Disney Confirms Fan Fears: Muppet Vision 3D Is Closing — but Its Beloved Stars Are Getting a New Gig

The Muppets of Disney Studios are preparing to take their final bow.

Disney announced on Friday, Nov. 22 that one of its most beloved attractions, Jim Henson's Muppet*Vision 3D, will close to make way for a new Monsters Inc.-themed land.

Fans of the long-running show, which debuted in 1991, were understandably devastated by the news, which had been rumored for several months, as park watchers guessed at areas of Disney's Hollywood Studios that were ripe for a re-theming following the Monsters Inc. announcement in August.

"This is not gonna sit well with people," one Instagram commenter predicted. Another added simply, "Not cool."

Several pointed out the important legacy of the ride, which was the last project Muppet creator Jim Henson worked on before he died. "Goodbye to the oldest and last thing the great Jim Henson had brilliantly built with his own two hands," one comment reads.

The Muppets aren't leaving the Orlando park altogether, however.

Instead, Disney revealed, they are getting a new gig as the stars of a re-themed Rock 'n' Roller Coaster. Kermit, Miss Piggy and the gang will be "teaming up with some of music’s biggest stars for a rockin’ music festival!" according to the official Disney Parks Blog.

The thrill ride is currently hosted by — and features the music of — Aerosmith, as it has since it opened in 1999. It was just recently closed for refurbishment from January until June 2024, but reopened looking much the same.

"We know so many of you share our love for The Muppets and know their energy will be a perfect fit for this coaster," the Parks blog post continues. "Plus, as the first Disney ride ever to feature The Muppets, there’s sure to be laughter, screams and new tunes for this attraction for fans to enjoy throughout the adventure and plenty of Muppets-themed merchandise on Sunset Boulevard!"

Disney has not revealed a closing date for Muppet*Vision, but said there's "plenty of time" left to catch the show one last time. It will very likely be in 2025, as the company previously shared this past summer that work on the new Monsters Inc. land "is slated to begin next year."

The fate of the other tenants of the area currently known as Animation Courtyard, where Muppet*Vision is located, including Mama Melrose and Pizza Rizzo, was not addressed by the blog.

Disney first announced the Monsters Inc. land at its annual D23 conference on Aug. 10.

Billy Crystal, who voiced Mike Wazowski in the Pixar animated movie, appeared on stage to share the news, including that it will allow humans to "stroll the streets alongside some of your favorite monsters" and include a new suspended coaster (Disney's first) that travels through the magical door factory featured in the film.

At the same event, Disney also revealed a slew of new lands and attractions coming to its parks over the next decade, including a long-rumored Villains-themed land at Magic Kingdom, an Indiana Jones ride and an Encanto ride at Animal Kingdom, among others.