There’s “Muppet Mayhem” at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
The crowd erupted in cheers when Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D’Amaro took the stage at this summer’s D23, the Ultimate Disney Fan Event, to announce a new land themed to Disney and Pixar’s “Monsters, Inc.” was coming to Hollywood Studios.
As soon as the cheers subsided, however, the questions started rolling in. Sure, it was exciting to find out Mike, Sulley and their Monstropolis friends are getting their own land, but where would the land go? And what would we lose to make way for such a land?
One attraction that longtime Disney fans were immediately worried might be on the chopping block is Muppet*Vision 3D, a 3D movie featuring favorite Muppet characters. It’s the only attraction in the park’s Muppet Courtyard area, a spot that, while popular among Muppets fans, hasn’t received much love in recent years.
On Friday, Disney confirmed that the Muppets are, in fact, moving out of their home in Hollywood Studios’ Muppets Courtyard to make way for the recently announced “Monsters, Inc.” land.
In a Disney Parks Blog, Disney shared that the “Monsters, Inc.” land is being added to the “south side of Disney’s Hollywood Studios” and that they are having “creative conversations and exploring ways to preserve the film and other parts of the experience for fans to enjoy in the future.”
This is basically the nicest way they could say that Muppet Courtyard, and Muppet*Vision 3D, is shutting down to make way for Monstropolis. It’s a tough blow for fans of both the attraction and the visionary creator of the Muppets, Jim Henson. Muppet*Vision 3D was one of the final projects Henson worked on, though he died in 1990 before the attraction made its official debut on May 16, 1991, the first anniversary of Henson’s death.
There aren’t many details yet on the new land, but Disney did reveal at D23 that it will be home to the first-ever suspended coaster in a Disney park. The coaster will take riders through the door warehouse, just like in the original “Monsters, Inc.” film. Guests will also be able to visit the laugh factory that powers the city and meet their favorite cuddly characters.
Work on the “Monsters, Inc.”-themed land is slated to begin in 2025.
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But it’s not all bad news for Muppet lovers.
As part of the announcement, Disney also shared that “Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, and more of their friends will be moving right along to Sunset Boulevard” and taking over Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster.
The ride’s current theme features music and a storyline based on Aerosmith, a band that was popular among older generations but that my children have never heard of. They are quite familiar with the Muppets, and I, for one, think this is a change for the better.
With the Muppets on board, the ride will now feature the Muppets “teaming up with some of music’s biggest stars for a rockin’ music festival!” (Maybe we can’t count Aerosmith out just yet!) Disney assured guests that there is still time to experience Muppet*Vision 3D and Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster before they close.
Regardless, this re-theme will breathe new life into Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster as well as Muppet Courtyard (may she rest in peace). Losing Muppet*Vision 3D is hard. It’s one of the park’s longest-running attractions and has meaning beyond just being a silly 3D movie.
But this change also means Hollywood Studios will be home to the first ever Muppets-themed roller coaster and the first suspended coaster in a Disney park. We aren’t losing the Muppets, they are just getting a new – more thrilling – home.
Stay tuned for future updates as we learn more about when these new attractions will open.
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