In theory, Rocket Rods were supposed to be a high-speed, high-thrill replacement for the PeopleMover. Themed like a funky, retro-tech mass transit system, the vehicles ran along a track that was built on top of the PeopleMover guide beam. The problem is that the PeopleMover was designed to travel at around 5mph, but the RocketRods hit speeds up to 30mph. There wasnt enough money to do the proper engineering or to properly rebuild sections of the track, so ride became a series of high-speed, head-banging accelerations whenever the track was straight, and a series of neck-twisting, seatbelt-in-the-chest brakes before all of the numerous curves. These stresses destroyed both the ride vehicles and the track within a few months.
But as the only new ride in the much-marketed New Tomorrowland, this attraction quickly developed huge lines every day (of course, the constant delayed openings and down time didnt help its hourly capacity any). Faced with a two hour wait for a five minute ride and numerous breakdowns, guest satisfaction was poor. The rides queue was in the old Circlevision theater the only know instance where Paul Pressler gutted a show building and did NOT turn it into a store. In the theater section, they showed old Wonderful World of Disney shorts from the 50s and 60s about the future of transportation. It was campy fun and one of the few places were they allowed Walt to be shown in the park. In total, the entire attraction had a thrown together from odds n ends feel to it that made the whole thing feel cheap.
It will be missed only because the Rocket Rods were the lone element to be built from the Tomorrowland 2055 concept, which was Disneylands last great gasp of creativity before the Shopping Mall Gang took over. In fact the entire New Tomorrowland disaster is seen as a precursor to the Disneys California Adventure affair. I just hope they pull the life support from DCA just as quickly as they did to Rocket Rods.