Disney to CLOSE Classic Attraction MuppetVision 3D

Theme Parks

Walt Disney World has announced the closing of MuppetVision 3D at Disney Hollywood Studios to make room for Monsters Inc. Land. This follows the announcement of a Monsters Inc. Land at Disney’s fan event, D23, this past August. Speculation ran wild amongst the theme park fandom about the new land’s placement in Hollywood Studios. Many fans dreaded it would replace the Muppets Courtyard, home to MuppetVision 3D. Disney Parks Blog settled all speculation on November 11th, 2024, with a blog post announcing the iconic Pixar film would take over the Muppets at Hollywood Studios.

Fortunately, Disney understands the passion fans have for the Muppets and revealed that they are going to be relocated to Rock ‘N’ Roller Coaster, which is themed to the American rock band Aerosmith. Once the Muppets find their new home, the roller coaster attraction will get re-themed with the Muppets rock band Electric Mayhem.

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Disney also expressed concern about the value and significance of the MuppetVision 3D film. In the Disney Parks Blog, Disney said that they will work to preserve it for fans and future generations to enjoy. It remains to be seen if that film will be available at the parks. MuppetVision 3D premiered at Disney Hollywood Studios in 1991 – when it was called MGM Studios – as a 3D film that works in conjunction with 4D effects like live audio-animatronics and other physical special effects.

Fan reaction to this announcement is mixed. Many Muppets fans say it destroys beloved Muppets history since MuppetVision 3D was the last Muppets project creator Jim Henson worked on. Others welcome Monsters Inc. Land, as that’s a fan-favorite Pixar franchise overdue for its own land, but are still saddened to see the Muppets go. There are also concerns among fans that the Muppets taking over a roller coaster seems like an odd choice, as some kids won’t be able to enjoy the attraction due to the ride’s intensity. It all seems like an afterthought by Disney and not careful, calculated planning based on guest enjoyment. Instead, Disney is more concerned with catching up to other theme parks like Universal Studios in their IP placements (which are much better thought out, for the most part).

Disney is no longer taking big risks in terms of innovation, original rides, or actual expansion. Instead, they’re taking easier, lazier risks by just re-theming areas with IP placeholder lands or attractions. This, in turn, has destroyed classic, more innovative attractions. It began with Splash Mountain when it closed at both East and West Coast Disney resorts and changed to Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, a ride that has more breakdowns than any current Disney Parks attraction. Also announced was the closing of Rivers of America at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom for a Cars Land expansion, possibly the most controversial change since Splash Mountain. Rivers of America represents the American idealism and sense of adventure Walt believed in, and people love about his parks.

The biggest slap in the face with Disney’s Muppet removal is the theatre will still be there.. just rethemed. Awful. https://t.co/Qlmr48E3UD

— Savethemagic (@Savethedmagic) November 22, 2024

When Monsters Inc. Land opens, it will replace all of Muppets Courtyard and transport guests to Monstropolis, the iconic monster city location from the Pixar film. There, it will be home to Disney’s first suspended coaster. The coaster will recreate the chase scene in Monsters Inc., where the characters swing from door to door in a door vault warehouse.

In the meantime, Disney theme park fans hope the Rivers of America closing announcement is overturned, as that may be the last straw for many. Disney encourages fans to visit MuppetVision 3D and Rock ‘N’ Roller Coaster one last time before their changes. I know I’ll be going and taking as many videos and photos of these beloved attractions as I can. Disney has forgotten how to be the leader of innovation, originality, and magic in theme parks. Meanwhile, Universal Studios is doing what Disney should be doing: building a NEW theme park – in this case, Universal’s Epic Universe, opening in 2025, which includes all-new IP attractions they want at their parks without destroying their classic ones.

Let us know what you think of Disney closing MuppetVision 3D in the comments!

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