One of Jim Henson’s final projects, MuppetVision, to close: Disney World moving Muppets to replace Aerosmith coaster
Disney's Hollywood Studios will replace the iconic 3D show with a previously announced Monsters, Inc. land — plus Rock 'n' Roller Coaster is getting a Muppet makeover.
One of the late Jim Henson's final Muppets projects is closing forever, as Disney World has announced that the iconic MuppetVision 3D show will be replaced by the previously announced Monsters, Inc. land at the Disney's Hollywood Studios park — but, the visionary creator's characters will relocate to replace theming inspired by the rock band Aerosmith inside the nearby Rock 'n' Roller Coaster ride at the same park.
Disney revealed its massive overhaul plans Friday on the official Disney Parks Blog, which outlined the plans and debuted concept artwork for the transformation projects involving the Muppets.
"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 announcement read, confirming the closure of MuppetVision 3D. "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!"
Disney confirmed that there will be "laughter, screams, and new tunes" inside the Rock 'n' Roller Coaster re-theme, which first opened in 1999 as a launched indoor roller coaster, and promised that there is still time to enjoy Aerosmith's version of the ride as well as "MuppetVision 3D again before their final curtain calls" in the near future.
The company additionally said that that it is "having creative conversations and exploring ways to preserve the film and other parts of the experience for fans to enjoy in the future," as it was one of Henson's last Muppets-oriented projects he worked on before his death in 1990.
MuppetVision 3D first opened in 1991 at the Orlando, Fla. park, with a second iteration opening at the California Adventure park in Anaheim in 2001 before it closed in 2014. The narrative follows the Muppets as they take the audience on a tour of their studio as they prepare a lavish production — with appearance by Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Gonzo, Fozzie, and more.
Fans initially speculated that the Muppets were in danger at Disney World after the company revealed at D23 in August that a new Monsters, Inc. section was in development for Hollywood Studios, which is set to include a suspended roller coaster, dining, and retail locations.
Sign up for Entertainment Weekly's free daily newsletter to get breaking TV news, exclusive first looks, recaps, reviews, interviews with your favorite stars, and more.
Elsewhere at Disney World, the resort is currently at work on replacing its Dinoland, U.S.A. section at Animal Kingdom with a Central Americas-themed area that will include an Encanto ride and an Indiana Jones re-theme of the classic Dinosaur dark ride.
Magic Kingdom is also set to receive the highly anticipated Villains Land, which will unite multiple Disney villains in one space after a mysterious spell conjures them to the spooky locale.