First Look: Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Muppets Preshow Features Scooter Animatronic and Penguin Engineers

Disney has released the first official images of the preshow for Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets, and it’s everything fans have been hoping for. We’re talking about the first-ever Audio-Animatronic figure of Scooter, penguin audio engineers at the G-Force Records mixing desk, and a preshow setting that genuinely looks like a working music studio — Muppet style. Annual Passholder previews begin May 21, with the public opening on May 26.

Quick Summary

• Disney revealed the first look at the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets preshow
• The preshow features the first-ever Audio-Animatronic of Scooter, built using motion-capture from the real Muppet
• Scooter appears at a desk inside G-Force Records, wearing his signature embroidered jacket and holding a clipboard
• Two penguin audio engineers in headphones are at the mixing desk
• Annual Passholders get first access on May 21; DVC Members on May 24; general public on May 26

The Scooter Animatronic: A First in Disney History

This is genuinely a milestone. The Scooter Audio-Animatronic is the first figure of this character ever created for a Disney attraction. What makes it especially impressive is how it was built: Walt Disney Imagineering used motion-capture technology recorded directly from the actual Scooter Muppet.

By tracking Scooter’s real-world performance — the way he moves, the way he expresses himself — Imagineering was able to program the figure to replicate those movements and expressions with precision. The result isn’t a guess at how Scooter acts. It’s a physical recreation of how Scooter actually performs.

The finished figure shows Scooter at a desk inside G-Force Records, wearing his signature jacket with “Scooter” embroidered on the chest and holding a clipboard. Guitars hang on the wall behind him alongside recording studio equipment and a lava lamp. It looks exactly like a working Muppet music studio should.

The Penguin Audio Engineers

Scooter isn’t working alone. Two penguin audio engineers, both wearing headphones, are stationed at the G-Force Records mixing desk. They’re part of the preshow environment and add to the feeling that this isn’t just a backdrop — it’s a fully realized recording studio scene.

The penguins are a classic Muppet touch. They’ve been part of the Muppets world for decades, and seeing them integrated into the ride’s story as legitimate audio professionals is exactly the kind of detail that makes this retheme feel authentic rather than slapped together.

Preview and Opening Schedule

• May 21: Annual Passholder previews begin
• May 24: DVC Member priority access
• May 26: Public opening — Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets opens to all guests

If you’re an Annual Passholder or DVC Member, you’re getting first access. The preshow will be fully operational for both preview groups, so you won’t be seeing an incomplete version — this is the real thing from day one.

What to Expect When You Visit

The preshow takes place inside the G-Force Records studio setting. Before boarding, guests will encounter the Scooter animatronic and the penguin engineers in the context of setting up for the big show. It’s designed to pull you into the Muppets world before the coaster even launches.

The ride itself features new blue vehicles, a new on-ride soundtrack, and the full Muppets overlay throughout. The preshow is just the beginning — the experience continues through the queue, the boarding area, and the ride itself.

Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets opens May 26 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Annual Passholders get first dibs on May 21 — will you be there for the opening?

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Meet the Author: Nate Bishop

I’m a die-hard Disney fan with 38 years of visits under my belt, having stepped into Disney World 120+ times. Proud to be a Disney Annual Passholder, a Vacation Club member since ’92, a Castaway Club Member, and a runDisney enthusiast. Oh, and I’ve graduated from the Disney College of Knowledge. Need Disney insights or planning tips? I’m your guy!