News Monster Inc Land Coming to Disney's Hollywood Studios

[Streetway]

Any indication that Muppets will retain a presence at all (in DHS or elsewhere on property)? And if so, something ambitious (like a new permanent attraction), a stop gap option (like bringing back a street show like Great Moments), or just relegated to "appearances" as appropriate at festivals and seasonal events?

Rumors of hall of presidents replacement are kinda iffy right now. Could happen, could not. That’s what I get from what people are saying. Not an insider tho, just what people sayin in here. I personally maybe advocate for a laugh floor replacement. Make it an interactive muppet show in muppet labs!

 

[jannerUK]

If Muppets has to go, what scale of time (based on previous developments for other things at Disney) have we got to go and see it?
Would it be realistic that it will be there for our August 2025 trip?

 

[sedati]

Who decided that Muppets and AC were the options? I could see at least five possible options with neither of those being the most obvious or even easiest.
Wherever it goes, Disney usually utilizes some sort of transition elements. If it were in Animation Courtyard, I don't expect it would just be sitting off the hub, we'd pass through something to get there. Same with Muppets, I think the realistic city would morph into a monsterfied one. This would enable keeping Muppets, with everything past the entrance becoming Monsters which would still require a lot of demo and new construction. I still think the easiest currently available plots are behind Sunset Ranch and Backlot Express. The place I want them to put it personally would be just next to Toy Story Land, ripping out the garage and One Man's Dream. Then just keep expanding north to Rock'n'Roller in the future to create a whole cohesive World's of Pixar Land.

 

[seabreezept813]

Love Monsters and door coaster, but Disney needs to send some of their people to tour with real families. HS needs omnimovers and boat rides. It’s already big ride heavy with not enough filler. Currently here and if it weren’t for Fantasmic, Mickey, and TSM we’d skip HS because our kids are young.

 

[FiestaFunKid]

Maybe most of the public has moved on - there are certainly folks on this forum who are not fans of the Muppets. But it is rather disheartening and difficult to accept that Iger & co. just don't want to throw the same amount of effort behind the Muppets as they do Star Wars, Marvel, Cars, Encanto, Moana, Monsters etc. because they weren't grand slams at the box office/Disney+. At least for their first 30 years of existence and that brief blip around the Jason Segel movie, the Muppets left an indelible, unique mark on the public. Monsters Inc. has always deserved better than just Laugh Floor and a Sulley meet, but the Muppets deserve better than nothing.

The biggest miss for me was not doing The Great Muppet Ride or something similar. Disney has sporadically tried a few things, some better than others (Haunted Mansion good, 2015 ABC Series not so good). However, an exciting kids ride leaning into the fun personalities of Fozzie, Gonzo, etc, etc could have helped matters IMO. There are great songs both from the classic (Paul Williams) and newer (Bret Mckenzie) movie soundtracks. Just seeing an animatronic Kermit singing 'The Rainbow Connection' on a log could be a magical scene.

Unfortunatley, it's more likely Disney believes interest has waned enough not to justify this type of investment at this point.

 

[Disstevefan1]

Forgive a little soapboxing, but I think a lot of this worry/hurt comes from the fact that Disney has all but given up on the Muppets. This is the second longest drought without a Muppet movie and there has been no major TV special or theme park project to back them up. Muppet Haunted Mansion & Mayhem were both great but barely anyone knew about their existence. California's MuppetVision disappeared in 2014, there is barely any merch produced by Disney themselves, and as mentioned before they can't even be bothered to get Muppets Take Manhattan on Disney Plus. Little things like third-party produced action figures & board games and Waldos getting replaced by projections are the biggest news we Muppet fans have. The fact that operations are so keen to cut entertainment these days and additions have been extremely few and far between (barring next year's Electrical Parade!!) means a live show is all but unthinkable.

In 2009, there was a large Muppets presentation at D23 in which various major projects were announced. Despite the fact that the majority did not come to fruition, this was a great time of hope for us. This year, we got a huge Avatar pavilion - even though Disney does not fully own the rights to the property - and Eric Jacobson wasn't even at the Miss Piggy panel.

Maybe most of the public has moved on - there are certainly folks on this forum who are not fans of the Muppets. But it is rather disheartening and difficult to accept that Iger & co. just don't want to throw the same amount of effort behind the Muppets as they do Star Wars, Marvel, Cars, Encanto, Moana, Monsters etc. because they weren't grand slams at the box office/Disney+. At least for their first 30 years of existence and that brief blip around the Jason Segel movie, the Muppets left an indelible, unique mark on the public. Monsters Inc. has always deserved better than just Laugh Floor and a Sulley meet, but the Muppets deserve better than nothing.

It makes you think, it’s only a matter of timer when they give up on Small World, COP and other classics.

There is really no end to this.

As for Muppets 3D, it’s the accountants that made this choice, TWDC does NOT care about their guests. The decision to destroy and replace Muppets 3D is a cold, hard, uncaring, business decision to keep costs to a minimum.

The guest, the person, their family, DOES NOT MATTER!

The accountants have made their decision.

It’s too bad TWDC has a leader who does not care for the guest, the person, the family, because if he cared he would say, “I don’t care how much more it would cost to put it in the launch bay - DO IT, because it’s better for our guests!"

 

[DKampy]

They’d started digging for Main St Theatre when that was cancelled. Although it wasn’t officially cancelled, it was just never mentioned again.

Oh I get plans always can and will change…. But I think cars makes too much sense…I get people’s upset reactions… no loss for me with TSI…. But I will very much miss the Liberty Bell….but two unpopular attractions replacesd with a proven popular franchise… it should improve capacity with the attractions alone… plus it could help improve guest flow depending on how the new paths are configured

also times change….I believe the Florida parks were always designed with the intent on selling merchandise from day 1… not many kids playing cowboy and Indians or buying skin hats these days…Cars is one of Disney’s hottest sellers…I don’t know how much merchandise the Main Street theater would of sold

 

[Jrb1979]

Oh I get plans always can and will change…. But I think cars makes too much sense…I get people’s upset reactions… no loss for me with TSI…. But I will very much miss the Liberty Bell….but two unpopular attractions replacesd with a proven popular franchise… it should improve capacity with the attractions alone… plus it could help improve guest flow depending on how the new paths are configured

also times change….I believe the Florida parks were always designed with the intent on selling merchandise from day 1… not many kids playing cowboy and Indians or buying skin hats these days…Cars is one of Disney’s hottest sellers…I don’t know how much merchandise the Main Street theater would of sold

I disagree. From the beginning the parks were based on unique themes. Eisner at least recognized that and tried to keep that.

Iger and friends view the parks as dollar signs only. No care for nostalgia or theme.

 

[Phicinfan]

The show part is VERY rumor right now though. All we know for sure is a coaster. I question if there is enough room in that area for a show unless it's significantly smaller (or there is a ton of reworking of the behind the scenes things). Also, just going to throw it out there, I'm not sure I believe the playground ends up there either. I think it'd be a good addition, but I could see someone stepping in on that for the insurance reasons.

To this, is there any belief that MILF could end up over here? Would love to think there is some major plan for Tomorrow land to redo the Laugh Floor, Stich and maybe even Space Rangers spin with some new cool idea???

 

[Fido Chuckwagon]

If Corless Says that Muppets is safe, than it’s almost certainly safe. He and Brayden have both been nailing it with the insider info lately. Everyone needs to relax.

 

[Sorcerer Mickey]

Have the Muppets even been confirmed to be on the chopping block?

 

[Phicinfan]

Have the Muppets even been confirmed to be on the chopping block?

Nothing has been confirmed

 

[Streetway]

If Corless Says that Muppets is safe, than it’s almost certainly safe. He and Brayden have both been nailing it with the insider info lately. Everyone needs to relax.

Brayden Says they are doomed.

 

[Disstevefan1]

Have the Muppets even been confirmed to be on the chopping block?

It depends on who you talk to.

The reality is I don't think TWDC knows.

I suspect there is a internal fight between what is cost effective and what is the right thing to do.

I really hope they do what is right.

 

[GhostHost1000]

If they take muppets 3d from us
1- they better make a muppets attraction somewhere else
2- announce and do something with launch Bay Area and all the unused space there that would otherwise be sitting there for years.

In typical fashion however Disney is going to take the quickest cheapest way to do something…. Not necessary the right something

 

[FiestaFunKid]

If Corless Says that Muppets is safe, than it’s almost certainly safe. He and Brayden have both been nailing it with the insider info lately. Everyone needs to relax.

Corless also said removing TSI/Rivers of America wasn't even to the level of removing Ellen's Energy Adventure....amazing what a few media invite can buy you these days.

 

[Tha Realest]

I mean, do people who work in the former Animation building have specific parks functions where they need to be onsite? I'm under the impression that they don't (anyone can feel free to correct me) and they could be just as easily served by an office in another location.

If that is true, then it preposterous to not move them immediately and tear that building down to expand the guest areas of the park. DHS is already kind of cramped with not enough stuff to do and poor guest flow due to dead ends. Removing the entire old Animation Building structure (not just Launch Bay) as well as parking that doesn't need to be within park boundaries is such a no brainer for the park's needs that it is infuriating that they are even talking about removing a currently used attraction for "expansion" instead.

You’re a rational thinker.

You are presumptively not a WDW back of house CM who enjoys premium parking with cool access to DHS and the ability to just hop on a friendship boat or Skyliner to quickly grab lunch at EPCOT.

 

[Tha Realest]

Missed a few days here due to work, but has anyone discuss that TWDC has a "10 year plan" and all we've seen is the next 5 years? Monsters may go here because it's saving the space in Animation Courtyard for the back half of the 10 years of building?

I don't think this is the end all be all of turbocharged parks for a decade.

Well, parsing out some statements were already 1-2 years into the ten year plan.

 

[Disstevefan1]

That’s what the restaurants and lounges are for, and why we’re seeing/going to see more of them. You want something that’s indoor, cool and seated? Pay up.

Maybe they will create "cooling stations" you must pay to use.

 

[Fido Chuckwagon]

Corless also said removing TSI/Rivers of America wasn't even to the level of removing Ellen's Energy Adventure....amazing what a few media invite can buy you these days.

Either way, that’s an opinion he expressed, versus a factual statement. He’s been largely correct on factual statements based on insider information regardless of whether you agree with his opinions.

And he’s not wrong when he stated on a recent episode that the Florida climate makes TSI a not very attractive attraction for much of the year now. Climate change makes outdoor playground type attractions useless most of the year in Florida. Maybe it was tons of fun 9 months of the year in 1971, but now I know we only visit TSI during our winter trips. I’m sure we’re not the only ones. It’s just too hot to enjoy it otherwise.