Walt Disney World has introduced Monsters, Inc. is changing MuppetVision 3D. Unsurprisingly, there’s been an enormous fan backlash to this information {that a} theme park traditional and the capstone of Jim Henson’s profession will go extinct…or will it?! Each Disney and the Henson corporations have supplied statements prompt that MuppetVision will, in reality, reside on in some capability. (Up to date January 26, 2025.)
To rapidly carry you up to the mark, Walt Disney World has introduced that they’ll be opening ‘new doorways’ for Muppets and Monsters at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. On a constructive be aware, this means the Muppets taking up Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster and changing Aerosmith.
It additionally means MuppetVision 3D closing to make means for the Monsters, Inc. Doorways Coaster and Monstropolis. For the reason that unique announcement, Walt Disney World has adopted up with phased closure dates for MuppetVision and the eating places in Grand Avenue, which is able to all shut by June 8, 2025.
Nonetheless, there are causes to stay cautiously optimistic, as Walt Disney World additionally stated this in its unique announcement: “As we transfer ahead with these modifications, we’re having artistic conversations and exploring methods to protect the movie and different elements of the expertise for followers to get pleasure from sooner or later.”
Shortly thereafter, the Jim Henson Firm launched a press release that they have been trying ahead to the “subsequent act” of MuppetVision 3D. Whereas considerably reassuring, it’s price noting that the Henson Firm has no management over the way forward for MuppetVision, until Disney affords them the present they usually discover someplace to point out it….which appears unlikely.
With the announcement of the time limit, there was no additional clarification as to what, precisely, this implies. As a result of preserving the movie and different elements of the expertise may be very ambiguous, and could possibly be an excellent factor…or a really underwhelming factor. Our greatest guess is that it skews in the direction of the latter. Disney seemingly would’ve introduced its intentions together with the closure date if there was an precise plan, and it have been one that will blunt the blow of the upcoming attraction closure.
So let’s discover potentialities for a possible preservation or relocation of MuppetVision 3D, each inside Walt Disney World and past…
Muppets Miniland (Disney’s Hollywood Studios)
No good thought in Imagineering ever dies. That’s one thing I inform myself every time I examine superb unbuilt attraction ideas. That sentiment can also be, every now and then, true. This very undertaking is proof constructive of that, because the Monsters, Inc. Doorways Coaster is a undertaking that was developed shortly after the primary movie got here out, and the rumor of it taking place has swirled in fan circles for (actually) 20 years.
Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster Starring the Muppets might set the stage for the partial realization of the Muppets Studio land idea from the Nineteen Nineties, again when Disney was on the precipice of buying the Henson Firm. The land was presupposed to characteristic not simply MuppetVision 3D, but additionally a Nice Muppet Film Experience, plus two eating places: “The Nice Gonzo’s Pandemonium Pizza Parlor” and “Swedish Chef’s Cooking Faculty.”
Clearly, MuppetVision 3D got here to fruition (that’s why this submit exists), and so too did the eating places, albeit as Mama Melrose and what’s now PizzeRizzo (so in a roundabout means, that restaurant reimagining from a number of years in the past was an instance of a good suggestion by no means dying). The Nice Muppet Film Experience was presupposed to be the anchor of the land, taking up the Backlot Theater area, and that didn’t occur in any kind.
This Muppets miniland might nonetheless occur, albeit in very totally different kind. Shifting the Muppets to the again nook of Sundown Boulevard has numerous potential. Remodeling the doorway and queue to Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster might open up this space, which could possibly be a bona fide Muppets Studio land. Sundown Showcase could possibly be changed with one other Muppets attraction as soon as the Villains Magic Mirror Present is completed, and there’s most likely additionally area for a restaurant, if wanted.
On the very least, it could possibly be a cohesive land, versus what it at present is. Sundown Showcase feels tacked on, prefer it isn’t actually a part of the park. That’ll stay true as soon as Villains Unfairly Ever After opens. This was all the time one of many large impediments to Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy discovering extra of an viewers–it felt such as you have been leaving Sundown Boulevard and getting into this makeshift space and venue.
Clearly, the obstacle to that is that Villains Unfairly Ever After was simply introduced and has but to even open. It’d be not like Disney to switch one thing that’s nonetheless new, and even announce its alternative. That is already one of many tentpoles for Walt Disney World’s 2025 advertising and marketing marketing campaign (though the competitors isn’t precisely fierce).
Nonetheless, as we’ve stated from the day Villains Unhappily Ever After was introduced, we view it as an interim present. It’s seemingly that Disney needs to do in-park market analysis on villains, whereas additionally liberating up that Lightning McQueen AA for Automobiles Land in Magic Kingdom. As soon as Villains Land opens in ~2030, it’s unlikely that Villains Unhappily Ever After has a lot of a future. It most likely has a ~5 12 months shelf life, much like Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy.
The probabilities of Walt Disney World shifting MuppetVision to Sundown Showcase a couple of years after the earlier model of the attraction closes however appear unlikely. The cloud of concern can have lengthy since handed. Since Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster Starring the Muppets is additionally most likely a shorter-term overlay, they’ll face the identical downside in one other decade or so, with one other wave of offended Muppets followers. From Disney’s perspective (not mine), it’s most likely higher to tear the band-aid off suddenly.
From a fan perspective, a Muppets miniland at this awkward dead-end of Sundown Boulevard is the absolute best lifelike answer. It’s believable, kills a number of birds with one stone, and makes Disney’s Hollywood Studios a greater and extra cohesive park. It is usually the least more likely to occur. Walt Disney World can be incurring appreciable expense for a decades-old 3D movie, and in an space of the park that’s ripe for future redevelopment within the mid-2030s.
Mickey Shorts Theater (Disney’s Hollywood Studios)
A extra lifelike residence for MuppetVision is simply across the nook within the Mickey Shorts Theater, which is at present residence to the “Trip Enjoyable” animated Mickey Mouse quick (therefore the identify) and a few picture ops (together with fan-favorite Potatoland).
This area isn’t as giant because the theater that homes MuppetVision 3D, however it could possibly be transformed pretty simply to accommodate a revamped and scaled-down model of MuppetVision. You’d seemingly lose some in-theater destruction and Statler & Waldorf, however it’s workable. It might even run in rotation with “Trip Enjoyable,” much like what the France pavilion does.
The obstacle to this, except for price (which applies to actually all of those), is that Mickey Shorts Theater is far newer than MuppetVision. It was made as a counterpart to Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, so it’s solely been round for 4 years. Additionally, it fills a worthwhile position as simple, air-conditioned family-friendly enjoyable at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, which is uncommon.
Truthfully, if we’re opening the door to varied theaters which are disconnected from Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster, we would as properly develop our search past Disney’s Hollywood Studios. There’s a minimum of one higher candidate…
Disney & Pixar Quick Movie Pageant (EPCOT)
So far as versatile theater areas go for a modified MuppetVision, the Disney & Pixar Quick Movie Pageant is the splendid choice. It’s one in every of our lowest ranked sights in all of Walt Disney World, barely outperforming Star Wars Launch Bay (hmmm).
This isn’t essentially as a result of it’s dangerous; it’s as a result of these are cartoon shorts that you can watch on Disney+ proven in a 3D theater with results thrown into the combination. The shorts are pleasant…when considered at residence. Within the park, they’re nothing particular. And this “attraction,” regardless that a lot newer than MuppetVision, has lengthy outlived its shelf life.
We initially thought it was an interim movie as soon as Captain EO ended its second run however earlier than the Journey into Creativeness reimagining. We clearly thought unsuitable, as a result of that was almost a decade in the past. With seemingly nothing else on the horizon at EPCOT, MuppetVision might give the park a little bit of a spark with followers…type of how Captain EO’s reprisal did beforehand!
Talking of Journey into Creativeness, it’s one of many causes that MuppetVision can be good for the Magic Eye Theater. Armchair Imagineers speak about how Inside Out and different IPs can be enhances to Figment. However actually, the perfect match can be the Muppets. The imaginative legacy of Jim Henson is ideal for the Creativeness pavilion.
Monsters Snort Ground (Magic Kingdom)
With Monstropolis coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the Monsters, Inc. Snort Ground in Tomorrowland turns into redundant. I’m undecided how the Muppets go as futuristic, however then once more, the identical could possibly be stated for Monsters, Inc. I’m certain Imagineers might concoct backstory or a framing machine that passes muster.
On second thought…depart Monsters, Inc. Snort Ground in Tomorrowland (as a result of who cares if franchises are represented in multiple park–see additionally, Toy Story, Discovering Nemo, and so forth) and use that framing machine to clarify how Muppets have been invited to the Monster World to inform their jokes and energy Monstropolis or no matter.
There’s no probability of MuppetVision shifting to Tomorrowland. This was simply an excuse to current that pivot.
Corridor of Presidents (Magic Kingdom)
There have been rumors and hypothesis for years in regards to the Muppets Presenting Corridor of Presidents. Perhaps that would lastly occur, and moreover, MuppetVision could possibly be introduced in a rotation–much like how Disneyland will quickly run “Nice Moments with Mr. Lincoln” and likewise “Walt Disney – A Magical Life.”
As I’ve stated earlier than, I’m not advocating for a Corridor of Presidents alternative. I believe it’s an important attraction. However I additionally suspect that the writing is on the wall, and it gained’t exist a decade from now. If that’s the truth of its future, I’d fortunately take a Muppetified model of the attraction versus rolling the cube on a Nationwide Treasure: Ebook of Secrets and techniques 3D movie or no matter random idea they select to ultimately substitute Corridor of Presidents.
Once more, this one isn’t taking place. Corridor of Presidents might be changed sooner or later, however it’s most likely secure for a minimum of the following 4-8 years.
Hollywood Backlot (Disney California Journey)
MuppetVision was as soon as proven at Disney California Journey, however was changed by Mickey’s PhilharMagic a while in the past with none fanfare. (In hindsight, possibly there ought to’ve been extra fanfare…however I believe most followers figured that so long as the OG MuppetVision remained, all was wonderful.)
MuppetVision could possibly be restored at Disneyland Resort, however I view this as unlikely. Mickey’s PhilharMagic has extra mainstream attraction and is newer. Not solely that, however we nonetheless don’t know the place, precisely, Pandora goes (most likely on this space!) or what parts of the present Hollywood Land it’ll eat up if it does go right here.
Academy Museum (Los Angeles)
There are a handful of museums in California the place MuppetVision might land. Certainly one of these is the brand new Academy Museum in Los Angeles, which has a Jim Henson exhibit. One other is the Lucas Museum of Narrative Artwork. Eventually, there ought to most likely be a Jim Henson Museum.
All of those choices additionally appear unlikely, until MuppetVision have been to be introduced in film-only kind. Though an affordable attraction by Walt Disney World requirements, the operational and maintenance bills for MuppetVision would seemingly make it cost-prohibitive for the common museum. Even a well-endowed one backed by George Lucas or Hollywood energy gamers.
With that stated, there are a ton of celebrities who’re diehard Muppets followers and have self-importance tasks all through Southern California and past. Perhaps one in every of them might save MuppetVision and function it at a loss for enjoyable! (Don’t snicker…there’s an entire documentary about how Trey Parker and Matt Stone blew over $40 million on a restaurant.)
Disney+ (Streaming Service)
In our coronary heart of hearts, everyone knows that is the place MuppetVision is ending up. It gained’t be 3D and it gained’t characteristic the in-theater results and all the things else, however it’ll be the movie and pre-show as a bonus characteristic. Perhaps they’ll even file a digital actuality model that places viewers at residence again contained in the Muppet Theater. That might approximate the expertise of being there much better than a easy Disney+ recording might.
I hate to be a debbie downer, however I believe that is the almost certainly and lifelike best-case state of affairs. Followers may suppose that preserving “different elements of the expertise” means one thing extra than simply customary 2D supply video of the movie itself. And hopefully they’re proper. However it might additionally imply saving props from the queue, the Audio Animatronics for Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster, or who is aware of what else.
It doesn’t harm to hope for extra or demand extra from Disney, however I believe recording and preserving the expertise as an immersive or digital actuality expertise might be the perfect we are able to really anticipate. Truthfully, this is able to be so significantly better than most extinct sights. It will even be greater than Disney usually releases–we all know there’s high-quality footage of many lengthy misplaced rides and reveals, however the firm declines to launch them. I’m not saying we should always accept this destiny with MuppetVision–we shouldn’t. However we must also take some quantity of solace within the probability that MuppetVision will most likely be preserved and accessible lengthy after it goes extinct.
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YOUR THOUGHTS
Do you suppose MuppetVision 3D might be relocated inside Walt Disney World? Assume it’ll find yourself changing one other theater present? Or do you anticipate it to go some other place totally outdoors the parks? Are you upset in regards to the Muppets changing Aerosmith, Monsters changing MuppetVision, each or neither? Do you agree or disagree with our assessments? Any questions we may also help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even whenever you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!
