Muppets and Monsters get new homes at Walt Disney World

I loved MuppetVision but to be honest, the attraction was long showing its age. Reports are last few years looked rougher on the AA and such and not as popular with some guests. Frankly astounded lasted this long, likely the respect for Jim Henson's last project.

The Mayhem for Rock n Roller Coaster is just perfect in so many ways. They can refit the building for the Muppets, throw in more gags, cameos from real rock stars and more. So sad to see MuppetVision go but Disney seems to want to really keep and honor the Muppets in some way so good choice there.

as a huge aerosmith fan, i am happy with this...it was time for them to retire, especially since they retired from touring. and the muppets have always needed more exposure. this will be a good move.

Disney's strategy continues to payoff. Comcast has invested in a new park while letting its original Orlando parks stumble on without the addition of a single major gate-crasher. This creates a situation where Epic Universe cannibalizes attendance from the existing Comcast parks.

meanwhile, Walt Disney World is satisfied with operating it four parks -- expanding each one equally to ensure its market share remains steady.

Big news here. I became an Aerosmith fan because of the ride (and Armageddon!) so this isn't welcomed news for me. But I'm glad it's the Muppets and not just a more contemporary band. Wonder what the plan is now for the Muppets theater?

Might as well go ahead and move Monster Inc. Laugh Floor to the old Muppet Theater and clear some space for a Tomorrowland update

I’m bummed to lose the muppetvision show and I had hoped that the monsters land might replace the out-of-balance right side of the park and connect to the Sunset Blvd area, but the Aerosmith theme was in dire need of replacement. I’m glad that the Muppets are getting a new home and I hope that WDI has some newer and better enhancements in store to maximize the Muppet mayhem, rather than just having static neon signs.

TH, you've been pushing that nonsense on these boards for years (which isn't even true, IOA has received two massive E-ticket attractions in the last half decade) with zero proof that it will actually happen. Do you happen to have any evidence to support this? Or are you just going to keep spraying garbage?

Makes sense. The current Muppet audience is made up of older folks who probably enjoy thrill rides, so I honestly see this move as a positive. Hopefully they preserve the film on Disney+.

Adding to the Monsters, Inc is good though. Not loosing the Muppet theater means that it can still be a separate attraction. Wonder if it's going to be an improved Monsters Laugh Floor.

Launch Bay lives another day. I will take two attractions for the loss of Muppet Vision. The Muppets can rotate with beauty and the beast at the sunset theatre. The Jollywood Nights Muppet variety show or whatever is pure class.

Hollywood Studios is dated and needs help.

The New Little Mermaid, the new villains dance party thing, and now a potential Monsters show would be fun. It's not anything daring, but I will take it.

RnR also needs to update the track and coaster. I'm 6'1 and I can barely fit in the coaster. It's such an uncomfortable ride.

Captain EO, Muppet Vision, Tough To Be A Bug, and Honey I Shrunk the Audience should all be playing at that pixar theatre in epcot.

A side Great Moments in Hollywood skit would be the icing on the cake.

Well there go my hopes for Hannah Montana Rock’n Roller Coaster. It would have been the best of both worlds.

Sad to see the Muppets get rethemed for Monsters Inc, but honestly Disney has done little to no maintenance on that area. It’s basically holdover space for Galaxy’s Edge.

Happy the muppets will be part of RRC going forward. They need to make sure Dr. Teeth doesn’t do any ambiguous hand gestures in the pre show.

Overall I am happy with this. It is ultimately a plus one to capacity and the land actually looks pretty good for what will probably be a pretty simple re-theme of Grand Avenue. Door Coaster will be popular.

I don't love how Hollywood Studios doesn't have much theme "cohesion." The individual lands are good, but there isn't any rhyme or reason to where they go. I would have liked this over by Toy Story Land with a "Pixar Plaza" branching out to them and any future Pixar lands (looking at you, Incredibles). I think with this decision it seems like the hope for theme cohesion has sailed haha.

But whoo boy, over on another blog I'm apart of, people are NOT HAPPY losing Muppet Vision. To me, that always seemed like it was obviously on the chopping block.

Just a thought...but wouldn't the theater next to Rock n Roller Coaster make the perfect place to move MuppetVision 3D? They could create an entirely new Muppets area in the park. The Villains show could go literally anywhere.

Oh...if that does not work...what about the vacation shorts theater in DHS? Or the Pixar Shorts theater in EPCOT? Both options would be better than losing Jim Henson's last work in the parks.

MuppetVision is an installation and not just a movie, so it can't just play anywhere. Yes, Disney could spend the money to install a custom theater for it in an existing theater space, but if Disney saw value in keeping the show, it would not be getting evicted from its current home.

That said, I am on board with moving Monsters Inc Laugh Floor over to DHS to free that theater in Tomorrowland.

And I also am preparing a full list of attractions throughout WDW that require Muppet overlays, now that Disney has put that option on the table.

Evanweston: Oh please! Comcast has been offering deep discounts all summer to get people into their aging old parks. TPI just announed another two park discount today. What's going on at the Fear Factor theater or the Toon Lagoon theater? How about the dead zone that is Lost Continent. And if you don't think Epic will eat into USF or IOA's numbers, why is Comcast forcing guests to buy tickets to those parks if they want a single day admission to the new one?

@Robert Niles: I'm sure there are some IP-less attractions that could use a Muppet makeover, but why not put some Muppets on top of some IP while we're at it? The Muppets' Lightcycle Run! Kermit's Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin!

The press release saying "whole new theater show" makes me think it won't be laugh floor, but there is also what appears to be a billboard for it in the concept art so who knows.

I think Harryhausens could make a great themed restaurant experience.

I don't love this idea, but I don't hate it either. There's no question Rock 'n' Roller Coaster needs a refresh, however I'm not convinced this is the right way to do it. Perhaps I'll be proven wrong, perhaps not, though I hope if they're spending the money they'll actually do it right and not simply place a cheap overlay on the ride.

Also, as full disclosure, I've personally always found the Muppets to be overrated and Monsters, Inc. is far more likely to get me to make a return trip to WDW than anything they do with that IP.

I'd probably be more upset about this if I hadn't skipped MuppetVision 3D during my last couple of visits. It doesn't matter how beloved an attraction is when it consistently has a 10 minute wait during even peak times. That's just wasted capacity.

Lots of engagement for the muppets. I think this contradicts those claiming love for Monsters Inc as if that is popular with anybody other than the people that were in middle school around the same time (you can do those calculations). Monsters doesnt transcend time like muppets. Of the dozens of cartoons disney has released it is just one. Very little representation at Disney for reasons.

@Trexen: "That's just wasted capacity" is an absolutely brilliant form of assessment. You've created a new standard. It applies to DAK 'Dinosaur' as well.

Disney has offered similar discounts and its attendance was similarly depressed this summer. And Comcast is locking people into vacation packages precisely to avoid the outcome you are saying is inevitable! They are aware of the possibility and are actively working to prevent it!

I have no horse in the race – all I care about is having good parks. But I'm sick of your Disney-tinted nonsense. Get it out of here or have some actual evidence.

you can just ignore stuff people say that you disagree with if you set your mind to it.

evanweston (at me): "But I'm sick of your Disney-tinted nonsense. Get it out of here or have some actual evidence."

Me: Read Jacob Sundstrom's post ... In fact, read it twice.

evanweston (regarding Universal's deep ticket discounts to shore up park attendance): "Disney has offered similar discounts ..."

Me: From Theme Part Insider (07/18/24): "Universal Orlando is now offering a new discount for Florida residents, as it looks to boost attendance for the rest of 2024. The resort announced today that it is offering a two-park Florida Unlimited Days Ticket for $199 plus tax. That ticket will get a Florida resident unlimited admission to Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure through December 18. No blockout dates apply to the ticket." So tell us, evanweston, what are the similar discounts Disney "has offered" -- $200 for unlimited admissions to two parks through December 18th?

The Mouse doesn’t have to worry about folks postponing a WDW vacay in order to experience new themed lands and attractions because the not blue sky announced re-skins and expansions aren’t opening until 2027 at the earliest.

The company hasn’t been giving away the gate (not including water park admission), but the 3 and 4 park passes available this summer were discounted. The Mouse should weather the Epic storm, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see aggressive pricing in Lake Buena Vista over the next couple of years before the new toys are operational.

It’s a bummer to lose another piece if MGM Studios for us old timers that grew up with that park when it was ~new~

But looking at it logically, if it were more of a draw then Disney wouldn’t be touching it. Re-theming RnR lets them get away from the aged out of modern relevance Aerosmith theme, as well as keeps Muppets alive in the parks. Disney getting a brand new IP based land (which is their obvious focus going forward) while also getting two aging attractions off the map makes total sense.

Now focus clearly shifts it Star Tours, Indiana Jones, and Tower of Terror. I honestly don’t think any of those attractions will be long for the park…Star Tours being the most likely to remain untouched despite it’s stand alone location. Indiana Jones takes up a huge chunk of real estate and Tower of Terror could easily be re-themed to just about anything to get Disney away from the Twilight Zone connection…Hell, a Muppets re-theme could have the makings of a great Muppets land in that corner of the park. Regardless of all this, Disney Parks is all about the IP’s…Which kind of sucks because overall park theming is one of the reasons Disney became kings in the theme park world. IP lands being stacked on top of IP lands, with no overall cohesion, has been Universal’s game plan for a long time now.

Oh boy. A muppets themed Twilight Tower of Terror is the actual most exciting iP overlay that i can think of for that ride system. Man 2 hours of muppet footage in the queue. maybe a kermit or miss piggy (why not both or all) in each ride compartment for a ride along as your elevator operator as an animatronic and narrator during the ride in your ride vehicle. Give me a ride that has dozens of laugh potenrial (laughing is a coping mechanism for fesr) and you have the perfect ride. Where tztot has zero laughs now.

Also get rid of Indiana Jones since he will be at Animal Kingdom and maybe have that show in and around the queue for that. Good stuff. Im glad im on my way to be being an imagineer.

I will never understand the "Disney Adult" obsession with the Muppets. Was hoping this IP was finally going to die...nope.

Disney adults have appreciation for non-screen based things like productions, sets and puppetry. Im sure they are as involved in their local arts scene. More than you.

Except in this case where Disney adults are literally mourning for a screen-based production…

The muppets is a 4D show. There is nothing wrong with keeping shows. I dont get it. Is it because Disney Adults have money and youre bitter about that?

Bitter? Hardly. I just don’t understand whatever point you where trying to make.

I'm definitely on the fence with this. Obviously the lack of specificity with the Monsters announcement at D23 made this a possibility, but there was always the hope that the Muppets would be spared with the chance that the coaster could be squeezed into the animation courtyard. Unfortunately, the reality is there just isn't enough space in and around the Animation Courtyard to fit what will likely be a Guardians-sized ride building without reshuffling backstage areas that are up against the park's perimeter with World Drive. The Muppets area gives Disney a section of the park that borders backstage parking that was already reworked for the Galactic Starcruiser, so not only is there space, but there's a recent familiarity with the space in terms of utilities and underground structures that would not exist if they pushed out behind the Animation Courtyard.

I'm older and always loved the Muppets, but recognized that their popularity is incredibly niche. MuppetVision may have been Henson's last project before he died, but an aging, half-empty theater is a sad way to remember the legacy of a creator that brought the world so much joy. Trying to reformulate the Muppets for modern audiences is at least worth a shot (as much as the recent Disney+ series that I thought was decent, but was missing that special something that made the original Muppet Show so iconic). I'm also a massive fan of Aerosmith who was disappointed to see the band retire from touring 2 months before I was finally going to see them live in concert for the first time. I always like the conceit of Rock 'n Rollercoaster, and the track list on the on-board soundtrack is a hit parade from my school-aged and early college years. I don't think there is another American band that could replace Aerosmith on the attraction, yet the coaster itself was so flawed that if not for the music, I would probably skip it on most visits to DHS if the songs weren't so great.

I think in a perfect world, Aerosmith is one of the featured musical artists on the revised attraction and that a number of the "gags" from MuppetVision are brought into the pre-show and queue for the coaster (hopefully they expand the actual queue so there's more indoor air conditioned space). The Muppets have worked with so many amazing and iconic musical artists that you could keep the same conceit of a limo ride to the show, but instead of alternating Aerosmith songs, you can alternate different bands like Foo Fighters (though Dave Grohl has issues just as Steven Tyler has), Elton John, Lady Gaga, Diana Ross, and many many more.

Ultimately, we as fans need to come to the realization that Disney MGM Studios no longer exists, and that instead of building a 5th WDW theme park, Disney has chosen the craft a new theme park out of the remnants of the classic movie-themed park. I do think Disney made a big mistake in adding more to a park that is already too small and too crowded, but it's hard to criticize a move that will more or less give fans 2 new highly themed roller coasters.

Good points on Muppets more "niche" than others. Talked to my mom on this and she said "I don't think people know about the Muppets as much now."

@Russell: To each his own, but we've been listening to the Aerosmith catalog since God was a boy. New content, new lights, new spins and better laughs ... bring on The Electric Mayhem!