The closure of Muppet*Vision 3D gives me hope for the future of the Muppets | Opinion
Is there a silver lining to Muppet*Vision 3D closing at Disney World, and could the next generation of Muppet fans be upon us?
In November of this year, the hearts of Muppet fans across the world shattered. Disney announced the closure of Muppet*Vision 3D, along with the entire Muppets Courtyard, at Walt Disney World near Orlando, Fla. My heart ached, wondering if there was anything fans could’ve done to save the long-running Disney’s Hollywood Studios attraction. Did we need to join together and host a telethon with Jack Black? Would that be too repetitive? After the initial shock, the pain has not worn off, but I think I’ve made peace with it. In fact, Muppet*Vision 3D closing (and subsequently, the Muppets starring in a new version of Disney World’s Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster) might be for the best.
Once upon a time in 2011
A little bit of backstory so you know where I’m coming from. In 2011, “The Muppets” was released in theaters. I, then nine years old, had zero interest in seeing “the puppet movie.” I believe my mother took us to see it just to get me out of the house. An hour and 43 minutes later, I was a completely new person. I saw the movie three times during its theatrical run, the first time I had ever seen something more than once in a movie theater. I couldn’t explain to you what that movie meant to me because I’m not so sure I understood it myself at the time.
Image courtesy of Disney
Looking back, I think it makes sense why I felt such a connection to “The Muppets.” A big group of friends, dry humor, musical numbers … it was everything I wanted to be a part of at nine years old. The characters felt like family I had never met, and that stuck with me for over a decade: I would read Muppet books, watch the movies, I even dressed like Kermit on my school’s “dress like a book character” day. This was a clever loophole I was proud of myself for finding, as I was reading “Tales of a Sixth-Grade Muppet” at the time. This also happened to be on the day of the big school Spelling Bee … which I won. I always thought Kermit would have been proud had he been there.
‘Do they have Muppets there?’
This brings us to a day my dad took me to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. I asked out of curiosity, assuming the answer was no, “Do they have any Muppets there?” I had visited the park plenty of times already, but couldn’t remember names of attractions or the layout. The pure shock and joy that filled my body when he told me there was a Muppets show at the Disney World park we were on our way to — I could have exploded.
Muppet*Vision 3D blew me away. I asked to go back in as soon as it ended. I couldn’t believe how close I was to my friend Kermit. Being inside Muppet Labs felt like a dream I never wanted to wake up from.
We all know you have to wake up eventually when you’re dreaming. I fortunately got to live in that dream until November 2024 when it was announced the first Disney World attraction I obsessed over was closing. This was always the attraction I told myself I would chain myself to if its closure was ever announced. I thought about it. I really did, but I thought to myself, “Is there any good that can come of this?” Is there a silver lining to losing a piece of your childhood — losing something cherished by hundreds of thousands of people? I really think there is. In fact, I think the next generation of Muppet fans is upon us.
‘Do you not like the Muppets?’
A few nights ago, I went to Hollywood Studios with two of my friends. I’ve been visiting as much as possible recently to get in as many viewings of Muppet*Vision 3D and as many rides on Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster as possible. After a meal at Backlot Express, I asked my friends if we could see Muppet*Vision before it closed for the evening, to which they obliged.
When we walked up to it, one of my friends asked, “Wait, we’re actually doing this?” I was so taken aback, I asked every question that came to mind. “Do you not like the Muppets? Do you hate feeling whimsical? Wait, have you ever even seen this before?” When they told me they had never seen it, there was no turning around. I brought them in to see their first demonstration of 3D technology at Muppet Labs. Another friend I was with had seen it hundreds of times, but hadn’t in a while. To say she was enthusiastic is an understatement.
The show ended, and I had to ask the first-timer what they thought. To my absolute SHOCK, they responded, “I actually really enjoyed that.” Obviously I was thrilled, but was brought back to reality when I turned to my left and saw my other friend smiling with tears streaming down their face. The double-edged sword of the joy I felt that someone had seen this delightful little show for the first time and loved it, but also watching another fan come to terms that it won’t be here forever. It was a very emotional showing, to say the least!
Muppets joining Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster at Disney World
On the same day that Muppet*Vision’s closure was announced, Disney also announced the reimagining of Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, my favorite ride at Walt Disney World. I’ve endured a lot of painful theme park announcements, but this felt like salt in the wound … until I realized my favorite ride was being rethemed to the Muppets? What was I so upset about?
It goes without saying Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster is one of Walt Disney World’s most popular attractions. A high-energy thrill ride that launches guests from zero to 57 mph in under three seconds, there’s no surprise that it consistently posts wait times over an hour.
I believe no matter what it’s themed to, young people will seek out a roller coaster. It could be called “Fast Car in Giant Blue Box” and Disney would still need boarding groups for it. SeaWorld themes its coasters to generic concepts, whether it be an animal, marine life, or surfing. These rides still see long wait times. I don’t think people are waiting an hour for Manta just because they love mantas. People wait for Manta because they want to fly and go through a loop!
Image courtesy of Disney
This is where my hope for the Muppets stems from: my belief that people will ride Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster no matter what its themed to. Open your My Disney Experience app, look at how busy Muppet*Vision is versus Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster. Despite being on the same side of the park as Rise of the Resistance, arguably the most popular ride in the park, people still overlook Muppet*Vision.
Imagine you’re nine years old, a wannabe thrill seeker trying out Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster for the very first time. You’re a little scared and understandably so, but you’re surrounded by these friendly faces, constantly cracking jokes and making you smile. It doesn’t matter how old you are or how seasoned of a roller coaster enthusiast you might be; you might walk out of the ride a fan of a group of lovable misfits you weren’t really familiar with beforehand.
It sounds almost like a Muppet gag: holding people captive by promising them a thrilling roller coaster but bombarding riders with Muppet jokes to get their public image back up after the ride’s over. Very little is known about the details for the new Muppets Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, but I know the Muppets will leave a good impression on each and every Disney World guest. This is needed, because I fear Disney’s faith in the Muppets over the last decade has dwindled.
Disney’s Muppets résumé
Although The Walt Disney Company has taken risks by including the Muppets in projects like the new Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, the “Disney Holidays in Hollywood” show at Jollywood Nights, the Disney+ series “Muppets Now” and “Muppets Mayhem,” and the now-defunct live Muppets show in Liberty Square, these, interspersed with other various projects, have all seen varying degrees of success.
Photo by Matt Roseboom
“The Muppets” (2011) earned $165 million at the worldwide box office, which was followed by “Muppets Most Wanted” (2014) with $80 million, a significant drop-off. On the small screen, ABC launched a new mockumentary-style show called “The Muppets” in 2015. The series involved the Muppets as they worked on the fictional late night talk show “Up Late with Miss Piggy.” The ABC series was hilarious — and has aged pretty well, gaining something of a cult following years after its initial release — but unfortunately only ran for one season, which devastated 12-year-old me.
All these projects with less-than stellar-reception leads us Muppet fans to believe Disney is giving up on them. But not me, not anymore.
The future of Muppet*Vision 3D
As for the fate of Muppet*Vision 3D, I don’t think it’s “goodbye.” I truly believe it’s “see you later”! When announcing the closure, Disney Parks released a statement saying:
As we move forward with these changes, we are having creative conversations and exploring ways to preserve the film and other parts of the experience for fans to enjoy in the future.
The Jim Henson Company also released a statement on the closure of its founder’s final project before his passing — with one line in particular sparking even more hope that this won’t be our last visit to Muppet Labs:
As we learn of the show’s upcoming closure in its current form at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, we look forward to Muppet*Vision 3D’s next act.
If you’ve been to Disney’s Hollywood Studios recently, you may know there’s a soundstage next to Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster known as Sunset Showcase. This was home to Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy until it closed on Oct. 7, 2024. In summer 2025, a new show called “Disney Villains Unfairly Ever After” will open there, presumably as a way to get the general public more excited about the Villains Land coming to Magic Kingdom at a later date. I don’t see this villains show in Sunset Showcase as a permanent addition, as Magic Kingdom will be the place to be for all things villains at some point in the future.
Image courtesy of Disney
My heart hopes that if the villains show closes, Disney could put Muppet*Vision 3D in this space, possibly making a mini Muppets Land! Although the reality might simply be Muppet*Vision getting a Broadway-style pro-shot on Disney+, I know we all would love to experience it in person again. Especially in a busy area of the park, it could bring in new fans of the Muppets to see Jim Henson’s last project.
A new era of Muppets at Disney World
Maybe it’s pure delusion, but it feels as if a new era of the Muppets is upon us. With Disney World having enough faith to put the Muppets in Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, and the (hopefully) positive reception from the general public for that attraction, this might be just what The Walt Disney Company needs to see to green-light more Muppet projects.
Photo courtesy of Disney
It’s hopeful, and maybe overly optimistic, but isn’t that what the Muppets taught us: that even if failure is imminent, it shouldn’t stop us from trying? Does failure stop the Great Gonzo from doing his stunts? Did it stop Walter from getting the Muppets back together again to stop an evil oil baron from demolishing the Muppet Studios? Does it stop Miss Piggy’s love for Kermit? No, so it won’t stop the hope I’ve had in my heart since I was a kid that the world would love the Muppets as much as I do — that there’s a kid out there somewhere who will see a new Muppets movie in theaters and their friends at school will know what they’re talking about. The joy of the Muppets has been around for decades, so I’ll “keep believing and keep pretending” for as long as possible.
More Muppet stories from Attractions Magazine:
Follow us:
Whether you’re ready for your next Disney Destinations vacation or your first, our trusted partner Mouse Fan Travel will handle the planning so you can focus on the memories. They offer free vacation-planning services and have nearly 20 years of experience creating memorable Disney vacations. Visit Mouse Fan Travel for a fee-free, no-obligation quote today.
Genuinely such a good read, can’t wait for the next one
The most significant statement in this article is that this attraction was Jim Henson’s last project. His was the genius and gentle whimsy of the Muppets. I sadly believe that any subsequent attraction that WDW creates with the Muppets will be a sad knock-off of the “brand.” Much like other Disney- owned properties which I won’t name.
Everything Jim Henson produced will probably fail without public financing. I liked the muppets but not many people care anymore. That’s an era that is dying as people get older.