Buckle up, friends, we’ve got a lot of ground to cover and it’s going to be a bumpy ride.
We’ve known for months now that big changes were coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, but weren’t totally sure where those big changes were going to take place. The most likely candidates were either Muppets Courtyard or Star Wars Launch Bay, and many fans were hoping for the latter. Disney just announced where the new Monsters, Inc. Land will be going, but there’s a LOT more to this news.
Muppets Courtyard Is Closing
Unfortunately, Muppets fans’ worst fears came true — Disney confirmed with new concept art and an official statement that the new Monsters, Inc. Land will take the place of Muppets Courtyard.
This means that Muppets Courtyard will permanently close sometime in the new few months when construction begins (currently no set date for that yet). With it’s closure, we’ll say goodbye to MuppetVision 3D, PizzeRizzo, Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano, the Stage 1 Company Store (although that’s been closed for many years), and the entire Muppets theming in this area.
Many fans are devastated about this news, especially because MuppetVision 3D was the last project the late Jim Henson, Muppets creator, worked on himself before he passed.
BREAKING: Muppets Courtyard Announces PERMANENT CLOSURE To Make Way for NEW Monsters Inc. Land in Disney’s Hollywood Studios
The Muppets are Taking Over Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster!
However, the Muppets aren’t leaving Hollywood Studios! At the same time the closure of Muppets Courtyard was announced, Disney confirmed that Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, currently featuring Aerosmith, will be rethemed to the Muppets!
This is also a controversial change, as many people don’t want to see the Muppets go but are skeptical about them taking over such an iconic attraction. However, others have pointed out that the change could be more due to a licensing issue between Disney and Aerosmith since the band recently announced their official retirement from touring back in August, but there’s no confirmation on that at this time.
Regardless of the reasoning, we don’t know when this change will begin to take place, but we’ll be sure to keep you updated! While this theming change likely won’t affect the ride system at all, it will change the theming throughout the whole attraction, so we’re expecting this to be a lengthy refurbishment.
CONFIRMED: Disney Announces MAJOR CHANGES Coming to Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster
A New Show is Coming to the New Monsters Inc. Land
Disney also announced Monsters, Inc. Land will also become the home of a new show! We admit that we don’t have any information on this new show, but looking at the concept art of the land, it looks like the show will take over MuppetVision 3D.
From the concept art, it looks like the theater is called the “Monstro,” but the marquee doesn’t have anything clear written on it, meaning that while Imagineers plan on having a show in the area, they may not know exactly what it’ll be at this time.
NEWS: NEW Show Confirmed for Monsters, Inc. Land in Hollywood Studios
This also means that this new area will have TWO attractions: this show and the suspended coaster, whereas Muppets Courtyard only has MuppetVision 3D.
We know this is a lot to take in, but we’ll be sure to update you every step of the way, so stay tuned to AllEars!
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How do you feel about these changes? Tell us in the comments!
I am super excited for all of the changes. Muppets on Rock n roller coaster will be a blast. I’m all about nostalgia but if things stayed the same as 1971 no one would go to the park anymore.
Disney is all about money nowadays and Disney could care less about it’s guests and long time loyal fans. In the last several years they have made the dumbest mistakes ever and they continue this haphazard thinking method into 2025. The Great Movie Ride was removed and now if your 8 or younger you just may have a good time. Not sold on Tianna’s Adventure and still believe Splash mountain was just as good if not better. Now Rivers of America is gone and Muppets are being moved. The list goes on and on and each week is a new announcement.
I used to love the Stage One shop across from Mama Melrose. Was sad to see it empty on my last visit. Hoping the move to Sunset Blvd brings a brand new Muppet shop.
Awful. I booked 2 years ago to go in April spwnding thousands and every week another thing is closing. Its going to be boarded up everywherw. They should have staggered the work it feels last minute and rushed
I don’t feel like Disney knows what they’re doing anymore or perhaps they do and yet they keep making the same mistakes as they have been for the past few years. Pretending as if everybody who enjoys going to their parks all just love every change when they make even when we tell them otherwise. Pretending that every fan hasn’t made their wishes clear and that they know their minds and hearts better than we do. First the Cars Land replacing where the steamboat holds up residence and now this. Monsters Inc. Land might work but replacing Aerosmith with Muppets. If it needed to be replaced, there are better options, as cute as Jim Henson’s creations are. This is another addition to their list of misses, because they got lucky with Tron and Guardians.