MuppetVision 3D, PizzeRizzo, and the remainder of Muppets Courtyard have completely closed at Walt Disney World. This provides the most recent updates on the Hollywood Studios building initiatives, 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 constructive, it appears to be like like MuppetVision 3D obtained a wonderful 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 closing present wristband distribution throughout Early Entry to daytime meet-ups for one final meal of rat pizza to watching as none apart 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. Properly, minus the entire closing it within the first place half. However that call was made at a better stage 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, they usually’re all the time emotional for each the followers and the Solid Members, previous and current, who’ve labored the points of interest.
It’s like saying goodbye to a childhood dwelling. There are few attraction closures throughout my maturity which were extra ‘childhood dwelling’ to me than MuppetVision 3D. The Osborne Household Spectacle of Dancing Lights, Nice Film Journey, Universe of Vitality, and IllumiNations all “acquired to me” over the past growth cycle, however no single a type of closures hit the guts fairly as onerous as MuppetVision.
I nonetheless assume it’s a mistake not simply to have some ‘story excuse’ for holding MuppetVision in Monstropolis and saying the Muppets have been invited into the Monster world to make you giggle 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 put up on this matter.)
As for the MuppetVision farewell tour, my one grievance is the dearth of merchandise. Even once I mentioned my goodbye to MuppetVision, it was enjoying to comparatively packed homes. The Muppets have a passionate fanbase, and ‘closing demonstration of MuppetVision 3D’ merchandise would have flown off the cabinets. It might’ve been an ideal alternative to reopen Stage 1 Firm Retailer to additionally say goodbye to that, and I’m shocked/disillusioned Walt Disney World didn’t do that.
Again when Ellen’s Vitality Journey closed, there was an incredible line of hats and shirts, however I don’t recall any farewell merchandise for something since then. In my opinion, this can be a mistake. One factor Tokyo Disneyland does very well is farewell seasons for its beloved points of interest, and there’s all the time an “[attraction name] Perpetually!’ 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 an enormous 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 executed. 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 at the moment are 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 up the MuppetVision 3D theater and new eating places changing the present ones.
With MuppetVision 3D, PizzeRizzo and the whole lot 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 facet of the courtyard. Though 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 facet 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 friends from passing them, with trash cans additionally doing a little heavy lifting as access-obstacles. No seen work is going down within the courtyard simply but, nor will it for no less than the subsequent few days.
There are a few potential causes for these rolling planters. First, as a result of Muppets Courtyard simply closed and friends mentioned a protracted goodbye even after the printed park closing time final evening. There may’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 developing. Walt Disney World confirmed that Solid Members would be the closing 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 closing farewell to Muppet Courtyard, Solid Members may 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 shall 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 recognize 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 this 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 every 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 challenge, 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 imagine they’re being essentially reworked–these are refurbishments and reimaginings.
Though unconfirmed, it’s possible that the desk service Mama Melrose will turn into the desk service Harryhausen’s. It’s possible that PizzeRizzo goes to reimagined right into a counter service restaurant with an similar footprint. Walt Disney World has already formally introduced that MuppetVision shall be changed by a brand new present. There’s nothing within the latest Monstropolis idea artwork (beneath) to recommend any main structure adjustments 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 challenge 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 imagine they could possibly be open by late 2026 given the lead time.
Then there’s the transformation of MuppetVision 3D into a distinct stage present. For this challenge, we are able to 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 initiatives at DHS. Meaning the primary section of Monstropolis ought to be open by December 2026. Simply in time for Christmas. Perhaps 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 this may really occur. My greatest worry is that we gained’t see a lot work in Muppets Courtyard for some time, except for the aforementioned Stage 1 Firm Retailer demolition. That’ll undoubtedly start earlier than the tip of summer season. 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 car parking zone.
Though there aren’t 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 save lots of working bills. RizzeRizzo routinely closed early and Mama Melrose was by no means all that standard. On high of that, two stage reveals 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 widespread observe for Walt Disney World to search out methods to save lots of on working bills at occasions when capital expenditures are rising. On high of that, it’s unlikely that there shall be any natural development this yr at Walt Disney World, so the corporate will resort to cost-cutting to attain no matter targets it may need.
Regardless of the absence of rumors to corroborate this, there’s additionally the absence of building–and that speaks volumes. Essentially the most concerned side of this challenge 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 start out 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 the whole lot 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 activity of a lot better issue 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 flawed, and this was all about turning across the challenge as rapidly as potential. But when all of it debuts without delay in 2028, will probably be patently apparent that the closure of Muppets Courtyard occurred prematurely out of cheapness on Disney’s half. I suppose we will see.
Lastly, there’s the Muppets movin’ proper alongside to Sundown Boulevard. The constructive 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 similar time, they’ve revealed that the reimagined Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster Starring the Muppets will open in 2026. Our full put up provides speculative closing & reopening date ranges, however the backside line is that we count on that challenge to take 6 months or much less. (I’d like to be flawed and it take a full 11 months!)
Each time this nook of the park comes up, followers inevitably categorical 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 possible that each that present and the Muppets takeover of Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster are stopgaps for Marvel or one thing else. I’ve mentioned that as a result of I’ve believed it’s the almost certainly consequence–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 in all probability how the RnRC reimagining–a reasonably surprising overlay and olive department–acquired greenlit within the first place. I’d 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 conflict. Fights like this are continuously being fought inside Disney, and each little bit of ammunition helps. So relatively than feeling dejected that your letter or suggestions or no matter “failed,” take coronary heart–perhaps it didn’t. Perhaps it will. Perhaps Disney has already taken discover of the fan response to MuppetVision 3D, and there’s extra to come back.
The very best we are able to do within the subsequent ~5 to 7 years is giving all issues the Muppets as a lot love as potential. And perhaps if Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster Starring the Muppets has larger 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 perspective precisely what the Muppets are all about?!
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YOUR THOUGHTS
Ideas on the closure of MuppetVision 3D and the whole lot else in Muppet Courtyard? Anticipate the primary section 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 can assist you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even while you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!
