Walt Disney World has introduced the cut-off dates 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 the whole lot we find out about when these experiences will completely shut in 2025, together with ideas on what this implies for the development timelines and the whole lot else.
In case you’re new to this saga, that is a part of a giant 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 result 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 constructive observe, this implies the Muppets taking up Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster and changing Aerosmith.
It additionally means MuppetVision 3D closing to make approach for the Monsters, Inc. Doorways Coaster and Monstropolis. Nonetheless, there are causes to stay cautiously optimistic, as Walt Disney World additionally stated this: “As we transfer ahead with these modifications, we’re having inventive conversations and exploring methods to protect the movie and different components of the expertise for followers to get pleasure from sooner or later.”
Shortly thereafter, the Jim Henson Firm launched a press release that they had been wanting ahead to the “subsequent act” of MuppetVision 3D after it vacated its present location at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
That brings us to at the moment’s information, which is that Walt Disney World has introduced the closure dates of the impacted choices.
To make approach for the monsters, the Grand Avenue space will start a section closing in Might 2025. The final day to dine at Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano will likely be on Might 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 associates will likely be transferring proper alongside to Sundown Boulevard! The Muppets will likely be taking up 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 cut-off date for Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster Starring Aerosmith, nor opening dates for something.
My sturdy suspicion is that the Muppet Mayhem reimagining of Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster shouldn’t be that far in improvement. 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 a good quantity of prepwork that may very well be accomplished after hours whereas the attraction remains to be operational with out visitors 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 substantiate this, Monstropolis is the only mission 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 huge addition coming on-line per yr–and we already know Tropical Americas is debuting in 2027. That places Monstropolis in 2028 by means of elimination.
The massive shock of this information is how quickly MuppetVision–and the whole lot else, for that matter–is closing.
Our earlier expectation was that the present visitor areas would stay open via no less than Summer time 2025 and shut within the low season on the earliest. Possibly someday in September, maybe instantly after the Vacation spot D23 fan occasion.
Our hope was that we’d have a fair 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 incredible quantity of labor that must be accomplished 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 making ready the MuppetVision theater for a brand new present.
It appeared attainable that Walt Disney World would pull from the same playbook as is getting used with Dinoland USA, the place Dino-Rama simply closed to get replaced by the Encanto Madrigal Casita darkish trip–a brand new construct–however the place DINOSAUR and the whole lot else that’s simply being reimagined or repurposed gained’t shut till early 2026.
With Monstropolis presumably debuting in 2028, it stood to motive that MuppetVision would have much more time because it’s assumed to be one other extra easy reimagining. Given the whole lot we thought we knew, it wouldn’t have been unrealistic for MuppetVision to shut in early 2027. Nicely, we thought mistaken.
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 provided 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. (Whereas DINOSAUR and the remnants of Dinoland are integral to the already gentle lineup at Animal Kingdom.)
This wouldn’t shock me within the least. It’s frequent observe for Walt Disney World to seek out methods to avoid wasting on working bills at instances when capital expenditures are growing. On high of that, it’s unlikely that there will likely be any natural progress this yr at Walt Disney World, so the corporate will resort to cost-cutting to realize no matter targets it may need.
The second chance is that this mission 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 look like they don’t seem to be being basically reworked.
I absolutely anticipate the desk service Mama Melrose to grow to be 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 way just like the conversion of Pizza Planet into PizzeRizzo. And MuppetVision will seemingly grow to be a brand new present. There’s nothing within the latest Monstropolis idea artwork (above) to recommend any main format modifications to Muppet Courtyard/Grand Avenue.
A remaining chance 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 initiatives would defy latest developments, however it actually is attainable, particularly if the corporate anticipates building prices rising. So there may be motivation to frontload a few of this work, versus backloading the whole lot. This coupled with the operational cost-savings of shuttering Grand Avenue venues throughout a timeframe they gained’t be “wanted” strikes me as essentially the most believable clarification.
The whole lot of Monstropolis opening in 2026 strikes me as unimaginable–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 mission 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 completely different cut-off dates for Mama Melrose and MuppetVision suggests to us that the brand new Villains Unfairly Ever After and Little Mermaid stage reveals will debut someday after Might 10–and doubtless proper round June 7, 2025.
Our expectation for some time has been that Walt Disney World can have some splashy summer season celebration that bundles the brand new DHS stage reveals 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 all the time been round Memorial Day, however per week earlier than or after that might make sense.
I’m nonetheless hopeful that every one of that rolls out prior to Memorial Day, similar 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 night time/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 identical 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. Regardless that I do assume there are pretty apparent underutilized areas at Walt Disney World the place MuppetVision can 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’ll 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 judge all attainable choices and suggestions, and that is the conclusion of the saga–not a place to begin for a narrative about saving MuppetVision.
However, I assumed all of us had extra time to say goodbye to MuppetVision 3D. I actually anticipated this to be an ideal summer season–Disney Starlight Night time Parade and the brand new reveals 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 reworking MuppetVision 3D into a unique present take longer than that?
The reply is that it gained’t, so hopefully Walt Disney World has an excellent motive for this method, relatively than simply shuttering Muppet Courtyard early to save cash. That might be insult on high 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 big followers of MuppetVision 3D, and consider it alongside the OG Nation Bear Jamboree as one in all Walt Disney World’s candidates for UNESCO World Heritage Websites.
It’s unimaginable for me to be unbiased in terms of MuppetVision, however I personally imagine that it nonetheless stands the take a look at of time. It’s not only a easy 3D movie, it’s really an attraction and the funniest at Walt Disney World.
The creative significance of MuppetVision 3D is nearly immeasurable. It owns a particular place in each Walt Disney World historical past and American tradition. It’s one of many final initiatives 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 can be good for the Muppets as nicely. If there was any group that knew tips on 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 appropriate residence for the Muppets was essential…and if he couldn’t all the time are likely to their well-being, he needed to make sure they had been with another person who would. ‘Trying approach again down the street to once I cease sitting in my rocking chair and dealing Kermit the Frog, I actually like the thought of characters dwelling on within the Disney parks,’ stated Jim. ‘It’s a beautiful future for these characters. It’s as near an everlasting life as a bit of inexperienced frog can get.’”
Whereas there’s some reality to the superficial sentiment that “Disney shouldn’t be a museum” that’s bandied about by followers and the corporate to justify in any other case poor choices, 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 type of followers, so I’m fairly heartbroken about this information. That’s nonetheless the case although this does include a comfort prize: Muppets taking up Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster.
Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Study resorts on our Walt Disney World Inns Opinions web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Opinions. To economize on tickets or decide which kind to purchase, learn our Suggestions for Saving Cash on Walt Disney World Tickets publish. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys publish takes a novel have a look at intelligent objects to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Journey Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, the most effective place to begin is our Walt Disney World Journey Planning Information for the whole lot it is advisable know!
YOUR THOUGHTS
Are you shocked that MuppetVision 3D and the whole lot 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 “value it” to you now that it’s changing Grand Avenue and MuppetVision 3D? Ideas on preserving the movie in some way? Do you agree or disagree with our assessments? Any questions we will 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!
