Recent updates to Muppet*Vision 3D makes me all kinds of happy, but not for the obvious reasons – DePaoli on DeParks
Muppet*Vision 3D opened at Disney-MGM Studios (now Disney’s Hollywood Studios) on May 16, 1991. Recently, this now over 30 year old attraction got some unexpected and announced upgrades making its future look brighter.
As a fan of The Muppets myself, I always love to see improvements made to this attraction as that would seem to signal its staying power. Muppet*Vision 3D seems to always be rumored to being replaced. With its proximity to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, rumors really flew when the iconic Kermit hot air balloon was removed for sightline purposes.
It’s fate seemed even more limited when the recognizable attraction signage was replaced by what seemed like a marquee with easily changeable lettering. There was also the delight in renaming the area to Muppet Courtyard in 2016 only to quickly become part of Grand Avenue in 2017. Needless to say, more updates to the attraction makes Muppet fans more confident about its future.
Although that is all well and good, the thing that excites me most about the recent upgrades is that they were a pleasant surprise with no attraction downtime. On a recent visit to Walt Disney World, I took my seat inside the Muppet Theatre to enjoy this 4D spectacle, as any sane person would typically do on a visit to Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
I was with friends who are Orlando locals, and they were even shocked and delighted when the new and upgraded features began to materialize. The moment the computer-animated character Waldo multiplied and “flew” out into the theatre, the new animation was immediately recognized as a much higher picture quality.
I was also thrilled to see the fiber optic fireworks in the ceiling working once again after what seemed like decades of non-existence. Other updated and fixed features include a fog blast, attraction posters, and the Miss Piggy statue in the entry courtyard.
Perhaps the biggest upgrade the attraction received was new seats in the theatre. After years of water and bubble effects deteriorating the cloth seats, they have now been upgraded to a more resistant material.
In a world where it seems like every Disney update is leaked, it is refreshing to be surprised by some unexpected improvements. Let’s face it. These updates aren’t anything major worthy of a press announcement. But we all know social media posts about a relocated bench can sometimes become newsworthy.
We also know when attractions get updates and changes, that typically means they’ll be down for a period, meaning vacation goers could miss out on an attraction they were looking forward to. The fact that these updates were made piecemeal during hours when the park was closed is a big win for park guests. I hope to see updates handled in a similar fashion whenever possible.
I say, congratulations to Disney for keeping the secret. Thank you for the delightful updates. And thanks for keeping one of Jim Henson’s last projects alive at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
What do you think? Were you surprised by the recent updates? Are you one of the folks thrilled to see Muppet*Vision 3D sticking around? Leave a comment and let me know. Can we also just take a moment to recognize how bizarre the spelling of “Muppet*Vision 3D” truly is? I guess bizarre is fitting for The Muppets.
Jeff DePaoli is a producer and voiceover artist living in Los Angeles. He can be heard as the voice of Disney Trivia on Alexa as well as the host of “Dizney Coast to Coast,” the ultimate, unofficial Disney fan podcast. Get your FREE gifts of “America’s Hidden Mickeys,” “On the Rohde Again,” “Theme Park Comfort Kit” and more at DizneyCoastToCoast.com. DePaoli’s opinions are his own and do not necessarily represent Attractions Magazine.
