Disney World Says Farewell to Muppets Attraction, Makes Room For ‘Monstropolis’

Muppets character Kermit the Frog poses for a photo after ringing the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange on March 17, 2014, in New York City. Jemal Countess/Getty Images

The Muppets will make way for Monsters as their time as a main attraction at Disney World in Orlando, Florida, comes to an end.

The Walt Disney Company announced on Nov. 22 that Walt Disney World’s Muppet*Vision 3D, the only remaining Muppet-themed attraction at any U.S. Disney Park, will be the location of the new Monstropolis, a “Monsters, Inc.” experience announced in April.

While the Muppets may no longer appear on the south side of Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida, the company plans to install the characters at a ride in the park and incorporate other elements of Muppets Courtyard in other ways.

“To make way for the monsters, Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, and more of their friends will be moving right along to Sunset Boulevard!” the company announced on the Disney Parks Blog. “But there’s more to the story: The Muppets will be taking over Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, teaming up with some of music’s biggest stars for a rockin’ music festival!”

The Muppets have yet to appear as part of a ride at any Disney Park. Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster presently seats riders in stretch limousine-themed cars that play Aerosmith songs. The Muppets are currently used as meet-and-greet characters at Hong Kong Disneyland.

Muppet*Vision 3D has been a fixture at Hollywood Studios since 1991. The general location also houses PizzeRizzo, a pizzeria named after the Muppets character Rizzo the Rat.

The Muppets had an opening-day attraction in 2001 at Disney’s California Adventure, which closed in 2014 to make way for a “Frozen” sing-along.

The Muppets Present…Great Moments in American History, a live performance show, last appeared at the Magic Kingdom in 2019.

It’s still unclear when the last Muppet shows will take place or when they will appear on the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster. Disney did not return a request for comment by the time of publication. In a statement, Disney said “there’s still enough time to catch” the attractions  “before their final curtain calls.” Construction on the “Monsters, Inc.” land is slated to begin in 2025.

There’s also no word as to whether or not the Muppets will be making an appearance in Orange County at Disneyland anytime soon.

Monstropolis

Disney announced in April at its fan club convention, D23, that Hollywood Studios would become home to Monstropolis, a theme park version of the universe portrayed in Monsters, Inc.

Excitement over Monstropolis was drowned out at the time by backlash from Muppets fans, who speculated the unannounced location would be the Muppets’ location, which includes two restaurants and a shuttered Muppets store.

The attraction has long been sacred to Muppets fans, largely due to the fact that it’s one of the last projects Muppets creator Jim Henson personally worked on before his death in May 1990. Henson voices Kermit the Frog in the Muppet*Vision 3D movie, the final time he voiced the character.

A Change.org petition has collected more than 5,000 signatures in an attempt to save the Muppet-themed attraction and relocate Monstropolis elsewhere in the park. Muppet*Vision 3D, however, is not a large draw these days. According to Thrill Data, the all-time average wait is 10 minutes.

Disney said it is working on ways to reincorporate the Muppets.

“As we move forward with these changes, we are having creative conversations and exploring ways to preserve the film and other parts of the experience for fans to enjoy in the future,” the Disney Parks Blog states.

“Innovation was always Jim Henson’s north star and his trailblazing career led him to a unique challenge: a truly immersive Muppet experience where audiences are part of the happy chaos of the iconic Muppet Show,” The Jim Henson Company, which is run by Jim’s son, Brian Henson, said a statement last week posted to social media.

“Originally debuting in 1991, Muppet*Vision 3D combined 3D technology with real-world practical effects alongside animatronic and live Muppet characters. The result was a one-of-a-kind Jim Henson experience and an unforgettable capstone to Jim’s magnificent career. As we learn of the show’s upcoming closure in its current form at Disney’s Hollywood Studios (sic), we look forward to Muppet*Vision 3D’s next act.”

Muppets History

Jim Henson created “The Muppet Show,” which first appeared in 1976, as well as the iconic Muppet movies, including the popular Muppet Christmas Carol. Although the Muppets first appeared on television in 1955, Sesame Street’s 1969 debut beamed them into homes across the country, turning them into much-loved children’s characters.

Disney purchased the IP from the Jim Henson Company, which is based in Los Angeles, in 2004. There have since been film reboots, such as 2011’s The Muppets and 2014’s Muppets Most Wanted, as well as  2021’s straight-to-streaming Muppets Haunted Mansion and two short-lived Disney+ streaming shows—The Muppets Mayhem and Muppets Now.

Disney has also created social media accounts for several Muppets, including Big Bird and Kermit. In addition, Kermit and Miss Piggy made a comedic appearance at King Charles’s Coronation Concert in May 2023 outside Windsor Castle.