The Definitive Sendoff to The Muppets

Something happened over the weekend that I probably never quite envisioned. And neither did thousands of guests who always found time to spend a few moments with Jim Henson’s Muppet-Vision 3D. We celebrate this film, and its creator, sharing some insights of how all this came to be. We’ll take a look at the Muppets over the years as they’ve come to be a part of The Walt Disney World Resort. We’ll talk about all of the components that made up Muppet Courtyard, and what made Muppet-Vision 3D so really special. Join us as we commemorate this attraction, its setting and consider both its past and future. It’s a rousing 3 hour finale, but we’re trying to keep it around 40 minutes.

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Muppets over the Years

While we lament this attraction going away, in truth, there have been many Muppet shows, attractions and experiences over the years. And there’s more to come! Let’s look at each.

Hollywood’s Pretty Woman. This happened at the original Theater of the Stars. Believe it or not, this was the answer to Dick Tracy starring in Diamond Double-Cross. But it only lasted a month and a half before Beauty and the Beast-Live on Stage took over in November of 1991 (the latter may be the longest running show of all time in a Disney park).

Here Come the Muppets

Muppets on Location: Days of Swine and Roses. This was a show, but eventually drifted more into set up for a meet ‘n’ greet.

Jim Henson’s Muppet-Vision 3D

Dinosaurs Live Mini Parade/Show. This was from September of 1991 and August of 1992.

Muppets in 100 Year Disney Stars and Motor Cars Parade

Kermit, Miss Piggy and Sweetums were in car 3 and in time Bear in the Big Blue House was in car 11. This ran from October 1, 2001 to March 8, 2008.

Bear in the Big Blue House. This ran from June 1999 until August 2001, then add additional characters afterwards until January 2011.

Muppet Mobile Labs. This has gone around the world, starting with 2007 at DCA. Here it ran at Epcot from August of that year until February of 2008. Featuring Dr. Bunsen Honeydew and Beaker.

Disney’s Honorary VoluntEars Cavalcade—This was a parade in 2010 and part of “Give a Day, Get a Disney Day.” It included Grand Marshalls Piggy, Kermit and Sweetums.

Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival–Muppet Topiaries came along in 2014 along with a Muppets Most Wanted Scavenger Hunt.

Great Moments in American History at Liberty Square. Ran largely from October of 2016 until Covid closed everything in February of 2020. There were two sketches, one on the Declaration of Independence and one on the Midnight Ride of Paul Revere.

Pizza Rizzzo. It opened on November of 2016.

Regal Eagle Smokehouse. This opened in December of 2019 just months before Covid closed the parks.

Epcot International Food & Wine Festival: Brew-Wing Lab at Odyssey

• Disney Holidays in Hollywood. Part of Jollywood Nights the last two years.

Muppets Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster

According to a new Disney press release, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster is now officially set to close in 2026 for its upcoming transformation. As a result, this confirms the current version of the attraction starring Aerosmith will remain unchanged for the rest of 2025. The release did not include a specific month or day yet, but mentioned that the reimagined version of the coaster starring the Muppets is also set to open in Disney’s Hollywood Studios sometime by the end of 2026.

Not Walt Disney World related, but the pre-show for the World of Color Happiness! at Disneyland Resort for the 70th Anniversary features the muppets providing “Safety” information prior to the show.

Muppet Courtyard

It’s not just Muppet-Vision 3D that’s closing but it’s really all part of Grand Avenue, or Grand Park, but for many it’s combination of offerings have largely made it the Muppet Courtyard. Let’s talk about those components.

Courtyard & Miss Piggy Fountain

Everyone loves the fountain. My favorite is Rizzo trying to gather coins. But since the remodeling a few years ago, most haven’t come to realize that Fozzie Bear as the cameraman and Gonzo as the director have been missing. See the photos:

Gonzo’s Royal Flush

If we can talk about Tangled restrooms than I’m entitled to talk about Gonzo’s Royal Flush. It was in no way heavily themed, but they were big, on two stories, not nearly as busy as the Tangled restrooms, and therefore, much cleaner.

Pizza Rizzo

Before it was Pizza Rizzo it was Toy Story Pizza Planet Arcade. and it opened after Mama Melrose’s. It seems it’s always been about pizza, and bad pizza at that. But in truth before it was Toy Story Pizza Planet it was called The Studio Showcase where “Here before your eyes are the actual costumes, props and set pieces worn, handled and utilized by today’s biggest stars in today’s biggest motion pictures.”

If you’re going to make bad pizza, then you should definitely name it after Rizzo.

It’s a Wonderful Shop

Opened in 1992, this shop based on the Jimmie Stewart Christmas classic, It’s a Wonderful Life, carried Christmas merchandise for years up until Covid (though in 2023 it did serve as a Santa meet ‘n’ greet). Why a shop like this would be in a corner so far away remains to be questioned. But it did work out when Osborne Festival of the Lights made their way to New York Street. Santa dressed as a fire fighter would greet guests.

Studio 1

Part focus on Muppet merchandise, but also carried “toys, plush and children’s nursery items starring beloved characters. It never survived Covid, except to take care of special retail events. Here there was great theming attached to the Muppets. And Kermit’s larger than life statue outside.

Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano

It’s been around along with this adjoining area since 1991 as Mama Melrose’s. But in 1990 it was known originally as Studio Pizzeria, and reservations were available at the door. It offered “the cheesiest, tastiest brick oven-baked pizza and pasta dishes” for lunch and dinner.

Muppet-Vision 3D:

Special FX and amazing details too many to mention.

Scenes in the Pre-Show

Cheap 3D effects

• Statler and Waldorf
• Penguin Orchestra–One playing Flight of the Bumble Bee
• Swedish chef
• Water for showering you with humor
• Wind for sucking up the Spirit of 3D
• Bubbles for Miss Piggy act
• Smoke FX on sides of stage
• Projection images of the Waldo football team on the wall
• Lighting FX throughout the audience
• Fiber Optic Fireworks in the ceiling about 7
• Cannon from Orchestra Pit with two penguins, light smoke and fiber optics for the torch
• Bunny and Bunny with fireworks detonator
• Arrows aimed at Statler and Waldorf and also Bunny’s booth
• Swedish chef with musket
• Cannon for projection room smoke and lighting fx
• Scrim Walls revealing blown walls with lighting fx and smoke
• Statler and Waldorf plus two arms raising the white flag for Statler and Waldorf

Our Patreon Group: The Wayfinder Society

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Thanks for joining us for this podcast, Know that as in the title of Performance Journeys, it’s as much about the journey as it is about performance. Find the second star to the right, and keep going straight on till you reach it. Follow the compass of your heart, and know that with a smile and a song, a little faith, effort and pixie dust, your dreams can come true. After all, if we can dream it, we can do it. Until next time, bright suns, we’ll see you real soon!