Disney Confirms Fan Fears: Muppet Vision 3D Is Closing — but Its Beloved Stars Are Getting a New Gig

The Disney Studio Muppets are preparing for their final bow.

Disney announced on Friday, November 22 that one of its most beloved attractions, Jim Henson’s Muppet*Vision 3D, will close to make way for a new Monsters Inc.– thematic land.

Fans of the long-running series, which debuted in 1991, were understandably devastated by the news, which had been rumored for months, while park watchers speculated about which areas of Disney’s Hollywood Studios were ripe for re-themed after Monsters Inc. announcement in August.

“This is not going to sit well with people,” one Instagram commenter predicted. Another simply added, “Not cool.”

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Several pointed out the important legacy of the ride, which was the last project Muppet creator Jim Henson worked on before he died. “Goodbye to the oldest and last thing the great Jim Henson brilliantly built with his own hands,” read one comment.

However, the Muppets are not leaving the park in Orlando.

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Instead, Disney revealed, they’re getting a new gig as the stars of Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster with a new theme. Kermit, Miss Piggy and the gang will “team up with some of music’s biggest stars for a rockin’ music festival!” according to the official Disney Parks Blog.

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The thrill ride is currently hosted by – and features music from – Aerosmith, as it has been since it opened in 1999. It was recently closed for renovations from January to June 2024, but has reopened looking much the same.

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“We know many of you share our love of The Muppets, and we know their energy will be a perfect match for this coaster,” the Parks blog post continued. “Plus, since it’s the first Disney ride ever to feature The Muppets, there’s sure to be laughs, screams and new tunes for this attraction that fans can enjoy throughout the adventure and plenty of Muppet-themed merchandise on Sunset Boulevard!”

Disney did not reveal a closing date for Muppet*Vision, but said there is “plenty of time” left to see the show one last time. It will most likely be in 2025, as the company previously shared this summer that it was working on a new one Monsters Inc. of land “is scheduled to begin next year.”

The fate of the other occupants of the area currently known as the Animation Courtyard, where Muppet*Vision is located, including Mama Melrose and Pizza Rizzo, has not been addressed by the blog.

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Disney was the first to announce Monsters Inc. at its annual D23 conference on August 10.

Billy Crystal, who voiced Mike Wazowski in the Pixar animated film, appeared on stage to share the news, including that it will allow people to “walk the streets with some of your favorite monsters” and include a new hanging coaster (a Disney first) which travels through the magical door factory shown in the film.

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At the same event, Disney also revealed a host of new lands and attractions coming to its parks over the next decade, including the long-rumored Villains-themed land in the Magic Kingdom, Indiana Jones driving and an Encanto to ride in the Animal Kingdom, among other things.

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education