Thanks to Locoboy for this great report.

Right next door to TZ:TOT is the newest Disney thrill ride, Rock n Roller Coaster (RnRC.)  This is an indoor looping sit down coaster made by Vekoma.  It is powered by linear synchronous motors (LSMs) that launch you from 0 to 60 miles an hour in just a tick under 3 seconds.  (LSMs are basically repelling magnets that propel the train forward andthey are also used to launch Magic Mountain's Superman: The Escape.)

RnRC's story is that you're touring G Force Records (I love that name!) and the queue takes you through the elaborate lobby and display cases of the record company.  The display cases have all kinds of interesting things like classic Gibson Les Paul and Fender Stratocaster guitars. You also go past some recording studio doors where you can hear musicians recording.  While you're in the queue, you can hear rock and roll playing through the speakers in the ceiling.  After listening to the horrible Magic Mountain Riddler's Revenge "music" with a boring repetitive computerized drum machine blasting away, it was great hearing some rock in a queue.  This was by far my favorite roller coaster queue music.  When I was waiting, they were playing Collective Soul.  I'm not a huge fan of them, but I sure like them a million times better than the
techno music they play in the Riddler's Revenge queue.  (Sorry techno fans.  I've given that music a chance, but I just don't like it.  It's not unlistenable in my book, but it isn't what I like.)  Next, you enter a G Force Records recording studio where you can hear Aerosmith's "Walk This Way" blasting.  In front of you is a typical recording studio with drums, guitars, microphones, and basses set up.  (There was actually one very expensive Joe Perry model Gibson Les Paul guitar on a stand.)  On the other side of the recording studio glass, behind the mixing console, is Aerosmith.  (Actually the whole piece of glass and everything behind it is a projection and Aerosmith is really there...but on film.)  This was the most amazing piece of Disney Imagineering work I have ever seen.  They magically got Aerosmith to look clean!  I was amazed at the
amount of special effects it must have taken to pull off this magic! :-)

Aerosmith has to leave the studio immediately to go to a concert, but they get some back stage passes and invite us to the show!  Of course we're not gonna drive to a Los Angeles rock concert.  Heck no, this is Disney!  We're gonna get there in style with a SUPER stretch limo!  We leave G Force Records through a side door and enter the alley where another limo is waiting...just for a split second because it's full of other Aerosmith back stage visitors.  It's only waiting there in the alley for a second because *ZOOM!* it's up to 60 miles an hour before you can blink and then it's gone!  :-)  Oooooh yeeeaaaah, let's ride bay-bee!

The track looks like regular black Vekoma looping coaster track, but the trains...I love the RnRC trains!  They look like 1960 Cadillac El Dorado stretch limos, complete with a shiny chrome grill, bumpers, headlights, tail lights, and of course tail fins!  They're trains that any red-blooded muscle car fan would love.  (Someone like moi!)  These trains have beautiful details too like the cast metal door sill plates that have guitars cast into them.  (They looked like Ibanez guitars.) The front car also has a hood emblem (I couldn't see what the emblem was) and the rear car has a California license plate on the shiny rear
bumper.  The shoulder harnesses are standard shaped Vekoma and Arrow Dynamics sit down looping coaster restraints, but they were covered with
a very soft foam.  This felt like the same foam that Vekoma uses on their Invertigo train's shoulder harnesses.  Unlike those restraints though, the ones on RnRC are not super tall so you can easily see to the left and right.  The RnRC restraints also don't have the HUGE pillow shaped pads next to your head so you can easily move your head around and see to the sides.  (At least I could.)  As far as shoulder restraints go, these are the best ones I've ever seen by far.  They are like Arrow Dynamics ones in that they are not super tall and they are next to my neck, not my head.  (Bolliger & Mabillard, are we taking notes here?)  Thus I could easily see to the sides and I wouldn't
experience any head banging.  These restraints are also very soft, so if I was shorter and my head was next to the restraint, it probably wouldn't hurt if I smacked my head on it.

The boarding station is themed to look like the interior of a parking garage.  I loved how you could hear the sound of the limo's big block V8 engine *rumble* around the corner and quickly approach the station. :-)  I sat in the comfy seats and waited for the crew to check the train/limo.  I was amazed at the speed of the RnRC ride operators.  It only took them about 10 to 20 seconds to check all the restraints!  They were by far the best and fastest coaster crew I've ever seen!  :-)

My first ride was in the very front and before I knew it we were dispatched.  (Boy the RnRC crews move quick!)  The on board audio system rumbled to life!  Each seat on RnRC has an audio system with a subwoofer placed perfectly under your derriere.  As a car audiophile, I loved it! The sound quality of RnRC's audio system is flat out amazing!  The on board audio systems on Disneyland's Indiana Jones Adventure and Space Mountain will never ever be the same for me after riding RnRC!  Those sound like a pay telephone receiver compared to RnRC!  OK, I was ready for the LSM launch.  My head was back against the soft and comfy head rest and...why are we moving backwards?  Strangely, the limo goes backwards slowly about 12" before the launch.  Hang on here we GOOOOOO! We took off in a screaming burnout (heard through the on board audio system) and entered the first inversion element in complete darkness. There were two other inversions and lots of fun banked turns in the darkness.  The only things that pierced the dark were lights that shined on several Los Angeles landmarks as you *ZOOMED* by or through.  Some of the things you go see are the Hollywood sign (you actually go through the letter "O"), some street signs, and some highway signs.  It's hard to see them though because you're going by so fast!  The last inversion
is a corkscrew and there's a little *pop* of front seat airtime on a little bunny hop just before the final brake run.  All through the ride, Aerosmith is blasting clearly through the on board audio system.  :-) You end up at the concert venue, where bright lights and a red carpet are waiting for you.  Though it's a somewhat short coaster, RnRC is an all out winner in my book!  It's now my number one looping steel coaster and launched coaster.  I loved everything about it.  I loved the themeing, the trains, the music, the audio system, the lack of trim brakes....EVERYTHING!

I was not expecting to be blown away by RnRC, but I was.  I was not expecting to like a Vekoma coaster *that* much.  Thankfully I was surprised by it and it really is my favorite looping coaster, by a wide margin.  The thing that surprised me the most about RnRC is how smooth it is.  It is the smoothest looping coaster I have ever been on, including Bolliger & Mabillard coasters.  The limos on RnRC look like they have standard Vekoma/Arrow Dynamics train chassis, but they sure don't feel like them.  I did notice that the tires on them were white colored and not the usual reddish brown color.  Maybe these tires have a new compound of polyurethane that is softer than what's been used in the past.  I wonder if RnRC is also smoother because it's indoors and the urethane tires aren't exposed to the weather, thus they remain pliable and soft and don't transmit the track's bumps to the train.  I have no idea, but I do know that I couldn't believe I was riding a Vekoma coaster.  It was *that* smooth!  :-)  I even thought RnRC was smoother than a Vekoma Invertigo, which I think is a fairly smooth coaster.

The strangest thing about RnRC is that since it's dark inside the building that houses it, you can't tell when you're going upside down. All during my first ride, I had no idea when I was going head over heels.  It sounds strange when I talk about it, but other than the corkscrew inversion which I could vaguely see in the dark, I had no idea when I was going through the other two inversions.  After several rides, then I could tell though.  But that first RnRC ride felt really strange
because I'm used to knowing exactly when I'm going upside down on a coaster.

Another Report

THE ENTRANCE

One of the great things about RnR is that it does not intrude into Sunset Blvd. and more importantly, does not affect Tower of Terror at all.  You cannot even see the ride until you pass through the gates.  The actual coaster building looks just like the other soundstages - great job WDI!  Even the line audio cannot be heard outside the RnR footprint.  My early fears were that it would pollute ToT and the whole area - not so.

There is a real cool car hanging upside down from the gate - giving you an idea that things has inversions!  It also has an onboard sound system which contributes to the RnR area music that is heard in line.  It also has working headlights etc.

From the gate area you get a great, never seen before view of Tower of Terror straight on.  Cool.

THE LINE

This line could be HUGE!  The largest wait we had was 45 mins, and that wait occupied about 1 third of the area!  The line outside is mainly to the side of the building, and cannot be seen from the entrance gate.  If the whole line was used, some of it would be infront of the building.

The outside line is typical roped area, rock music playing (good stuff - nice volume), with overhead fans.  This line then moves to the side of the building (here there is outside AC - nice).  The line moves into the G Force Records Recording Studio Lobby.  This is cool.  There is a great room with current music posters (all Hollywood Records artists) - Jennifer Paige was the only one I recognized??  Cool lighting in here to.  Pass through some marble doors (you will remember these when you go thru!!! They are a whole new musical instrument of annoyance!)  From this room the line moves into the
main G Force reception area.  This area is surrounded with cool music recording gear from the past to present.  Old guitars, recording kit, speakers etc........  They also have some great records on display with cool labels, with references to the ride.

0-60
by The 3 Second Flats

I will have the full list on the Tech Details page.

In the lobby area there are 2 studios A and B.  You can hear the faint sounds of bands playing inside each room - cool effect.

The next step is into a holding area for the pre show.  Maybe 50 people in this area.  You hear "Walk This Way" by Aerosmith blasting from the Studio C Doors as they fling open.  On entry you find yourself in the Studio C recording studio - where you see Aerosmith mixing some tracks behind a mixing desk.  See the web site video.  This show is cool,  good story, well executed.

MAKE IT A STRETCH - MAKE IT A SUPER STRETCH!!!



THE LINE CONTINUES

From the studio, you move into the alley.  If you time this right, as you exit the studio you see one of the cars launch - and it is breath taking if you haven't seen it before!  Many people at this point start screaming and legging it back through the line to the exit!!! :-)

The line progresses to the load area.  The whole area is very well done - Disney detail all the way!!!  The area is themed after a parking garage for the studio, called Lock and Roll Parking.  The line extends under some scaffolding, supporting an old building.  There is nice neon lighting for a club across the alley.

At this point the line breaks into traditional coaster loading gates - one for each row - with a separate line for the front of the car.


THE RIDE

The car looks cool.  Its a blue caddi, complete with engine sound as it approaches the load area.  Seating is 2 across - 24 riders per train. 4 per car - 6 cars.  Each car has a cool license plate - 2 FAST 4 U etc

The seats in the car are real nice - very much like Space Mountain DL Paris. Great headrest - good back support - could sit in them all day long! :-)

Once in the car, the soundtrack begins as a live broadcast from the Aerosmith concert. The car leaves load and turns 90 degrees to the freeway tunnel entrance.  The car stops and waits for a light to turn from red to green.  There is a cool overhead LED sign giving launch instructions.  Like Pedal to the Metal - Rock n Roll - Your Late - Lets Go etc....

Depending on the car, 1 of 5 soundtracks begins to play - usually involves Steven Tyler counting down 5 4 3 2 1.  The light goes green then all hell breaks loose!  This launch is fast!  Imagine Tower of Terror straight along the floor!

0-56 in 2.8seconds.  You reach the top speed before the end of the straight. You then go straight into the first element - a double rollover - amazingly smooth!  You  hardly know you are upside down!  Great views on the way down. The music is kicking, the air is rushing - GREAT!  Turns and dips later, you hit the corkscrew - nice again - smooth, no head banging here.  Some nice audio synch at this point too.  As you pass through the coaster - signs of Hollywood light up as you go buy - nice touch.  They also create some nice head chopper moments!  After more turns, small drops you hit the break run into the tunnel.  Look up at this point, and you can see another car on track just exiting the first inversion - great view!

The music comes to a halt and you pull into the concert - red carpet waiting, you climb out and into the concert.  Here you see Aerosmith on a BIG screen.  From here you move into a cool gift shop.  Loads of great stuff to buy, and of course the on board photo!

The ride is great.  Definitely in the top 3 rides in Orlando.  It is a coaster that anyone can enjoy.  It is not intense like Hulk or Montu, but FUN!  LOADS OF FUN!  It would be a great first looping coaster for someone to try, and at the same time is great for experienced coaster riders.  The launch is fantastic, and the onboard audio makes so much difference.  BUT the main point of this ride is that there is a POINT to the ride.  Unlike most coasters , there is some reason to get on it to support a story.  Disney did a great job carrying the story through, and it doesn't get lost the second the ride begins.

We had some interesting rides where things were not quite right - no audio at all - audio restarting half way thru - but on the whole, the ride has been VERY reliable - nothing major wrong at all.  Good news.  We rode every day, and clocked up 38 rides.  I also tried every single seat, and found each to give a different ride experience.

Briefly-

FRONT - Great for the launch - it feels faster and does not level off in speed through the tunnel.  Not so good in the actual ride, runs slower and hangs slightly on inversions.

MIDDLE - Good compromise position.

REAR - Not so good in the launch as the speed levels off, but faster and smoother during the ride.

VERY BACK ROW - as above REAR, but rougher.

My favorite spot was car 5 - one from back.

Left and right seats vary the view and what you can see.

On board audio is cool.  I have the audio track lists on the site.  All good - have 2 -3 favs though.  Sound quality is great - but has been turned down since the CM previews - TURN IT BACK UP!!!!!!!!!!!

Wait times

Mornings - 10ish - line time around 10 mins.
Night Time - 9 -11pm - line time was max 45 mins.

The line moves fast - and they are getting faster as they get more efficient at load/unload.

Guest reaction seems great - haven't seen people as excited since ToT opened. There is a real buzz in the line, and the same people ride over and over.  Seems Disney have a real winner here!

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