Jim Henson Company on “Next Act” of MuppetVision 3D After Closing at Disney World
The Jim Henson Company has released its own statement about the future of MuppetVision 3D in response to Walt Disney World’s announcement of its closure and replacement at Hollywood Studios. This shares a new development post-closing, plus the full official statement along with background about the rocky relationship with Disney as well as other commentary. (Updated July 13, 2025.)
MuppetVision 3D received a glorious 13-hour finale on June 8, with Walt Disney World sending off the attraction mostly on a high note. It was a fitting send-off to the iconic attraction, and none other than Heather Henson was the last guest to enter the last public demonstration of MuppetVision 3D.
Cast Members were the final guests to say goodbye to Muppets Courtyard, with the farewell party being held on June 10. Construction walls are now up along the edge of Grand Avenue as well as backstage in anticipation of beginning work on the Monsters, Inc. Doors Coaster in the parking lot, demolition of Stage 1 Company Store in the former Muppets Courtyard, and reimagining the theater and restaurants into new venues for Monstropolis.
The latest development comes in mid-July 2025. During an interview with TheaterMania, Brian Henson was asked whether MuppetVision 3D is gone from the theme parks for good? Here’s his response:
“They wrapped [MuppetVision 3D] up in the way Disney does, where everything is recorded for historical purposes and all the animatronics are packed away perfectly. So, theoretically, they could bring it back out if they wanted to at some point. From the get-go, they designed it so that 500 people could go through every 25 minutes. It was one the most highly experienced attractions, I think, that Disney ever made. And I was very sad to see it getting wrapped up.”
First of all, he’s right about the throughput. One of the points made by MuppetVision detractors was that it was no longer popular. This is not accurate. It was still doing healthy numbers by stage show standards, and the hourly capacity was pretty high in the first place.
Remember, wait times are not always indicative of popularity. Most meet & greets have really low hourly throughput, so even the perpetually long lines are putting up worse numbers than a dark ride that’s a walk-on much of the time. Not only that, but having attractions that can soak up crowds without 90 minute waits is a good thing, not a bad thing!
Second of all, I’d highly recommend reading the whole interview. Not because there’s a lot in there about MuppetVision (there isn’t), but because you’re presumably a fan of the Muppets if you’re reading this latest update even after the closure of MuppetVision. There are some great tidbits in there about Muppet Christmas Carol, and the director’s dispute with Disney about the final cut of the film.
Finally, although I’ve been skeptical and cynical about MuppetVision’s future prospects, the recent developments have been reassuring. Another thing that gives me a small amount of hope is that there are many Muppets fans in Imagineering, which is the division that controls the Muppets now. There are high-profile people championing the Muppets and MuppetVision within Disney, which is likely how we got the ‘olive branch’ of Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring the Muppets in the first place.
While those Imagineers and others lost the battle to save MuppetVision, it’s still possible they’ll win the war (so to speak). All it could take is a leadership change or two at the top of Walt Disney World, and suddenly there might be more of an appetite for a new Muppets Courtyard and comeback of MuppetVision. Even though the chances of this are below 50%, stranger things have happened. (Who among us expected Captain EO to rise from extinction all those years later?!)
One month prior to this, the topic of MuppetVision came up during a Walt Disney Family Museum event celebrating the Jim Henson Company’s 70th Anniversary. Current CEO Lisa Henson stated the Henson Company is “in discussions” with Disney about bringing the beloved film to VR according to LaughingPlace, which was in attendance at the WDFM panel.
Henson added that MuppetVision was documented using VR cameras before the attraction closed permanently, suggesting that preservation efforts are well underway and that a public release could be on the horizon. This further fuels optimism that the fan-favorite attraction may live on in virtual reality via devices like Apple Vision Pro.
This is hardly surprising, but it’s nevertheless reassuring to hear from Lisa Henson herself. Back in mid-May, a filming event was held by Imagineering to archive MuppetVision 3D. Critically, the event invited select Cast Members to register for the event, where they served as the in-theater audience during the recording of the mixed media show.
At the time, Walt Disney World would only confirm that Imagineering was digitally recording the full show of MuppetVision 3D. No preservation plans were confirmed at that time–only that the recorded footage would ensure the attraction is documented for any potential future uses. It would now seem the Jim Henson Company has confirmed one of those future uses–a virtual reality adaptation! (We discussed that update at the time in Where Will MuppetVision 3D Be Relocated?)
What follows is the original official statement on the closure of MuppetVision 3D from the Jim Henson Company that was made in late 2024:
Jim Henson’s final project was Muppet*Vision 3D, now regarded as a true theme park classic. Innovation was always Jim Henson’s north star, and his trailblazing career led him to a unique challenge: a truly immersive Muppet experience where audiences are part of the happy chaos of the iconic Muppet Show.
Originally debuting in 1991, Muppet*Vision 3D combined 3D technology with real-world practical effects, alongside animatronic and live Muppet characters. The result was a one-of-a-kind Jim Henson experience, and an unforgettable capstone to Jim’s magnificent career. As we learn of the show’s upcoming closure in its current form at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, we look forward to Muppet*Vision 3D’s next act.
And now, our original commentary about the Henson Company’s involvement and the “next act” of MuppetVision 3D…
Some of you may be confused as to why the Jim Henson Company is putting out a statement about MuppetVision 3D. After all, doesn’t Disney own the Muppets? So isn’t this no different than a subsidiary of the Walt Disney Company releasing a statement, like if LucasFilm were to comment on the quality of the latest Disney+ show? Not really.
This is more like the Walt Disney Family Museum–or really, Walt’s grandkids and other relatives–commenting on something being done by the current company. If you look at the Jim Henson Company Board of Directors, you’ll notice a common last name. Spoiler alert, it’s Henson. The company is (once again) controlled by Jim Henson’s family, including his adult children: Brian, Lisa, Cheryl, and Heather Henson.
The Jim Henson Company is not owned by Disney in whole or in part. But it almost was! Back in the late 1980s, Jim Henson started to negotiate a deal in which the Muppets would be sold to Disney. (This is probably a story many diehard Walt Disney World and Muppets fans have heard before, but in case not…)
Michael Eisner was looking to expand Disney’s reach by purchasing other franchises, in a pre-cursor to the many moves made by his successor, Bob Iger. Disney and the Muppets were a perfect match. Both were highly successful companies with characters beloved by generations.
Walt Disney had Mickey Mouse and Jim Henson had Kermit. They were two creative titans, and in my opinion, about the only acquisitions that would’ve ‘fit’ as well as the Muppets would’ve been Pixar and Studio Ghibli, the latter headed by Hayao Miyazaki, known as the “Walt Disney of Japan.”
By all accounts, Jim Henson agreed with this assessment that the Muppets and Disney were a perfect fit for one another. Henson had grown tired of the business side of the Muppets and wanted to get back to creating. His studio was in debt, the Muppets weren’t as hot as they were a decade earlier, and the Walt Disney Company had proven itself capable brand-managers. Henson felt Disney could revitalize the Muppets in a truly win-win deal. And Eisner really wanted to make the deal happen.
Negotiations got really far along, with the two studios partnering to produce a 60-minute special called The Muppets at Walt Disney World, one of our all-time favorite Disney TV specials.
Before the acquisition was finalized, Imagineering and Henson got to work on creating attractions for the Disney-MGM Studios, both sides figuring it was a done deal. This resulted in stage shows and entertainment offerings: Here Come the Muppets and Muppets on Location: Days of Swine and Rose. It also brought to life MuppetVision 3D, and was supposed to include a whole land themed to the Muppets.
Tragically, MuppetVision 3D was last project that Jim Henson personally worked on, as he passed away on May 16, 1990. The show was finished after his passing by Henson’s longtime collaborators, but bears his fingerprints and trademark humor and heart all over it. Disney’s plans to create a whole Muppet land were put on the back burner, and the deal to acquire the studio fell apart.
There are a number of reasons for the deal not coming to fruition, all revolving around Henson’s passing. The sordid saga has become the stuff of legends in fan circles, and it’s believed that Disney’s acquisition of the Jim Henson Company was only days away from happening.
Years later, the Jim Henson Company did sell the rights to certain characters and properties away to other companies, including the Muppets to Disney and Sesame Street to Sesame Workshop. That’s why those characters are in two different theme parks.
The Jim Henson Company also maintains the rights to certain titles in the back catalogue, which is why Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas isn’t part of Disney, and why there have been reboots of the Dark Crystal and Fraggle Rock (some very good!) on other streaming services in the last few years.
All of that should explain the distinction between the Disney and Henson companies in a nutshell (more or less). As you’ve probably gathered, there’s a lot more to the story about the early 1990s fallout, rocky relationship between the companies for a period before making amends (in typical Eisner fashion), and also to the morass of rights to Henson characters. But that’s the basic gist of it.
As for why this statement from the Jim Henson Company matters, for the same reason that it matters when Walt Disney’s grandkids and family come out in favor of or against something the current company is doing. Jim Henson may not have the same stature as Walt Disney, but for a large swath of Americans of a certain age, they are regarded similarly. Both ‘American Originals’ who broke the mold, with few more impactful creative people in our nation’s history.
MuppetVision 3D is essentially the last legacy of Jim Henson, and when people (like me) say it’s culturally significant and should be treated as such, we aren’t kidding. MuppetVision 3D is a prime example of theme parks as art and national heritage. This statement by the Jim Henson Company shines a light on that, and may bring it to the attention and concern of people–beyond just theme park fans–who may have been previously unaware of Jim Henson’s personal involvement.
All of this will help add to the pressure campaign for the Walt Disney Company to do the right thing with regard to MuppetVision 3D. I’m not suggesting that means Walt Disney World walking back the decision and relocating Monstropolis–that isn’t happening. There’s a reason they took so long to make this announcement, and it’s because there had been internal deliberations and debate about all of this. What was announced, at least in terms of where the Monsters, Inc. Doors Coaster and miniland will go, is a done deal.
What isn’t necessarily settled is the fate of MuppetVision 3D. Given that, we’d encourage you to add to the pressure campaign by contacting Walt Disney World to respectfully express your opinion, if you have a strong one on this matter (and I assume you do if you’ve read this far) as soon as possible.
The best way to do that is by emailing [email protected]. Trust me–it’s not too late to make your voice heard on this subject. (We’re currently traveling, but have more Muppets posts planned in the next couple of weeks to help spread the word and fight the good fight–apologies for the lack of responses to your many thoughtful comments on the earlier Muppets posts.)
Ultimately, there are a range of possibilities and outcomes when it comes to the future of MuppetVision 3D. It could live on as something lame like a multi-angle tribute put up on Disney+ or YouTube. At the other end of the spectrum, it could be something ambitious like relocating the stage show completely–either within Walt Disney World or to somewhere else entirely. Or something in between the two extremes. The Jim Henson Company’s statement was clever in the sense that it pushes the notion that MuppetVision 3D will have a “next act,” and subtly attempts to force Disney’s hand to make that hand. Here’s hoping it works and the gang is able to save the theater (or rather, the show inside it) once again!
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YOUR THOUGHTS
What are your thoughts on the Jim Henson Company’s statement? Think there’s any chance of MuppetVision 3D being “saved” in any meaningful sense of the word? Do you believe it’ll end up being relocated within Walt Disney World, outside the parks, or just on Disney Plus? What do you think of Monstropolis replacing MuppetVision? Is this addition still “worth it” to you now that it’s replacing Grand Avenue and MuppetVision 3D? Do you agree or disagree with our assessments? 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!
In addition to sending Disney an email, I suggest everyone go over to the Library of Congress’s National Film Registry and submit a nomination for Muppet*Vision 3D to be included in 2025’s Registry List.
While the list is primarily for traditional film, the Registry includes a wide variety of audiovisual media like tv shows and music videos. So the fact that Muppet*Vision was created for a theme park attraction would not prevent its inclusion into the registry – and considering the fact that it was Jim Henson’s final project plus that The Muppet Movie is already on the registry, I think it would have a great chance at inclusion if enough wrote in.
And since I’m not sure if y’all allow links to be submitted in the comments, here’s the link to the National Film Registry in case this isn’t allowed: https://www.loc.gov/programs/national-film-preservation-board/film-registry/nominate/
I really appreciate this suggestion. As a theme park fan, I understand the reasoning behind closing the attraction and look forward to the new Monstropolis land. As a film historian, though, I’m saddened by the loss of an attraction that took up three pages of my honors thesis on immersive cinema back when I was a film student. I’ve submitted my nomination.
This attraction must be preserved! It has great cultural and historical significance. Once Villains Land opens they can move the new villains show there, or lose it completely (depending on whether or not it’s really lame), and put Muppet Vision 3D there.
That’s heartbreaking. Jim Henson is right up there with Walt for a lot of us.
What I really don’t understand is the need for MORE rides and MORE space…not the replacement of things. Especially in HS. Why aren’t the expanding beyond the current footprints for this and Cars?
This x 1000. It is maddening when Disney replaces attractions rather than expand and add to the attraction roster. Especially in Florida where the whole purpose of that location was having the “blessing of size”. They don’t seem to have any issues expanding and adding to the hotels. But rides? Nah, must be replaced. Crowds are infinitely worse than what they were in the 90s and yet it feels like since then there are more examples of replacements rather than true incremental additions
MuppetVision 3D is the rare attraction that can do both: large capacity and consistently low waits make it a great between-headliners time eater, but also it’s REALLY REALLY GOOD. Even the preshow is fantastic. It’s not just nostalgia that motivates me to write them about this one; they’d be stupid to throw away a pre-made sure-thing crowd-absorbing fan-serving-without-pandering hit like this. Call me quixotic, but I hold out hope for a relocation, maybe to the old Racing Academy space as many have already suggested.
Well written article and the reason this blog is my home page because of your outstanding understanding of Disney history. However, I must call you out that comparing Jim Henson to Walt Disney is like comparing a state to a country.
They are absolutely comparable in many ways. As a business entity, Disney obviously became a juggernaut that The Henson Company can’t come close to (because that was never the goal). But as singular artists and innovators, these men are both iconic. The Muppet Show was the most popular show globally in the history of television. Think about a world where no child ever grew up with Sesame Street or its characters? Not to mention the way the Muppets became embedded in the fabric of modern pop culture (even for adult audiences like SNL and countless late night talk shows).
They were obviously very different, but like George Washington and Abraham Lincoln who shared very few biographical similarities, we can still hold them up on the same pedestal.
I feel relocating them to the show building that hosts the Lightning McQueen experience, or whatever its called, is a perfect fit. It’s adjacent to Rocking Rollercoaster, and that area could become the New Muppet Courtyard, where the fountain can also live on. I’m certain that a new pizza place can be built or an existing eatery tethered as well. pizza is an easy to manage low cost, high profit theme park food, and appeals to kids.
To me this makes perfect sense from a themeing and synergy standpoint.
maybe the closing of cars racing league is for a reason and they are planning on this exact thing. moving muppets 3D and modernizing it and moving it next to the rocking rollercoaster location. it makes the most sense and then turning the current Muppet 3D into a all monstropolis
Taking out an attraction like this is likely going to be a bit of a hit on crowd management since you can get a few hundred into the theater and pre-show and out of the park itself for awhile. Of course, I haven’t been to the parks for 3 years so I don’t know if it’s still filling up.
I’m sad to hear this. I’m 44, so I LOVE The Muppets, and I’ve been to WDW a couple times over the past 15 years with my kids. This was my favorite thing at Hollywood Studios, and both times I had my then-little kids with me, it blew them away too. My youngest didn’t really know the characters, but it didn’t matter – it was funny and immersive and a just plain cool experience, and anyone would enjoy this even those not from my generation. The Monsters Inc thing sounds neat too, but not at the expense of getting rid of Muppet 3D….I wish they’d find a new place for it somehow. Sad to think too, this was Jim’s last project, especially if they get rid of it altogether now.
They aren’t going to save this. Well, I mean move it. The film will live forever. They don’t want to burn every copy like Song of the South. But the theater where it resided was purpose built. As someone who attended the media event kicking off the Muppets as WDW characters in 1990, this was stressed. I keep hearing about moving it and all I think of is how they shoved PhiharMagic into Anaheim and Paris and the result was terrible because it’s the movie, not the attraction. Might as well run it on Disney+, ya know, something The Weatherman actually gives a damn about.
I’m long since over my anger stage at TWDC. I get that Iger and D’Amaro are literally going to destroy any last vestige of the WDW I have enjoyed for most of the last half century. This is somehow worse than the destruction of the Walt created Frontierland/TSI/RoA concept? Or worse than adding high rise barely themed hotel towers in FW, at the Poly, and the ones that already exist? Worse than spending 5-6 years and countless millions to make EPCOT’s center look like an employee gathering space at an office park in Irvine? Worse than … look, I can go on. What’s the point? The company is run by morons who want to destroy pretty much the entire creative legacy that came before them. I’m truly shocked they haven’t removed the entire MSUSA concept because it wasn’t an era of social justice.
Not really sure what more to say. Have a safe and joyful Thanksgiving with the family and enjoy the free cruise I’m sure you’re taking soon.
They can move it to the soon-to-be vacated Monsters Inc Laugh Floor!
The show is 33 years old; I have no doubt that if Jim Henson was alive, he’d have seen to it that it was revised/updated many times over the years, and probably wouldn’t object to it going away completely if it hadn’t been.
But it’s different since he died, leaving it as his last project. I want it to be preserved in some form people can see– although I tend to think the first “Muppet Movie” may be the best memorial to Henson’s genius, even without the cachet of being his last project.
So I think… er, I’m not sure where I was going with this. Color me ambivalent, just hoping the show will continue in some other place or form.
Honestly, I agree with most of your comment, except for the ambivalent part.
I also think MuppetVision still holds up and is genuinely hilarious—funnier than anything Disney has done with the Muppets since. So that’s a big part of all this for me—can Disney actually match the quality of MV3D in a modern Muppets attraction?
Hi Keith,
I’m with Tom.
Here’s the thing, funny is funny.
In a few months A Night At The Opera will be 90, that’s NINETY, ten short of a 100 YEARS OLD!!!!!!!
It’s still hilarious.
The state room scene will NEVER grow old. NEVER! Sorry I’m shouting but I don’t have my hearing aids in.
Relatively speaking, The Muppets 3D is a baby. 33 years? A drop in the comedy bucket.
True some jokes, even good ones, can have a shelf life but they’re mostly jokes keyed into specific political or current events.
A really good joke is ageless.
*My father always told me, “I want you to have the things that I never had.” Apparently my father never had a beating.*
Great comedy is forever.
Sure A Night At The Opera is in black and white and it features a couple of songs (fast forward anyone?) and the price of a dinner is dated, ( “$9.60! That’s an outrage! If I were you I wouldn’t pay it!”) but the comedy is hilarious and will always make people laugh.
“Is my Aunt Minnie in here?”
Otis B. Driftwood: “It’s alright, that’s in every contract. That’s what they call a sanity clause.”
Fiorello: “You can’t fool me! There ain’t no Sanity Claus.”
Which reminds me, Merry Christmas everyone.
I love living in Orlando & having been able to go to the theme parks so often, but one thing I’ve realized I had to put up with is that theme parks, like Las Vegas, have no sense of history. They just bulldoze historical attractions (or in Vegas’ case, historical hotels) to put up new stuff. This disdainful attitude towards history can perhaps be summed up by a sign I saw at the old Streets of America set at Disney’s Hollywood Studios that was supposedly from a historical society, a tongue-in-cheek “Making your tax dollars history!” Disney Imagineers placing that joke in the park seemed to be saying they thought historical preservation was a waste of money (even though it wouldn’t be tax money in the parks’ case). I think the most we can hope for is to be able to revisit the attraction on YouTube or maybe a special short on Disney+. Maybe they’ll even make it so 3D glasses can work with it (fingers crossed). I have some at home from when Mystery Science Theater 3000 did a 3D movie, so I’m prepared. It wouldn’t be as cool an experience as seeing the theater blown up by the cannon in person, though. I think someone may have already posted the show on YouTube. During the lockdown, I experienced a lot of theme park attractions via YouTube since the parks were closed down.
That sign is more likely Imagineering poking fun at park management, or simply not being able to resist a good pun (or both).
Imagineers don’t make these decisions. I’m certain no one at WDI wants MuppetVision to close. That’s all on the executives.
Thank you, Tom, for not giving up. There are a lot of us feeling upset and helpless. You provided a way for us to push back, or at least let TPTB know we’re out here. And perhaps they might actually do something.
Everything that has a beginning, has an end.
The attendance at this has been dismal for many years now. Always a go to if you need to get out of the Florida heat. They clearly need the area for the new attractions, so time to say good bye.
If they can find a new home and update it, then wonderful. If not, hasta la vista.
“The attendance at this has been dismal for many years now.”
I do MuppetVision at least once per month, and this simply is not true. Even during the late summer and fall off-season, it’s still drawing a healthy audience.
If you don’t like the show and want to attribute this to air-conditioning or whatever, fine. That’s probably at least partially true, especially given the top-heavy DHS lineup. But MuppetVision does not have dismal attendance.
Maybe they could move it to Tom Sawyer’s …oh wait a minute…never mind.
Muppet Vision 3D has Jim Henson written all over it. Similarly Tom Sawyer’s Island was totally DESIGNED by Walt!
Wonder if the execs noticed that Walt didn’t figure out a way to monetize the island. Just a lot of free fun stuff for kids and fans of Mark Twain.
First they came for the Nautilus ride and I said nothing.
Then they came for Mr Toad’s Wild ride and I remained silent.
Emboldened they took away Rivers of America, the steamboat and Tome Sawyers Island.
After that they came for Muppet Vision 3D.
When they came for me…well they couldn’t find me because I was at Universal!
With apologies to Martin Niemoller.
Kudos!!
Loved the post. My sentiments exactly!
Well said my fellow Brickerhead!
Maybe they could move it to Tom Sawyer’s …oh wait a minute…never mind.
Muppet Vision 3D has Hensons written all over it. Similarly Tom Sawyer’s Island was totally DESIGNED by Walt!
Wonder if the execs noticed that Walt didn’t figure out a way to monetize the island. Just a lot of free fun stuff for kids and fans of Mark Twain.
First they came for the Nautilus ride and I said nothing.
Then they came for Mr Toad’s Wild ride and I remained silent.
Emboldened they took away Rivers of America, the steamboat and Tome Sawyers Island.
After that they came for Muppet Vision 3D.
When they came for me…well they couldn’t find me because I was at Universal!
With apologies to Martin Niemoller.
Email sent! I also think bringing the show back to Disney California Adventure, or retrofitting the El Capitan to be able to perform occasional showings, which could garner large local marketing pushes and pack the theater, would be satisfying ways of preserving the show.
Move an updated Muppet vision 3D show to the old Animation courtyard seems like a good idea
Move an updated Muppets 3D elsewhere in the studios please
Move the show to EPCOT. They’re not doing anything worthwhile with the old Honey, I Shrunk the Audience Theater anyway.
not a bad idea!
Great idea!