Disney World Revives Muppet*Vision 3D Amid Threat of Closure

In January, Walt Disney World Resort announced that Muppet*Vision 3D would close permanently on June 7, 2025, to make way for a Monsters, Inc. (2001) expansion at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. As the beloved Jim Henson project prepares to play its final performance, let’s look back at the time Disney actually saved Muppet*Vision 3D from an early demise.

Muppet*Vision 3D opened at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in 1991, years before The Walt Disney Company purchased The Muppets in 2004. Jim Henson directed and starred as Kermit the Frog in the film, which ended up being one of his final projects. But the partnership between Henson and Disney began years prior.

Disney and Henson Announce Partnership

In 1989, then-Disney CEO Michael Eisner appeared on Good Morning America with Henson to announce that Disney planned to acquire Henson Associates, including The Muppets. Weeks later, Henson and Kermit the Frog immortalized their handprints at Walt Disney World Resort’s new theme park, Disney-MGM Studios (now known as Disney’s Hollywood Studios).

Unfortunately, Jim Henson died of pneumonia on May 16, 1990, months after directing and starring in Muppet*Vision 3D. The Walt Disney Company had yet to acquire Henson Associates or The Muppets but told The Orlando Sentinel that it planned to move forward with its in-progress projects (including Muppet*Vision 3D).

“We plan to proceed with everything as [Jim Henson] would have wanted us to, in the show business tradition of ‘The show must go on,’” Disney spokesperson Edwin Okun said just one day after Henson’s death. Over a week later, a Muppets stage show (“Here Come The Muppets”) opened at Disney-MGM Studios.

Tragedy Leads to Animosity

In December 1990, The New York Times broke the news that Disney no longer planned to purchase Henson Associates, citing “unsuccessful negotiations.” In 1991, reports alleged that Henson Associates was in talks with other potential buyers, including Time Warner and MCA. These deals could’ve put The Muppets into other theme parks like Six Flags and Universal Studios.

Days after those reports, Henson Associates sued Disney. Brian Henson, Jim’s son, accused Disney of acting like they owned The Muppets and “exploiting” the characters at Disney-MGM Studios after the failed acquisition. Brian demanded Disney not debut Muppet*Vision 3D, which was scheduled to open on May 4, 1991. Walt Disney World Resort canceled a press preview of the attraction planned for April 27 and postponed the grand opening until May 24.

The Walt Disney Company countersued Henson Associates, arguing that Muppet*Vision 3D was completed before Jim Henson’s death and didn’t violate the companies’ previously agreed partnership.

On April 30, 1991, Henson Associates and The Walt Disney Company publicly announced that they’d settled the lawsuits. Muppet*Vision 3D was allowed to open, and “Here Come The Muppets” could continue performing. But a condition of the settlement only gave Disney the theme park rights to The Muppets “east of the Mississippi River,” meaning that Disneyland Resort couldn’t build any Muppets attractions. This also allowed Henson Associates to offer the theme park rights to other companies in the West.

Walt Disney World Resort’s settlement terms were only good for 18 months and up for renewal for another 3.5 years after that. Had Henson Associates and Disney not extended the agreement, Muppet*Vision 3D could’ve closed in the early 1990s.

Muppet*Vision 3D Saved

Muppet*Vision 3D officially opened on May 16, 1991. The Walt Disney Company and Henson Associates collaborated on several Muppet theme park, film, and television projects throughout the 1990s, including The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992) and Muppet Treasure Island (1996). The aforementioned films were directed by Jim Henson’s son, Brian Henson.

The Muppets eventually made their way to Disneyland Resort, with a clone of Muppet*Vision 3D opening alongside Disney California Adventure Park in 2001. However, it closed permanently in 2014.

Fifteen years after Henson and Eisner appeared on Good Morning America, Disney finally purchased The Muppets from The Jim Henson Company. The franchise now exists under Walt Disney Imagineering as The Muppets Studio.

There you have it. The public may never have seen one of Jim Henson’s final works, Muppet*Vision 3D, had it not been for the legal settlement between Henson Associates and The Walt Disney Company. But while Disney saved Muppet*Vision 3D once, the attraction wouldn’t be so lucky over 30 years later.

What’s Replacing Muppet*Vision 3D?

At D23 2024, Chairman of Disney Experiences Josh D’Amaro surprised fans by announcing that Walt Disney Imagineering was planning to build a long-rumored Monsters, Inc. door coaster at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. At that time, early concept art revealed two possible locations for the Monsters, Inc. ride and its adjacent land: Muppets Courtyard and the Animation Courtyard.

Disney Parks fans quickly vocalized their opinions on where the new land should go, and most begged The Walt Disney Company to save one of Jim Henson’s final projects.

However, on November 22, Walt Disney World Resort confirmed that Muppets Courtyard (and Muppet*Vision 3D) would close to make way for the Monsters, Inc. land.

In a statement, Disney wrote that it planned to preserve Muppet*Vision 3D for “generations to come:”

“It’s no secret that the Muppets have a special place in our hearts and we are exploring ways to preserve the Muppet*Vision 3D film and other parts of the experience for generations to come.”

The End for The Muppets?

This isn’t the end of The Muppets at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Walt Disney World Resort has confirmed that Jim Henson’s beloved characters will take over Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith. An exact closing date for the roller coaster’s retheme has yet to be announced.

The all-new “Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After” show is set to take over the nearby Sunset Showcase Theater later this summer, replacing Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy. However, some Disney Parks fans have speculated that Disney’s Hollywood Studios will replace the show with a revived Muppet*Vision 3D when the in-progress Disney Villains land opens at Magic Kingdom Park.

Are you a Muppet*Vision 3D fan? In the comments, share your favorite memories of the attraction with us!