MuppetVision 3D, PizzeRizzo, and the remainder of Muppets Courtyard have completely closed at Walt Disney World. This gives the most recent updates on the Hollywood Studios building tasks, and what’s subsequent because the Muppets are opening a door for Monsters and shifting proper alongside to Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster.
To begin with the optimistic, it seems like MuppetVision 3D acquired an excellent 13-hour finale, with Walt Disney World sending off the attraction totally on a excessive be aware. Sadly, we couldn’t be at Disney’s Hollywood Studios for the ultimate day of MuppetVision 3D, and needed to say our farewells earlier.
We however adopted alongside enviously on social media, from last present wristband distribution throughout Early Entry to daytime meet-ups for one final meal of rat pizza to watching as none aside from Heather Henson was the final visitor to enter the final public demonstration of MuppetVision 3D. I saved it collectively up till that time, however that final video broke me a bit.
All in all, it looks like Disney did proper by MuppetVision on its final day of operations. Nicely, minus the entire closing it within the first place half. However that call was made at a better degree than the Solid Members on the bottom who made the day particular. I’ve been to many closing days at Walt Disney World and Disneyland, and so they’re at all times emotional for each the followers and the Solid Members, previous and current, who’ve labored the sights.
It’s like saying goodbye to a childhood residence. There are few attraction closures throughout my maturity which were extra ‘childhood residence’ to me than MuppetVision 3D. The Osborne Household Spectacle of Dancing Lights, Nice Film Experience, Universe of Power, and IllumiNations all “bought to me” over the past improvement cycle, however no single a type of closures hit the center fairly as laborious as MuppetVision.
I nonetheless assume it’s a mistake not simply to have some ‘story excuse’ for conserving MuppetVision in Monstropolis and saying the Muppets have been invited into the Monster world to make you snort or no matter. It wouldn’t be Disney’s worst narrative contrivance. (Sorry, simply really feel like I have to ‘register’ this grievance with every publish on this subject.)
As for the MuppetVision farewell tour, my one grievance is the shortage of merchandise. Even after I stated my goodbye to MuppetVision, it was enjoying to comparatively packed homes. The Muppets have a passionate fanbase, and ‘last demonstration of MuppetVision 3D’ merchandise would have flown off the cabinets. It could’ve been an ideal alternative to reopen Stage 1 Firm Retailer to additionally say goodbye to that, and I’m shocked/upset Walt Disney World didn’t do that.
Again when Ellen’s Power Journey closed, there was an amazing line of hats and shirts, however I don’t recall any farewell merchandise for something since then. In my opinion, it is a mistake. One factor Tokyo Disneyland does very well is farewell seasons for its beloved sights, and there’s at all times an “[attraction name] Endlessly!’ product line that sells very well, together with photograph ops and particular meals.
I’m solely mentioning this as a result of Walt Disney World goes to have a few extra alternatives for this within the close to future, and it’d be good in the event that they availed themselves of these. I’m not a giant merchandise man or DINOSAUR fan, however I’d completely scoop up a ‘Countdown to Extinction’ hat with a cheeky line from Dr. Seeker on it!
If somebody from Disney occurs to be studying this, it’s nonetheless not too late for MuppetVision merchandise! It’s not like this fanbase goes to evaporate in a single day now that the demonstrations are accomplished. Launch a product line and many people will purchase each single merchandise in it. However we’re vacationers, what do we all know?!
Suffice to say, each MuppetVision 3D and PizzeRizzo are actually formally closed at Disney’s Hollywood Studios as of June 8, 2025. The Muppets Courtyard space is about to get replaced by the Monsters Inc. Door Coaster and Monstropolis miniland, with an unannounced present taking on the MuppetVision 3D theater and new eating places changing the present ones.
With MuppetVision 3D, PizzeRizzo and every thing else within the space closed, Muppets Courtyard has been wiped from all park maps of Disney’s Hollywood Studios. These areas plus Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano have additionally been faraway from the My Disney Expertise app and all different on-line maps.
Likewise, the pages for PizzeRizzo and MuppetVision 3D have now been utterly scrubbed from the Walt Disney World web site. When clicking any previous hyperlinks that led to the previous URLs of any defunct Muppets Courtyard providing, you’ll both see the tried and true Sew “Somebody Ate the Web page!” error message or be redirected to a generalized DHS touchdown web page.
Grand Avenue remains to be on the map, however proven as a single avenue between Commissary Lane and Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. Remaining open are Ice Chilly Hydraulics and BaseLine Faucet Home, each of that are on the opposite aspect of the courtyard. Regardless that the entire space was/is Grand Ave, Muppets Courtyard was a definite subsection of that. A miniland of a miniland, if you’ll. On the maps, it seems as if Disney planted a forest in a single day, with thick greenery changing Muppets Courtyard:
That is form of the case. As of June 8, the entire space to the left aspect of the visitor walkway is now blocked by rolling planters. So not fairly a thick forest, however in the identical universe.
These mainly block what could be the gateway into the mini-miniland, if it had a gate within the first place. A Solid Member is stationed by the planters to maintain visitors from passing them, with trash cans additionally performing some heavy lifting as access-obstacles. No seen work is going down within the courtyard simply but, nor will it for at the least the subsequent few days.
There are a few attainable causes for these rolling planters. First, as a result of Muppets Courtyard simply closed and visitors stated an extended goodbye even after the printed park closing time final night time. There would possibly’ve been inadequate turnaround time for a correct building wall to go up in a single day.
Second, there’s nonetheless a Solid Member send-off to Muppets Courtyard arising. Walt Disney World confirmed that Solid Members would be the last individuals who get to expertise MuppetVision 3D throughout a celebration on June 10, 2025. That’s proper: Gonzo nonetheless will get one final royal flush!
Throughout that last farewell to Muppet Courtyard, Solid Members can have entry to showings of MuppetVision 3D, PizzeRizzo, and even the long-shuttered Stage 1 Firm Retailer. As a part of the particular CM occasion, there might be enjoyable, meals & video games, and different actions. Consider it as a salute to all issues on this courtyard, however largely MuppetVision 3D.
That is nice to listen to. We respect that Solid Members at Disney’s Hollywood Studios would be the final folks to expertise MuppetVision–it’s good to see Disney honoring the individuals who make the magic with the sort of providing. And this explains why a correct ‘progress wall’ won’t be up but–as a result of there’s going to be that occasion on Tuesday, so it’s not like all demolition is beginning till June 11, 2025 on the absolute earliest.
What we’re prone to see occur in Muppets Courtyard first is the demolition of Stage 1 Firm Retailer. The allow was already filed for that, and it was beforehand scheduled to happen earlier than MuppetVision even closed. That is very clearly step one of the undertaking, as its the one venue that’s not within the Monstropolis idea artwork.
After that, we’d count on to see transformation of the exteriors. As a reminder, we’re getting one-for-one replacements of those eating places and a brand new present within the MuppetVision theater. There’s no cause to consider they’re being basically reworked–these are refurbishments and reimaginings.
Though unconfirmed, it’s doubtless that the desk service Mama Melrose will turn into the desk service Harryhausen’s. It’s doubtless that PizzeRizzo goes to reimagined right into a counter service restaurant with an equivalent footprint. Walt Disney World has already formally introduced that MuppetVision might be changed by a brand new present. There’s nothing within the latest Monstropolis idea artwork (under) to recommend any main format modifications to Muppet Courtyard/Grand Avenue.
For reference, the reimagining of Toy Story Pizza Planet into PizzeRizzo began in January 2016 and was completed in November 2016. Whereas the tip outcome was an improve, it was a reasonably low dough undertaking that didn’t change that a lot. We’d count on a extra significant replace for each of the Monstropolis eating places, however there’s each cause to consider they could possibly be open by late 2026 given the lead time.
Then there’s the transformation of MuppetVision 3D into a special stage present. For this undertaking, we will use the Lightning McQueen Racing Academy to Villains Unfairly Ever After transformation as comparability. That reimagining took lower than 8 months, and utterly repurposed that area.
Monstropolis is a extra everlasting land, so all the additions ought to be extra formidable than what they’re changing. As such, let’s give Imagineering 18 months for the entrance half of this miniland to reopen. As demonstrated above, that’s greater than sufficient turnaround time given comparable tasks at DHS. Meaning the primary part of Monstropolis ought to be open by December 2026. Simply in time for Christmas. Possibly it misses that focus on given demolition and exterior work wanted on Harryhausen’s, however certainly it may be prepared by Spring 2027.
I’m extremely skeptical it will really occur. My largest worry is that we gained’t see a lot work in Muppets Courtyard for some time, other than the aforementioned Stage 1 Firm Retailer demolition. That’ll undoubtedly start earlier than the tip of summer time. Hopefully we additionally see work on the Monsters, Inc. Doorways Coaster backstage, however that’s actually its personal separate factor because it’s being constructed on the parking zone.
Though there are not any rumors to help this, my suspicion is that Muppets Courtyard is being closed early. 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 avoid wasting working bills. RizzeRizzo routinely closed early and Mama Melrose was by no means all that common. On prime of that, two stage exhibits simply opened at DHS on Might 27. (By no means thoughts that each venues plus MV3D all operated concurrently as of February 2020.)
It’s frequent observe for Walt Disney World to search out methods to avoid wasting on working bills at instances when capital expenditures are rising. On prime of that, it’s unlikely that there might be any natural progress this yr at Walt Disney World, so the corporate will resort to cost-cutting to realize no matter targets it might need.
Regardless of the absence of rumors to corroborate this, there’s additionally the absence of building–and that speaks volumes. Probably the most concerned facet of this undertaking goes to be constructing the gravity constructing and laying monitor for the Monsters, Inc. Doorways Coaster. Floor has but to be damaged on that attraction. It’s going to be positioned fully backstage, so work on that might happen with out regard for the entrance half of the miniland. Nothing wanted to shut for work to begin on the curler coaster.
That is considerably just like Tropical Americas at Animal Kingdom, and exactly why Dino-Rama closed first–as a result of it’s being changed by the recent construct of the Encanto experience. In the meantime, DINOSAUR and every thing else is “solely” being reimagined, permitting it to remain open longer because it gained’t take as lengthy to finish. (To not dismiss the work wanted to rework DINOSAUR into Indiana Jones Journey–it’s going to be a herculean job of a lot better problem than something in Muppets Courtyard.)
If the entrance half of Monstropolis opens in late 2026 and even in 2027 earlier than the Monsters, Inc. Doorways Coaster, I’ll gleefully admit I used to be unsuitable, and this was all about turning across the undertaking as rapidly as attainable. But when all of it debuts directly in 2028, will probably be patently apparent that the closure of Muppets Courtyard occurred prematurely out of cheapness on Disney’s half. I assume we will see.
Lastly, there’s the Muppets movin’ proper alongside to Sundown Boulevard. The optimistic a part of this! Walt Disney World has now introduced that Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster Starring Aerosmith is formally set to shut in 2026 for its experience reimagining. On the identical time, they’ve revealed that the reimagined Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster Starring the Muppets will open in 2026. Our full publish gives speculative closing & reopening date ranges, however the backside line is that we count on that undertaking to take 6 months or much less. (I’d like to be unsuitable and it take a full 11 months!)
Every time this nook of the park comes up, followers inevitably specific optimism about it will definitely changing into the brand new Muppets Courtyard as soon as Villains Unfairly Ever After ends its run. I’ve been a debbie downer about this, saying it’s extra doubtless that each that present and the Muppets takeover of Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster are stopgaps for Marvel or one thing else. I’ve stated that as a result of I’ve believed it’s the almost certainly final result–and nonetheless do.
Nonetheless, the tip of this story nonetheless isn’t written. The saving grace of all of that is that Imagineering has artistic management of the Muppets, and there are hardcore Muppets followers at WDI. That’s how PizzeRizzo ended up punching above its weight in 2016 and it’s most likely how the RnRC reimagining–a reasonably surprising overlay and olive department–bought greenlit within the first place. I might be completely shocked if Imagineering didn’t pitch Sundown Showcase as a brand new Muppets Courtyard together with MuppetVision 3D, and misplaced that bureaucratic battle–with the Villains present profitable out.
Dropping the battle doesn’t imply they will’t win the battle. Fights like this are consistently being fought inside Disney, and each little bit of ammunition helps. So somewhat than feeling dejected that your letter or suggestions or no matter “failed,” take coronary heart–perhaps it didn’t. Possibly it will. Possibly Disney has already taken discover of the fan response to MuppetVision 3D, and there’s extra to come back.
The very best we will do within the subsequent ~5 to 7 years is giving all issues the Muppets as a lot love as attainable. And perhaps if Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster Starring the Muppets has increased visitor satisfaction scores than its predecessor and the Monsters, Inc. present yields decrease numbers than its predecessor, we’ll get a brand new Muppets Courtyard. It’s unlikely and far-fetched, however isn’t that dogged willpower and dare to dream angle precisely what the Muppets are all about?!
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YOUR THOUGHTS
Ideas on the closure of MuppetVision 3D and every thing else in Muppet Courtyard? Count on the primary part of Monstropolis to debut by late 2026 or 2027, or assume it’s all being slow-rolled into 2028? Do you agree or disagree with our assessments? Any questions we might help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even once you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!
