“Saying goodbye, why is it sad? Makes us remember the good times we had. Much more to say, foolish to try. It’s time for saying goodbye.” This line, sung by the late Richard Hunt in Muppets Take Manhattan accurately depicts the mood of hundreds of fans who flocked to Disney’s Hollywood Studios for the closing day of MuppetVision 3D, the final work of legendary Muppet Creator Jim Henson.
It was a showing of genuine love and heartfelt passion in the face of Disney’s cold corporate decision to shutter the classic attraction forever in favor of a Monsters Inc. themed land.
On June 7, 2025, MuppetVision 3D played its final performance at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. And while Disney executives may be moving on, the fans certainly haven’t. In a genuine display of love and support, hundreds of guests packed the extended queues and overflow areas to show their love for the final work of a great man.
The show, originally created by Jim Henson himself and one of the last projects he ever worked on, has long stood as a comedic tribute to the beloved Muppets, a perfect encapsulation of the heart, creativity, and magic that defined not only The Muppets, but Henson’s life itself.
A screenshot of Jim Henson’s Muppet*Vision 3D at Disney’s Hollywood Studios via DocumentDisney YouTUbe
On its closing day, MuppetVision 3D became a symbol of something else: a growing divide between Disney’s decision-makers and the people who actually attend their parks.
Fans Show Up While Disney Checks Out
Lines wrapped far outside the theater entrance. Some guests waited multiple hours just to squeeze in one last viewing. Every show was filled with cheers, laughter, applause, and even tears. This wasn’t just another day at the park—it was a farewell to one of the few remaining vestiges of Disney’s creative golden age.
The line for MuppetVision 3D on its closing day extends into Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge – YouTube, Park Hoppin
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Guests weren’t just lining up for the show. The MuppetVision 3D pressed penny machines, recently relocated to Grand Ave, were also swarmed by fans hoping to grab a cheap but meaningful piece of the experience before it disappeared.
PhotoPass photographers were stationed in front of the Miss Piggy fountain for final goodbye pictures.
Even the Pizza Got Pulled Early
June 7th also marked the final day for PizzeRizzo, the Muppets-themed quick-service restaurant that sits just steps from the theater. But instead of staying open into the evening to feed the unusually large crowds, Disney shut the restaurant’s doors at 5 p.m.—before the dinner rush even began.
The doors to PizzeRizzo, closed FOREVER. #MuppetVision3D pic.twitter.com/ZU4LhasLbQ
— LaughingPlace.com (@laughing_place) June 8, 2025
Guests hoping for one last slice with Rizzo were left with nothing but locked doors and another example of how hastily and coldly this change was handled.
The Animation Courtyard Problem
If you’re wondering what’s replacing MuppetVision 3D, it’s a Monsters Inc.-themed coaster rumored to be a thrill ride aimed at young families. And while that might sound appealing on paper, the way this shift is happening says more about Disney’s priorities than their marketing will admit.
Voyage of the Little Mermaid via DFBGuide YouTube
The real kicker? The Voyage of the Little Mermaid, a stage show that hasn’t been relevant since the Bush administration (the first one!), recently reopened in the Animation Courtyard. Yes, that’s right—Disney is removing a fan-favorite Muppet experience and bringing back a show that hasn’t moved the needle since before Y2K.
The same courtyard still houses Star Wars Launch Bay, a hollow shell with no purpose now that Galaxy’s Edge exists, and the former home of Disney Jr. Live on Stage, which now gets trotted out for occasional toddler dance parties.
Meanwhile, MuppetVision 3D—still pulling crowds with historical significance—is shuttered.
Park Hoppin’ Captures the Crowd
Our friends at Park Hoppin’ were on-site to document the entire day live, and their footage captured a sight that speaks volumes.
The MuppetVision 3D queue stretched so far back, it reached all the way into Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge, winding through the overflow area typically used for Rise of the Resistance. It’s a moment that would have been unthinkable just a few years ago.
Meanwhile, LaughingPlace.com reported the show’s wait times exceeded those of Rise of the Resistance—a staggering reversal that underscores how many guests showed up to honor a classic being quietly erased.
Perhaps the only time this has ever happened – #MuppetVision3D currently has a longer line than Rise of the Resistance! pic.twitter.com/hcyxFUCFNp
— LaughingPlace.com (@laughing_place) June 8, 2025
It was the first and only time MuppetVision 3D outdrew the park’s marquee attraction.
A Legacy Discarded
MuppetVision 3D wasn’t just a 4D show with a few gags. It was a tribute to Jim Henson, a piece of history, and one of the few attractions left that felt like it was made with heart, not algorithms. It deserved better. The fans knew it. The crowds proved it. But Disney, clearly, didn’t care.
They reopened the wrong show. They preserved the wrong buildings. And they gave up on something people still wanted.
And the doors to #MuppetVision3D have closed for the final time. 💔 pic.twitter.com/uqStPfrivz
— LaughingPlace.com (@laughing_place) June 8, 2025
The Muppets may be gone from this corner of the park, but based on what we saw June 7th, they’re far from forgotten. Disney will, of course, be doing a Muppet overlay of Rockin’ Rollercoaster in 2026, but it won’t be the same. MuppetVision 3D had Jim Henson, Jerry Nelson, and Richard Hunt, all of whom have since passed away. It also featured Henson’s chosen Kermit successor Steve Whitmire and Jim’s good friend and right hand man Frank Oz, both of whom have been ousted from The Muppets by Disney for pushing back against creative decisions.
And as they said in The Muppets Take Manhattan: “Somehow I know we’ll meet again. Not sure quiet where and I don’t know just when. You’re in my heart so until then, it’s time for saying goodbye.”
How do you feel about the closing day of MuppetVision 3D? Sound off in the comments and let us know!
So, I like to travel. Have to work in Chicago all week and decided to see the new (2023) art museum on Notre Dame’s campus, beforehand. I’m not Catholic, but I grew up with Christian values.
The only reason I bring the school up is that I learned today that actual name is Notre Dame du Lac. Which translates to “Our Lady of the Lake(s).
So, Notre Dame, is literally “Our Lady”, in French. Maybe a’ whole mess of you knew that already,… but I did not.