WDW News & Rumors: Indiana Jones Replacement, MuppetVision Changes, New Restaurant
We’re back with another Walt Disney World news and rumor round-up. This time, we cover a newly-announced restaurant for Epcot, a reimagining of Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular, permits regarding the Guardians of the Galaxy coaster, and the removal of theme and personality from MuppetVision 3D.
Let’s start with what’s official. Disney has confirmed previous rumors that a new crêperie will be built in an all-new location near the previously announced Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure attraction at Epcot. This new crêperie will feature the cuisine of celebrity chef Jérôme Bocuse, the son of Paul Bocuse and operator of the pavilion’s Chefs de France and Monsieur Paul restaurants.
The yet unnamed crêperie will feature a menu inspired by the Brittany region of France, and will offer both table service and quick-service dining. The restaurant will serve both sweet crepes and savory galettes. It’ll be interesting to see how this presumably small venue handles both table service and quick service, but perhaps Disney means there will be tables inside so it’s not takeaway-only.
The restaurant is part of the multi-year transformation of Epcot and an expansion of the France pavilion that will include a “Beauty and the Beast” Sing-Along experience, which will run in addition to that Impressions de France, and Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure attraction.
While no official opening dates are set yet for these France additions, Disney has stated repeatedly that all are coming to the pavilion in time for Walt Disney World’s 50th Anniversary. There are rumors suggesting these could debut earlier than that–at some point in 2020.
Next, BlogMickey has uncovered a construction permit for what’s likely to be massive projection domes in the new Guardians of the Galaxy roller coaster under construction at Epcot. The permit is for “fabrication and installation of show screens” at the address associated with this project, with contractor Spitz, Inc. performing the work.
Spitz is the world’s leading provider of dome projection screens with prestigious clients including Griffith Observatory, Disney, IMAX, Zeiss, and Universal Studios. It’s unclear which Spitz product is being used for Guardians of the Galaxy, but they have some impressive stuff, and the rumored budget of this attraction should allow for plenty of screen-based and advanced Audio Animatronics wizardry.
I have little doubt that people will love the Guardians of the Galaxy attraction and that it’ll be incredibly well done given what’s being invested. For me, it still comes down to “at what cost?!” It’s tough to envision a scenario where whatever results from this project is “worth” the further thematic degradation of Epcot and that gigantic show-building. At least, to me personally. No doubt many others will wholeheartedly disagree.
The latest rumor is significant changes to Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular including new and replaced scenes, plus the removal of its “working studio” premise that no longer makes sense in the current incarnation of the park.
To accommodate for enhancements, adjustments, Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular will go dark for a lengthy period of time between 2020 and 2021, with the reimagined show debuting in Summer 2021, just in time for Walt Disney World’s 50th anniversary celebration.
This both makes sense and doesn’t. On the “makes sense” side of things, refreshing shows is a comparatively easy way of having something new to offer (as opposed to building attractions). It would certainly fit with Walt Disney World’s rumored plans of a ’50 for 50th’ celebration, too.
This would also roughly coincide with the release of Indiana Jones 5, making for a good marketing option–and one for which the studio might pick up some of the refresh budget cost as a promotional expense.
On the “doesn’t make sense” side of things, Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular has been rumored to change, close, or be replaced for the better part of the last decade. From what we’ve heard, this show–along with Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage and Voyage of the Little Mermaid–have all survived well past any reasonable expiration date because they still score very well in guest satisfaction ratings, which are the main metrics used to evaluate whether to replace entertainment.
Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular does a good job of absorbing crowds and is located on the “Star Wars side” of Disney’s Hollywood Studios. This also makes the rumored closure and its timing in the immediate aftermath of Galaxy’s Edge a bit curious. Nevertheless, it wouldn’t be unprecedented, and this is one rumor we are expecting to come to fruition.
We’ll finish with news that probably doesn’t matter to many of you, but does to me. That’s the slow erosion of Muppet theming from what was previously Muppet Courtyard and has since transitioned to Grand Avenue. This has been an ongoing saga, with the removal of the Miss Piggy and Kermit mural, plus some other painted gags, being the latest change.
When the “Muppet Courtyard” name and PizzeRizzo were first announced for this area, I was so excited. It just made sense. Give the Muppets an expanded presence in what would otherwise be a eclectic mini-land, giving the park some semblance of a “Muppet Studio” along with the adjacent Star Wars and Pixar areas.
For what it’s worth, I don’t think this means that the writing is on the wall for MuppetVision or even PizzeRizzo. Granted, the days of the latter are definitely numbered, but it’s hard to envision removing/replacing that attraction as a high priority, especially with an influx of foot traffic to this area come late August. To the contrary, I’d expect PizzeRizzo to resume daily operations at that point.
In hindsight, it’s quite obvious someone pumped the brakes on the Muppet Courtyard idea, and the Grand Avenue concept was introduced instead. The pretext is that Grand Avenue is inspired by modern day Los Angeles. More realistically, it seems like someone at Imagineering wanting a ‘softer’ transition to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge (Grand Avenue is expected to be the ‘waiting area’ for Star Wars land), rather something more visually jarring.
If we’re considering it a land, Grand Avenue is the dullest one in any theme park. Totally nondescript and forgettable, and basically a palate cleanser before entering Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. I could maybe understand this approach, but on the other side of Star Wars land is…Toy Story Land. Talk about one extreme to another.
Instead, it’s yet another instance of Disney squandering the potential of the Muppets. It’s really unfortunate that Disney has pursued and abandoned so many projects involving the Muppets that are either subpar or totally miss the tone and character of the Muppets. The few Muppet creations Disney has gotten right (and I’d include Great Moments in American History in this) have been top-notch, and I think there is a market for these characters. Muppet Courtyard could’ve been the perfect theme park home for them.
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YOUR THOUGHTS
What do you think of these stories? Excited for the new crepe restaurant at Epcot? Thoughts on the Guardians of the Galaxy roller coaster? Think it’s plausible that Disney will close Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular for a year to revamp it? Do you also wish Muppet Courtyard were a fully fleshed-out thing? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
Agree, agree, agree on the Muppets. I LOVE them and want more Muppets!
I would LOVE to see MuppetVision move from Hollywood studios to a permanent spot in Disney’s Journey to the imagination. Can you picture it? The entire section turned into an interactive MuppetLab!!! Really spark fun, creativity, and imagination for sure!
Thinking they should switch Star Wars Launch Bay with Muppets 3D…I LOVE the Muppets and would be sad to see them go. With the new series, it would make more sense to have it over with the Playhouse Jr stuff and then the Launch Bay and other Star Wars preview/summary movies can move over that way between Star Tours & GE.
Also re Indy, I would guess changing it from the ‘behind the scenes’ format would release some performers, therefore saving money, which is the main driving force behind most decisions. (Unless that decision is – will it make more money of course).
Little ol’ cynic me!
I really like the Muppets! But I think we all have to be realistic – Muppets aren’t that popular.
As far as Guardians of the Galaxy, I would prefer the 1980s EPCOT. But that is never coming back. I’m THRILLED with Guardians of the Galaxy. Maybe not the ideal, but at least the investment is being made.
Tom is worried about the “thematic degradation of Epcot,” but the current theme is “don’t invest in attractions, just open another koisk.” If the new Guardians attractions means that buildings are being used and being built, rather than being shuttered or filled with festival kiosks, then I am all for it.
Guardians will be the Flight of Passage of EPCOT.
Leave the Indiana Jones show, I love it and so do my lads. We always visit the show a couple of times on each visit to Hollywood Studios. Also leave the Muppets 3D I still find it amusing despite watching it many times. Maybe I’m just old school but I like tried and tested shows/rides I miss the stunt show, the Great Movie Ride and even Mickey’s Sorcerer’s hat. It’s all very well updating and bringing in new rides/shows but there still needs to the classics.
Replace the Indiana Jones Stunt Show with the Indiana Jones ride like the one in Disneyland. That ride is one of the best in all of the Disney parks.
YES!!!
Then we would essentially have another ‘Dinosaur’ ride on Disney property. They’re pretty much the same ride, only different theming.
The Muppets were a huge part of my life and my kids and I still watch the Old Muppet shows. I love the Muppets 3D at Hollywood Studios, go there several times during our Disney trips, and would hate for it to be removed. I think they should add more Muppets, though I agree with Frank Oz, who said Disney hasn’t been true to the Muppet characters. They should ask him for advice!
PIGS IN SPACE!
The perfect segue to Star Wars Land
Agree with other commenters that a refresh of Muppet Vision 3-D would be a welcome improvement. My pre-school age son is a huge fan of the new Muppet Babies series, and it’s one show I enjoy watching with him. We’d love a refresh of the 3-D movie and an expansion of the Muppet area (a character meet, perhaps), rather than the erosion that seems to be happening.
My family loves The Muppets, we still enjoy this movie and would be thrilled to see more added to the area. The Muppets have been a great addition to Liberty Square, it would be fun to see a live performance at the Studios too.
I’ll just say that whenever my husband asks how much time does he have for (whatever), the answer is “You’ve got a minute and a half!!!” #muppet3Drocks
tom, thank you for the piece regarding the muppets. as a HUGE muppet fan, i was excited when disney purchased them, but have felt they have squandered what could be another big franchise. first it was removing muppet vision in california adventure for… what turned out to be nothing, a theater to preview films. they haven’t finished releasing the remaining season of the muppet show on dvd (i know there were some contractual issues, but this is over a decade that they could have figured out by now). they have only done 2 films. they had the tv series that was dead in the water before it started due to poor marketing.
i felt like all we have left is muppet vision 3D, one of jim henson’s final projects. that reason alone makes it very special to a large group of fans. but they have all but let it die a slow death. the film needed to be digitized ages ago. the theater has fallen into disrepair. then came the muppets courtyard that lasted all of 5 minutes. had such high hopes for that area as it sounds like you did. now it’s nothing and only shown seasonally as i understand. now with the removal of the balloon, sign, and murals, i feel like they think people are stupid not to notice exactly what they are doing. it sits directly between star tours and GE.
kermit is shown on the new HS 30th anniversary logo that was just released, so that is something, but why have they let the attraction go the way they have? i hear the muppet “store” is nothing more than an endcap in the building at this point. they have the muppet babies reboot on disney junior, those characters need to be a meet and greet or at the breakfast at hollywood and vine.
the best thing disney could do would be the rehouse muppet vision 3d in a new home and digitize the film. give it fresh life. the theater next to imagination in epcot that shows pixar films no one cares about would be a nice move. or a new home within HS. but they are boxing it out and making it very obvious. i want to believe it has longevity, but when they aren’t giving it a chance, what else are we supposed to think?
Love Muppets 3D and Great Moments in American History. My grandkids love them too!
Agreed with your sentiments about Guardians of the Galaxy. The show building is so out of place and large . I know they have painted it in a “sky” blue in hopes to make it blend in, but I hope they have some other tricks because it looks terrible
I just saw the trailer for “Aladdin” and thought..WOW that could replace Indiana Jones at Hollywood Studios! Wouldn’t that be magical!?
Personally, I need MORE Indy, not less. But the stuntshow’s gotta go… I would much prefer a ride! I don’t even care if it’s a clone of Disneyland in CA or DisneySea in Tokyo. I’m not picky! The stuntshow was fun the first time but I don’t feel the need to see it over and over again. Now, a RIDE, on the other hand… 😉
Completely agree, the Indiana show is terrible, watched it a few years back and desperately wanted to leave half way through, but couldn’t bear the embarrassment of asking everyone to move. A different show would be much welcomed; and think Aladdin would be a great replacement!
Yep. Agree. Pretty dull and it broke down twice when we went so didn’t even see the end. Much preferred the Cars stunt show at DLP for entertainment value. Any improvements to the Indie show have got to be good. Or another show entirely.
Mmmm, crepes delicious!!!
We needn’t more Muppets not less!!!
I really wish that they would UPDATE the Muppet’s attraction. We love going there. But the attraction is dated and needs to be changed. I’m sure they can come up with something to give in new life and excitement. If they can add the Muppet’s to the courtyard in MK, they can come up with a new story for that building. It attracts people regardless of what is around it. Ok, so go there just to get cooled off and relax a bit. Just as we do with Carousel of Progress. But it is still part of HS that always brings us back. I really wish they would have updated the Great Movie Ride and found a new sponsor.
I had hoped that with the reboot of Muppet Babies, more Muppet presence would come to Disney. My daughter has become a huge fan due to watching that show, and my older kids love the Muppets, too.
I was hoping the same thing! My three kids all enjoy the show but my middle is completely Muppet Babies obsessed and he would be thrilled to see more Muppets in the parks.
Leave Muppets3D alone! The storyline is perfect the way it is. It is masterpiece like muppets family Christmas, the original muppet movie and muppet Christmas carol.
I sincerely hope they do not get rid of Muppets 3D. I remember going to WDW right after my high school graduation ( Muppets had just opened) and it was absolutely wonderful. I grew up watching the show with my family at a time when we did not have so many TV channels out in rural America. The Muppets represent a very nostalgic time for me and my whole family so we really enjoy going to the show every time we’re at WDW… sometimes more than once. We would absolutely hate to see it go.
I grew up with the Muppets Show, so it is something I understand. My kids never watched it. We still go to it every time e are at HS. It is to bad Great Moments wasn’t put in HS. It could have added to the Muppets theme. One attraction and a part time QS don’t make for a themed area. It is unfortunate they have remove some of the street theming . As far as GoG goes, HS would have been a better fit. Movie themed not futuristic! Would Love to see Indy changed to a ride like at DL. Good show to see once to twice, but then you know all the “tricks”.