured is actor Ken Marino, known for his roles in films and TV such as Veronica Mars, Party Down, Wet Hot American Summer and more.

However theme park fans might recognize Ken from his appearance as the sound engineer in the legendary pre-show for Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster starring Aerosmith!

Ken Marino can also be seen elsewhere in the RNRC queue, interacting with Kermit the frog on the video screens. Ken joins other celebrities on these screens including Neil Patrick Harris, Weird Al Yankovich and John Stamos. However, one of the best Easter Eggs on these screens is when actress Illeana Douglas offers to help a stressed-out Kermit with a “super stretch.” This is a direct reference to her memorable moment in the original RNRC pre-show.

# 5 – Details

A trademark of anything involving the Muppets is great gags and wonderful details. In a pre-show room featuring some incredible Muppet nostalgia, you’ll find one area marked as a Priceless Item of Historic and Sentimental Value. However, the area is also empty, and instead you see a note that reads “IOU – Ben return soon-ish.”

This is a fantastic joke that works on multiple levels, because the Ben almost surely is referencing Ben Conway, a set decorator and prop designer for Walt Disney Imagineering.

The control room during the RNRC pre-show has a lot of fun details, but while many are paying attention to the audio-animatronic Scooter in the room or the Electric Mayhem in the background, I’m drawn to the two penguin engineers working the sound board.

More specifically, the bucket of ice and fish that sits between them. To me, that type of humor is exactly what the Muppets brings to the table. A great sight gag that the story never references, its just fantastic world building for the audience to be immersed in.

On the walls of the hallways leading up to the control room are a whole bunch of framed album covers of recordings that the Muppets have allegedly recorded over the years at G-Force Studios. Many of these album covers are referencing other famous albums from our world along with great nods to the Muppet universe, including Pigs in Space. Make sure to pay attention to any track listings, but also other next-level details like the “advisory” on Rizzo’s album below. At first glance it appears to be a Parental Advisory warning label for explicit content that has adorned many an album cover starting in the 1990s…

However, a closer look reveals that it is an advisory from noted curmudgeon Sam the Eagle, and he is warning against “Weirdo Content.” That is a 10/10 gag. No notes.

While everyone was shocked when Disney shutdown Muppet Courtyard to prepare for the upcoming transformation of that area to one centered on Monsters Inc, one place that closed during that didn’t get that much fanfare as others. However, the much maligned Mama Melrose Ristorante Italiano does get a reference in RNRC though with this Mona Lisa painting.

This bumper sticker for Rocket’s After Dinner Theater is actually a tribute to longtime Muppet puppeteer Dave Goelz (whose dog is named Rocket.)

# 4 – Muppet Movie References

RNRC is absolutely packed with references to the various Muppet movies that have come out over the years, including the one which started it all The Muppet Movie (1979.) One item in the queue is Kermit’s banjo, which has been faithfully recreated from the original seen in the film.

After Kermit leaves the swamp in The Muppet Movie, he comes into contact with other characters, including Gonzo. When Kermit first meets Gonzo, he is a “plumbing artiste.” This piece in the RNRC queue is referencing the hardware that was on top of Gonzo’s truck in the movie.

The main “villain” of the first Muppet movie was Doc Hopper, an entrepreneur running a struggling chain of frog leg restaurants. In the RNRC gift shop, you’ll see a Doc Hopper’s Frog Legs sticker.

The gift shop is actually loaded with many stickers referencing Muppet films, including two below. One is for the Happiness Hotel and the other is for The Dubbonet Club. These are both featured in The Great Muppet Caper (1981.)

Not sure I expected to see a reference to Muppet Treasure Island (1996), but we did with this Admiral Benbow Inn sticker (it’s where Gonzo and Rizzo the rat worked.)

My heart filled with joy seeing references to The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992) as this is my personal favorite Muppet movies and a Must Watch in my household every single December.

There are also several “Scrooge and Marley” stickers, also referencing The Muppet Christmas Carol, but the choice of font and color make them way too hard to read.

# 3 – Muppet Mobile Lab

What a treat for theme park fans as we got the long awaited return of the Muppet Mobile Lab, one of the Living Character Initiatives that made their debut in the early 2000s.

A free roaming audio-animatronic, seeing the Muppet Mobile Lab in person back in the day was something else. This was pure Disney magic.

The vehicle was even recreated in LEGO form by the one and only The Horizoneer.

The Muppet Mobile Lab is here because in RNRC storyline it is a part of the Muppet Labs Automotive Division. This is the division which “created” the ride vehicles we get into for the coaster. Another example of their work is on display with an updated version of the Le Maximum car from Muppets Most Wanted (2011.)

# 2 – PizzeRizzo

RNRC has several references to PizzeRizzo, including this wonderful themed pizza box.

However there are multiple references to PizzeRizzo elsewhere in the attraction, including this apron hanging up in the alley.

However my favorite rat related reference in RNRC is located elsewhere in the alley, and this one you need to look down to see.

Outside of the Squeakeasy club are small scale rodent-sized motorcycles.

Signage also says the club has been in operation “since 1936,” the year Jim Henson was born.

# 1 – Muppet*Vision 3D

While I’ll never forget the greatness that was Muppet*Vision 3D, I am starting to forgive Disney for shuttering the attraction. I’m certainly grateful for all the M*V 3D references throughout RNRC, including these boxes in the gift shop below.

Let’s go back to Muppet*Vision 3D for a moment. One of the more well known gags in the attraction was the “key is under the mat” gimmick.

Underneath the sign, there was a mat you could literally roll back to discover a key. Just an unbelievable level of detail to sell a bit.

RNRC also has a sign that says the “keys under mat.”

Except at RNRC, the “keys” are piano keys! Absolutely brilliant.

One of the central storylines to Muppet*Vision 3D was the character of Bean Bunny running away and the Muppets looking for him. RNRC has several “Lost Bunny” ads plastered around that look like they definitely could have been designed by a character like Sweetums (who was looking for Bean in Muppet*Vision.)

Speaking of Sweetums, the ride safety video includes a nod to his moment in the 3D attraction where he uses a paddle ball. This was an example of the “cheap 3D tricks” that the Muppets would make fun of.

This gag was also seen in an ad for the attraction on the outside of the building.

Honorable Mention: Inspired Artists

We always love when attractions inspire artists, and the opening brought out some truly talented individuals. One of my favorite pieces was this one by artist Will Heff adding Jim Henson and legendary Muppet puppeteer Frank Oz into the RNRC photo-op.

The Horizoneer, who just may be a Muppet in human form, created this incredible attraction poster that features even more Easter Eggs you’ll see during the coaster part of the attraction.

Our favorite Tiny Artist Jaime S. put her amazing talent on display with this charming piece that contains multiple experiences from the attraction, including the run-in with Statler and Waldorf!

So there you have it: The SAT SIX Look at the New and (definitely) Improved Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster! See you next weekend for the latest installment of the SATURDAY SIX, where we’ll look at something fun from the world of Disney and Universal. If you enjoyed yourself, be sure to check out the THEME PARK ENJOYMENT INDEX, giving a monthly recap of all the theme park news you need to know (and a lot more you don’t need to know, but we’re gonna tell you anyway). You can also follow Your Humble Author on BlueSky (@derekburgan).

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Special Thanks to The Elite Brandon Glover, Digital Maestro Scott Walker, the bio-est of all reconstructs @bioreconstruct, Captain Cruiseline Scott Sanders of the world famous Disney Cruise Line Blog, my personal protege Hunter “Elvey” Underwood, artist @SonderQuest, the mighty maven of merchandise Hedgehog’s Corner, the SAT SIX Fun Squad of Parkscope Joe and “the Dadalorian” Nick, hot shot Michael Carelli, charter member of the Universal Four @Nitro230, the permit princess Alicia Stella, master cartographer Tommy Hawkins, and Hermione Granger’s tutor Megan Thickey for their invaluable assistance with this article. Absolutely no help was added by SeaWorld Influencer @SuperWeenieHtJr. The SAT SIX is inspired each week by goofballs Aengus Mackenzie and LitemAndHide.