Disney World came out with a very controversial announcement a few days ago that has us scratching our heads.
It was officially announced that Monsters, Inc. Land will be taking over Muppets Courtyard at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Luckily, the announcement came with a second part sharing that the Muppets won’t be lost entirely but instead will be moving over to replace Aerosmith at Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster. While this is good news for Muppets fans, it has created a bit of confusion, and we have a few very specific questions for Disney about these announcements.
Why didn’t they replace Lightning McQueen Racing Academy with Muppet Vision?
While the Muppets characters are moving to Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, one beloved Muppets attraction will be closing forever. Muppet*Vision 3D is a long-time favorite show at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and the last Muppets project Jim Henson worked on before his passing. Its closure is a big deal for all of us Muppets fans, and it begs the question, why didn’t it replace Lightning McQueen Racing Academy instead of a Disney Villains show?
Lightning McQueen Racing Academy was in the Sunset Showcase building, which is near Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, but closed earlier this year and will be replaced by a Disney Villains show. It seems like the villains show would have been great for Magic Kingdom since a villains land is opening there later, and then they could have put Muppet Vision in the Sunset Showcase building right next to the upcoming Muppets version of Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster. So we really want to know, why didn’t this happen?
What do Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, the Muppets, Disney Villains, and Tower of Terror have in common, and how do they go together?
Continuing with this same theme, we will now have a Disney Villains show, a Muppets Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, and Tower of Terror, all on Sunset Boulevard. This feels rather disjointed, and unlike most other areas of the Disney World parks, like there’s no theming, just a random conglomeration of attractions.
Unlike Toy Story Land, where you have Toy Story attractions, and Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, where you have Star Wars attractions, and the upcoming Monsters, Inc. Land with Monsters, Inc. attractions, this area will now be filled with random IPs that don’t really go together. We’re sure Disney has a plan to make this work well, but fans aren’t sure they see it.
Will they keep the Miss Piggy fountain?
The Miss Piggy fountain is legendary. She graces Muppets Courtyard with her beauty and class while Rizzo the rat chills in the serene waters. This statue is the epitome of wonder and grace.
Okay, we’re kinda kidding, but also kind of not! Muppets fans have come to love the Miss Piggy fountain. It really is a monument of Muppets Courtyard, and we sincerely hope it is moved over to Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster when the Muppets head over to their new location.
Will they move Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor to Hollywood Studios?
If you’re familiar with Magic Kingdom, you likely know that Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor is a show in Tomorrowland that brings lots of laughs to spectators. Now that Monsters, Inc. will be heading to Hollywood Studios, we wonder if this show will follow the rest of the new attractions.
There is a billboard in the new concept art that shows the Laugh Floor, and we wonder if this is a clue that the show could be leaving Magic Kingdom and moving to Hollywood Studios. We’ll just have to wait to find out!
Which music artists will Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster feature? Rock or pop artists?
The new announcement shared that the Muppets are taking over Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster and will be “teaming up with some of music’s biggest stars for a rockin’ music festival!” No specific artists were named, which makes us wonder who will be featured on this re-themed ride.
Since the ride is a rock music-themed ride, we wonder which stars Disney will add to it. There aren’t too many rock bands that would be considered “music’s biggest stars” unless you start looking back at bands from the 80s and 90s. But then that seems like it defeats the purpose of replacing Aerosmith, an 80s rock band. If Disney uses pop artists who are popular today, then you lose the rock aspect. It will certainly be interesting to see which artists make it on the ride!
Is this the end of the puffy pizza from PizzeRizzo?
PizzeRizzo has not necessarily been a fan-favorite restaurant at Hollywood Studios, but the puffy pizza is very well-known, and many people do enjoy it.
You can grab a puffy pizza over at Pizzafari at Animal Kingdom, but in Hollywood Studios, PizzeRizzo is the only spot for this popular meal. If the Muppets are being moved, and a new Monsters, Inc. restaurant is opening, does this mean the end of the puffy pizza at Hollywood Studios?
PizzeRizzo Restaurant
Services: Quick Service
There are lots of changes coming to Hollywood Studios in the upcoming years. We’re excited to see new attractions and that the Muppets won’t be gone from the park forever. But we’re also eager to get some answers to our several questions.
For more Disney news, keep following AllEars!
6 Clues About the NEW Monsters, Inc. Land Coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios
What questions do you have about the new announcement? Let us know in the comments!
If the Laugh Floor does move to Studios, that leaves an open show building to house Muppet*Vision 3D in Tomorrowland. They would have to exert some energy to make sure it fits the land (if they even care about that anymore), but it’s already a comedy show?? Oh, I can hear the PeopleMover narration gags now… Please Disney!?
Disney doesn’t care about continuity anymore, just look at the new “Frontierland”. As long as they can shoehorn an IP that’s all that matters now. Creativity costs too much money, despite them making record profits. You only get those profits by cutting everything that sets you apart from the competition. That’s why Universal is winning now, they get it.
Speculation:
1) The new Disney Villains’ show where Lightning McQueen is now is likely going to be a test show and an area to get guests excited for the new Villains’ land.
2) Those attractions have nothing in common other than location. Hollywood Studios is mostly a hodgepodge of attractions with exception of Toy Story Land. Even Star Wars has Star Tours separate from Galaxy’s Edge.
3) Again, speculation, but I suspect the Miss Piggy in the Fountain will be replaced by something more Monsters, Inc.-like, but I also thing some sort of tribute to the fountain will be seen in the queue or the ride of the newly-themed Rock ‘n’ Rollercoaster.
4) I hope Laugh Floor doesn’t get moved into the Muppets 3D building and that a new show of some sort is developed. The space is already designed for a 3D film, so I would expect a Monsters Inc. 3D film in there.
5) No idea who the new musical artists will be, but lets hope they are actual people and not something that Disney makes up to save money on licensing.
6) Let’s hope the Pizza at Pizza Rizzo’s is gone forever! But since restaurant already is a pizza place, it’s likely it just gets rethemed.
And there is no seventh question!