“This Is Not What We Asked For”: Disney’s Permanent Closure of Muppet Vision 3D Is Causing a LOT of Controversy

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Recently, Disney World announced that a classic Hollywood Studios attraction is CLOSING.

©Disney

That’s right, we’ll soon be saying goodbye to Muppet*Vision 3D and all of Muppets Courtyard as the area gets replaced with a Monsters, Inc.-themed land. As a consolation, Disney will be replacing Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster with a Muppets coaster. But even with that change, the loss of Muppet*Vision is pretty controversial — and fans have a lot of questions and concerns!

Why Didn’t They Replace Lightning McQueen With Muppets?

One of the first questions that people started asking when the Muppets news was released was — “why didn’t they replace Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy with Muppet*Vision 3D instead of making a new Villains show?” In case you forgot, Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy (next to Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster) was closed earlier this year to make way for a new Disney Villains stage show.

Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy

If they had moved Muppet*Vision to the Sunset Showcase, then we’d be able to keep the beloved show AND have it next door to the new coaster. So what gives? Well, ultimately this is a question we won’t know the true answer to unless Disney tells us, but it seems like now is a great time for the company to start hyping fans up about the Disney Villains.

©Disney

With a Villain-themed land coming to Magic Kingdom, this theater show could help gauge interest in the classic Disney characters and get people in the mood for the new addition. We’ll just have to wait and see how it performs!

Will the Miss Piggy Fountain Disappear?

One of the most iconic parts of Muppets Courtyard in Hollywood Studios is the Miss Piggy Statue of Liberty fountain. It’s located smack dab in the front of the land and features the pink diva herself…but dressed as Lady Liberty!

Muppets Courtyard in Hollywood Studios

The fountain has been the backdrop for many a family photo over the years, so we’re left wondering if Disney will preserve it or move it somehow. We’d love to see Miss Piggy for many years to come!

Why Didn’t They Gut Animation Courtyard Instead?

When it was announced that Hollywood Studios would be getting a Monsters, Inc. land, fans had generally narrowed down the location to one of two spots — Muppets Courtyard or Animation Courtyard. Many people fought for the Pixar additions to be placed in Animation Courtyard, since the land hasn’t seen too much action in recent years. But alas, we’ll be saying goodbye to Muppets Courtyard with two restaurants and a theater show instead.

Animation Courtyard

So why not Animation Courtyard? Well, it likely has to do with the space. It has already been announced that a new Little Mermaid show will be coming to one of the theaters there, so that space is out of commission. On top of that, Animation Courtyard is a bit more landlocked by other parts of the park than Muppets Courtyard is. To add the Monsters, Inc. rollercoaster to Muppets Courtyard, Disney may be able to cut into some backstage and parking areas. That’s space that they’d be severely limited on elsewhere in the park.

Fans Can’t Agree on the Perfect Musical Guest

As part of the Muppets takeover of Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, we’ll be getting some NEW music for the ride! The coaster is currently themed to Aerosmith, but the new announcement stated that the Muppets would be teaming up with some of “music’s biggest stars for a rockin’ music festival.

©Disney

So who are these stars? Disney hasn’t announced yet, but even here at DFB, we can’t seem to agree on who we think would be best for the role. You’ll want someone with the potential to really make the ride ROCK, but you’ll also want a decently popular name to draw attention. Who do you think it could be? We’ve got a lot of mixed opinions!

How Will Muppet*Vision 3D Be Preserved?

When it was announced that Muppet*Vision 3D would be going away, we were immediately heartbroken. But then, we got a bit of news that softened the blow. According to Disney, they are “having creative conversations and exploring ways to preserve the film and other parts of the experience for fans to enjoy in the future.” 

Kermit!

That’s so exciting! How could they preserve the show? Well, in a few ways. Is it possible we could get the short film on Disney+ to watch at our leisure, or maybe it’ll appear somewhere else in Disney World? Disney hasn’t specified details yet, but it’s an important piece of legacy for Jim Henson fans. The Jim Henson Company even released a statement about the closure, saying, “As we learn of the show’s upcoming closure in its current form at Disney’s Hollywood Studios , we look forward to Muppet*Vision 3D’s next act.”

We’re Losing a Really Cool Themed Restaurant

And finally, we’ve got to talk about the other reason Muppet fans are sad — we’re losing a super fun restaurant in the process! While PizzeRizzo may not be known for the best food in town, this spot definitely has some spectacular theming and we’ll be sad to see it go.

PizzeRizzo

From the rat wedding room to the old-school pizza parlor vibes, we’re definitely going to miss this place. Thankfully, you’ll still be able to get puffy pizza at Catalina Eddie’s.

That’s a wrap on our list of comments right now, but we’ll make sure to keep you updated with any more news about this transformation! Stay tuned to DFB for the latest!

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What makes you sad about the Muppets Courtyard loss? Tell us in the comments!

The post "This Is Not What We Asked For": Disney’s Permanent Closure of Muppet Vision 3D Is Causing a LOT of Controversy first appeared on the disney food blog.

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