Walt Disney World has introduced the time limits of Grand Avenue at Hollywood Studios, with the sights and eating places in Muppet Courtyard, together with the Mama Melrose and PizzeRizzo eating places, in addition to MuppetVision 3D. Right here’s every thing we learn about when these experiences will completely shut in 2025, together with ideas on what this implies for the development timelines and every thing else.
In case you’re new to this saga, that is a part of an enormous shakeup at Disney’s Hollywood Studios that started with the announcement of a Monsters Inc. Door Coaster and Monstropolis miniland again on the D23 Expo final yr. What was not introduced was the place it’d go, with the entrance runners on the time being Animation Courtyard or Muppet Courtyard. Animation Courtyard appeared just like the apparent alternative as a consequence of its lifeless mall vibes and housing nothing of worth.
Sadly, you’re studying this text so the loser within the Monstropolis sweepstakes was Muppet Courtyard. Walt Disney World has introduced that they’ll be opening ‘new doorways’ for Muppets and Monsters at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. On a optimistic notice, this implies the Muppets taking on Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster and changing Aerosmith.
It additionally means MuppetVision 3D closing to make means for the Monsters, Inc. Doorways Coaster and Monstropolis. Nevertheless, there are causes to stay cautiously optimistic, as Walt Disney World additionally mentioned this: “As we transfer ahead with these modifications, we’re having inventive conversations and exploring methods to protect the movie and different elements of the expertise for followers to take pleasure in sooner or later.”
Shortly thereafter, the Jim Henson Firm launched an announcement that they had been trying ahead to the “subsequent act” of MuppetVision 3D after it vacated its present location at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
That brings us to at this time’s information, which is that Walt Disney World has introduced the closure dates of the impacted choices.
To make means for the monsters, the Grand Avenue space will start a part closing in Could 2025. The final day to dine at Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano can be on Could 10, 2025. Following that, Muppet*Imaginative and prescient 3D and PizzeRizzo will shut, with the final day to expertise each areas on June 7, 2025.
However, the Muppet foolishness doesn’t cease there — Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy and extra of their pals can be transferring proper alongside to Sundown Boulevard! The Muppets can be taking on Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster, teaming up with a few of music’s greatest stars for a rockin’ music pageant!
Walt Disney World has not offered a deadline for Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster Starring Aerosmith, nor opening dates for something.
My robust suspicion is that the Muppet Mayhem reimagining of Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster will not be that far in growth. The idea most likely didn’t obtain the greenlight till shortly earlier than the announcement was made final vacation season, and wishes extra time earlier than work is able to start.
I nonetheless would anticipate Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster to shut in its present incarnation and reopen because the Muppets Mayhem model earlier than Monstropolis. Being a curler coaster at nighttime with minimal props, there’s most likely an honest quantity of prepwork that may very well be performed after hours whereas the attraction remains to be operational with out company noticing. The trickier modifications will occur within the queue and pre-show.
Regardless, the turnaround time on a Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster reimagining needs to be 6 months or much less.
Disney beforehand indicated that work would begin on Monstropolis in 2025. Our expectation has been that the miniland and Monsters, Inc. Doorways Coaster would open in 2028, versus earlier or later.
Whereas Disney has but to verify this, Monstropolis is the best venture of the most important new lands, so it’ll virtually assuredly open earlier than Vehicles Land and Villains Land in Magic Kingdom. Walt Disney World seemingly desires a cadence of 1 new large addition coming on-line per yr–and we already know Tropical Americas is debuting in 2027. That places Monstropolis in 2028 by strategy of elimination.
The massive shock of this information is how quickly MuppetVision–and every thing else, for that matter–is closing.
Our earlier expectation was that the present visitor areas would stay open by means of no less than Summer season 2025 and shut within the low season on the earliest. Perhaps someday in September, maybe instantly after the Vacation spot D23 fan occasion.
Our hope was that we’d have an excellent longer goodbye, with MuppetVision 3D not closing till someday in early 2026, if not even later than that. In spite of everything, there’s an amazing quantity of labor that must be performed backstage. The development of the curler coaster and gravity constructing round that, together with the queue and facade for the Monsters, Inc. Door Coaster, all will take for much longer than getting ready the MuppetVision theater for a brand new present.
It appeared attainable that Walt Disney World would pull from an analogous playbook as is getting used with Dinoland USA, the place Dino-Rama simply closed to get replaced by the Encanto Madrigal Casita darkish experience–a brand new construct–however the place DINOSAUR and every thing else that’s simply being reimagined or repurposed received’t shut till early 2026.
With Monstropolis presumably debuting in 2028, it stood to cause that MuppetVision would have much more time because it’s assumed to be one other extra easy reimagining. Given every thing we thought we knew, it wouldn’t have been unrealistic for MuppetVision to shut in early 2027. Properly, we thought improper.
There are a few attainable explanations for this. The primary is that Walt Disney World administration feels that Disney’s Hollywood Studios doesn’t want the capability supplied by the eating places and MuppetVision over the course of the subsequent couple of years and is choosing the longer closure to save lots of working bills. (Whereas DINOSAUR and the remnants of Dinoland are integral to the already mild lineup at Animal Kingdom.)
This wouldn’t shock me within the least. It’s widespread observe for Walt Disney World to search out methods to save lots of on working bills at instances when capital expenditures are growing. On prime of that, it’s unlikely that there can be any natural development this yr at Walt Disney World, so the corporate will resort to cost-cutting to attain no matter targets it might need.
The second risk is that this venture is extra concerned than beforehand thought, and it’s not a easy repurposing of the prevailing restaurant, retail, and attraction areas.
This may very well be the case, however we doubt it. The idea artwork strongly suggests we’re getting one-for-one replacements of those eating places and a brand new present within the MuppetVision theater. It doesn’t seem to be they aren’t being basically reworked.
I totally anticipate the desk service Mama Melrose to change into the desk service Harryhausen’s. It’s seemingly that PizzeRizzo goes to reimagined right into a counter service restaurant with an equivalent footprint in a fashion much like the conversion of Pizza Planet into PizzeRizzo. And MuppetVision will seemingly change into a brand new present. There’s nothing within the latest Monstropolis idea artwork (above) to counsel any main format modifications to Muppet Courtyard/Grand Avenue.
A closing risk is that Disney has opted to fast-track Monstropolis, or no less than a portion of it, and it has leapfrogged Tropical Americas for a 2026 opening. Or that each will debut in 2027, however with Monstropolis within the first half of the yr and Tropical Americas within the second half.
Disney fast-tracking tasks would defy current traits, but it surely actually is attainable, particularly if the corporate anticipates development prices rising. So there is likely to be motivation to frontload a few of this work, versus backloading every thing. This coupled with the operational cost-savings of shuttering Grand Avenue venues throughout a timeframe they received’t be “wanted” strikes me as essentially the most believable rationalization.
The whole thing of Monstropolis opening in 2026 strikes me as not possible–and Walt Disney World has seemingly discovered its lesson about doing phased openings after this space’s subsequent door neighbor, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, fell flat upon its partial opening in mid-2019. My finest guess is that Monstropolis remains to be coming after 2026, with the one query being whether or not it’s now a 2027 venture or nonetheless 2028.
Outdoors of Monstropolis, the closure of MuppetVision has implications for the remainder of Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Walt Disney World purposefully selecting totally different time limits for Mama Melrose and MuppetVision suggests to us that the brand new Villains Unfairly Ever After and Little Mermaid stage exhibits will debut someday after Could 10–and possibly proper round June 7, 2025.
Our expectation for some time has been that Walt Disney World may have some splashy summer time celebration that bundles the brand new DHS stage exhibits with Disney Starlight Night time Parade and different thriller leisure at EPCOT and/or Animal Kingdom. The percentages-on favourite for all of that debuting has at all times been round Memorial Day, however per week earlier than or after that will make sense.
I’m nonetheless hopeful that each one of that rolls out prior to Memorial Day, identical to what Disneyland is doing with the seventieth celebration and return of Paint the Night time. Not solely does that supply a launch valve on opening evening/week crowds by pulling ahead demand into shoulder season, however it will additionally give diehard followers who plan journeys round Starlight an opportunity to say their goodbyes to MuppetVision on the similar time. So selfishly, I’m nonetheless hoping that is what occurs.
As for commentary past that, I’m principally simply heartbroken.
I’ve principally come to phrases with MuppetVision completely closing, no less than at Walt Disney World, and not being relocated to the Creativeness pavilion at EPCOT or the Mickey Shorts Theater at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Though I do assume there are pretty apparent underutilized areas at Walt Disney World the place MuppetVision could be an asset.
I’ve needed to carry out hope that if sufficient passionate followers make their voices heard, plans would change. That if the gang will get collectively and places on a present to boost $10 million, they will save the present. In my coronary heart, I do know all of that isn’t true. Walt Disney World and Imagineering took their time on this one as a result of they needed to guage all attainable choices and suggestions, and that is the conclusion of the saga–not a place to begin for a narrative about saving MuppetVision.
Nonetheless, I believed all of us had extra time to say goodbye to MuppetVision 3D. I actually anticipated this to be an awesome summer time–Disney Starlight Night time Parade and the brand new exhibits at Disney’s Hollywood Studios debuting, and saying goodbye to all the departing stuff. Opening one chapter and shutting one other, so to talk.
I used to be assured about MuppetVision sticking round into 2026, particularly as soon as it was confirmed DINOSAUR wouldn’t go extinct till then. In spite of everything, if DINOSAUR being reimagined into Indiana Jones Journey will solely take 16-18 months, why on earth would remodeling MuppetVision 3D into a special present take longer than that?
The reply is that it received’t, so hopefully Walt Disney World has a great cause for this strategy, relatively than simply shuttering Muppet Courtyard early to save cash. That might be insult on prime of damage for a lot of longtime followers.
Past that, I’m undecided what else to even say–so I’ll simply repeat what I’ve written earlier than. It’s no secret that we’re large followers of MuppetVision 3D, and look at it alongside the OG Nation Bear Jamboree as one among Walt Disney World’s candidates for UNESCO World Heritage Websites.
It’s not possible for me to be unbiased on the subject of MuppetVision, however I personally consider that it nonetheless stands the check of time. It’s not only a easy 3D movie, it’s actually an attraction and the funniest at Walt Disney World.
The creative significance of MuppetVision 3D is sort of immeasurable. It owns a particular place in each Walt Disney World historical past and American tradition. It’s one of many final tasks that Muppet creator Jim Henson was concerned in previous to his passing. It’s broadly considered an exemplar of Muppet humor and storytelling; a real masterpiece and murals.
Lastly, I wish to as soon as once more direct your consideration to this excerpt from Jim Henson: The Biography: “Disney could be good for the Muppets as effectively. If there was any group that knew learn how to protect and promote iconic characters past the lifetimes of their respective creators, it was the Walt Disney Firm.”
“For Jim, discovering such an acceptable dwelling for the Muppets was necessary…and if he couldn’t at all times are inclined to their well-being, he needed to make sure they had been with another person who would. ‘Trying means again down the street to once I cease sitting in my rocking chair and dealing Kermit the Frog, I actually like the concept of characters residing on within the Disney parks,’ mentioned Jim. ‘It’s a beautiful future for these characters. It’s as near an everlasting life as a bit inexperienced frog can get.’”
Whereas there’s some reality to the superficial sentiment that “Disney will not be a museum” that’s bandied about by followers and the corporate to justify in any other case poor selections, there’s additionally reality to the notion that some sights are untouchable. Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean, and “it’s a small world” all would match this invoice. Amongst a sure section of followers, this additionally extends to MuppetVision 3D. I’m a kind of followers, so I’m fairly heartbroken about this information. That’s nonetheless the case although this does include a comfort prize: Muppets taking on Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster.
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YOUR THOUGHTS
Are you stunned that MuppetVision 3D and every thing else in Muppet Courtyard is closing so quickly…or did you anticipate this? What do you consider Monstropolis changing MuppetVision? Is that this addition nonetheless “price it” to you now that it’s changing Grand Avenue and MuppetVision 3D? Ideas on preserving the movie one way or the other? Do you agree or disagree with our assessments? Any questions we may help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even if you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!
