Disney World is going through a lot of changes!
Every park is getting in on the changes, and it’s been a lot to keep up with! Sadly, one of my favorite parts of Disney World is on the chopping block, and I think it’s a major mistake.
In case you’ve missed it, Disney is personally attacking me by closing the Muppets Courtyard and I seriously think it’s a huge mistake! If you’ve never been, Muppets Courtyard is home to Muppet Vision 3D, PizzeRizzo, and Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano.
It’s also home to a really gorgeous Miss Piggy Fountain (which is important to me). There are a few reasons I think this is a big error, starting with the loss of Disney history! If you didn’t know, MuppetVision 3D was the last project Jim Henson, the creator of the Muppets, ever worked on.
Before his untimely passing at just 53 years old, Jim Henson was in talks with Disney regarding the company’s purchase of the Muppets as well as bringing Muppets Courtyard to life. The land was originally set to have two major attractions, the other being a spoof on the Great Movie ride, but with Henson’s death, the plans all went cold.
That made MuppetVision his final project and his final performance as Kermit the Frog, whom he voiced. The loss of Muppet Vision 3D, which closes on June 8th, 2025 at the same time as PizzeRizzo, is the loss of real history for Muppet fans. Disney has promised to preserve the show, however, they haven’t clarified what that really means.
Next, I think we have enough construction going on as it is, let’s not add more! In Hollywood Studios, the first closures in Muppet Courtyard are set to begin on May 11th with Mama Melrose’s closing its doors. In the other parks, EPCOT already has construction as it works on Test Track 2.0, which is expected to open in late Summer 2025.
In Animal Kingdom, It’s Tough To Be A Bug permanently closed to make room for a new Zootopia show, and DinoLand U.S.A. is in the process of a phased permanent closure. And that’s not all!
Over in Magic Kingdom, we’re expecting big construction to begin soon, thanks to the addition of the new Villains Land and a new Cars area! While all of these changes are bittersweet (we’re losing quite a few staples), we are still very excited. That being said, this many closures and construction walls aren’t for the faint of heart so we could always delay the Muppet closure indefinitely. You know, so that way we can avoid more construction walls, of course.
Another reason I think closing the Muppets area is a mistake is I think every theme park needs its puffy pizza. That’s right, I’m a puffy pizza fan, and PizzeRizzo is the home of said pizza.
Now, is it the best pizza in the world? No. Is it really good pizza… also weirdly no. It is, however, comforting and simple, making it picky-eater-friendly. I also find that I enjoy it occasionally when I want something familiar and simple. In Animal Kingdom, you can head to Pizzafari for this classic comfort, and I would hate to miss out on it here.
Plus, it’s rat pizza, what’s not to love about that? Next, Disney is making the mistake of closing this area during the Muppets resurgence! The Muppets popularity has ebbed and flowed since they debuted in 1955, but now, they’re back.
Their popularity has grown across social media, with Disney even using Miss Piggy and Kermit as the hosts for the show Holidays in Hollywood during Jollywood Nights. When they first appeared in the show in 2023, social media (and the in-person crowd) went crazy. Why cut the Muppets down now when they’re headed for the top? I mean, GAP just released a Muppets collection for crying out loud.
Finally, I think that not every land needs to be packed to the brim; introverts need a place to go! While this might not be the most popular land in the entire park, it does serve a wonderful purpose as a place of escape for many people, myself included.
I know, the Monsters Inc. Land replacing it will be so cool. It’s going to have a Monsters Inc. roller coaster, a few dining spots, and more. While we don’t know tons of details yet, we can expect that this area will be packed when it opens.
Despite my pleas, though, Disney is moving forward, and I will be heartbroken the moment those walls go up in June. I’m also open to change and will, eventually, be excited to head into Monstropolis. So while I think it’s a mistake, I have also resigned my feelings and accepted the inevitable. As always, be sure to keep following AllEars for more Disney news and updates.
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How do you feel about the changes? Tell me in the comments!
Someone (AllEars?) should keep a running tab on the number of rides at each park that carry a disclaimer about motion sickness, medical conditions that might warrant skipping the ride, or that are unsuitable for people with very young children. Disney keeps replacing rides like Muppets 3D and Tom Sawyer Island with thrill rides. I no longer go to Disney Studios. Years ago I would buy a 7 day park hopper pass. Now I spend only 3-4 days at the parks . And news flash for Disney. People sitting by their resort pools or taking long walks at their resorts or reading on their room balcony dont spend a whole lot of money. By all means keep taking away things like Muppet 3D. Before you know it, there won’t be any reason for people like me to go to WDW at all. .
I have been a fan of the Muppets for a long time. I watch Muppets 3D on every visit to the park. I am extremely disappointed with the plan to destroy the Muppet area.
I was never a huge fan of the Muppets, but I always thought the 3d show was great and the finale is fantastic. I understand things change, but why wouldnt they move the 3d show to where they are putting the new villians show. since they are retheming RNR, putting the Miss Piggy fountain, the 3D show and even the pizza place in that space would make more sense. I would rather have the villians show over at Disney Jr theater