The unthinkable has finally happened. Disney has announced the closing date of MuppetVision 3D at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the last project Jim Henson worked on before his untimely death in 1990. The attraction, beloved by fans and celebrated for its charm and creativity, will officially shut its doors on June 7, 2025, to make way for a Monsters Inc.-themed land.
NEW: Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano will serve its last guests on May 10 and Muppet*Vision 3D and PizzeRizzo will have their last day of operations on June 7 as Disney starts work on the Monsters, Inc.-themed land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. pic.twitter.com/phD50i7IJZ
— Scott Gustin (@ScottGustin) January 24, 2025
In what can only be described as a devastating blow to Henson’s enduring legacy, Disney is bulldozing the Muppets’ iconic presence in favor of an unnecessary expansion no one asked for.
According to reports from Scott Gustin, the closure will also impact Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano and PizzeRizzo, with construction walls going up behind the Coca-Cola stand on June 8, blocking off the entire Muppets Courtyard. Mama Melrose will be the first experience to close, saying arrivederci to guests on May 10.
The announcement has sparked outrage among fans who see this as yet another example of Disney’s corporate greed and disregard for the creative magic that built the company.
A screenshot of Jim Henson’s Muppet*Vision 3D at Disney’s Hollywood Studios via DocumentDisney YouTUbe
MuppetVision 3D is more than an attraction; it’s a historical treasure. It represents the final time Jim Henson performed as Kermit the Frog and showcases his unmatched talent and creativity. The attraction features a brilliant pre-show, Statler and Waldorf’s timeless humor, and the kind of heart that modern Disney seems incapable of replicating. Yet, none of that matters to Disney’s Parks and Experiences leadership, led by Josh D’Amaro, who seems intent on sacrificing Henson’s work for a flashy but soulless Monsters Inc. project.
The tragedy is compounded by Disney’s refusal to utilize other, less impactful areas of the park for this expansion. The Animation Courtyard, home to the defunct Star Wars Launch Bay and a largely unused Disney Junior theater, could easily have accommodated the Monsters Inc. land without erasing a piece of Disney and Muppet history. However, rumors suggest that Disney executives nixed this option to protect their nearby offices. So, to preserve their cushy workspaces, Henson’s masterpiece must be destroyed.
A screenshot of Jim Henson’s Muppet*Vision 3D at Disney’s Hollywood Studios via DocumentDisney YouTube
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Adding insult to injury, Disney’s solution to the Muppets’ erasure is to slap their modern, lifeless versions onto Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster. The overlay, featuring what Disney calls “the first-ever Muppets ride,” will star the uninspired new versions of Kermit, Miss Piggy, and the gang—versions that have alienated longtime fans.
This move feels like a cheap ploy to placate Muppet lovers while steering the franchise further into mediocrity.
Disney’s handling of the Muppets has been nothing short of disastrous. Frank Oz, Henson’s longtime collaborator and the voice behind beloved characters like Miss Piggy and Fozzie Bear, has publicly criticized the company for its lack of understanding and respect for the Muppets. After pushing Oz out and firing Steve Whitmire—Henson’s chosen successor as Kermit—Disney replaced them with performers whose lackluster renditions have left fans cold.
A screenshot of Jim Henson’s Muppet*Vision 3D at Disney’s Hollywood Studios via DocumentDisney YouTube
The decision to replace MuppetVision 3D with a Monsters Inc. land feels out of touch with guest demand. While the Monsters Inc. franchise is popular, it hardly has the cultural significance or fanbase to warrant such a massive overhaul. Guests have long clamored for Disney to expand underutilized areas of the park, such as the Animation Courtyard, rather than destroy existing attractions. Yet Disney seems determined to prioritize short-term profits over long-term value.
The new land promises a suspended coaster inspired by the door vault scene from Monsters, Inc. and additional dining and shopping experiences. However, given Disney’s recent track record with underwhelming attractions and cut corners, there’s little confidence that this will be a worthwhile replacement for what fans are losing.
Concept Art for the Monsters Inc. Land that’s replacing MuppetVision 3D – Disney Parks Blog
The closure of MuppetVision 3D is not just the end of an attraction; it’s a heartbreaking erasure of Jim Henson’s legacy. Disney’s choice to prioritize a Monsters Inc. expansion over preserving the Muppets’ historic home in Hollywood Studios is a slap in the face to fans and a sad reflection of the company’s current priorities. While Disney claims to honor its heritage, actions like this reveal a corporate machine that values profits over the creative spirit that once defined it.
Jim Henson once said, “Life’s like a movie. Write your own ending.” Sadly, Disney has chosen to rewrite the ending of MuppetVision 3D—and it’s a tragedy.
How do you feel about Disney officially setting the day that MuppetVision 3D will close forever? Sound off in the comments and let us know.
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No offense, but I think the Muppet’s time has passed too. I don’t watch “the Bozo Show” on WGN anymore either and really wouldn’t want that resuscitated either. I get that this is an apple/ banana argument but some entertainment is perfectly fine left to the era that produced it. I’m just dumbfounded that nothing of value has been produced for the last decade +, that will define this era in the future. What will people look back on? And era of endless horrible derivative copies of the talented works produced before now. Nothing of origin will stand the test of time, mainstream, at least.
Better to remove it entirely rather than put it in the hands of the woke and let them use it to “educate” children about sexuality. I think they already had garbage like that in Muppet stuff?