News Monster Inc Land Coming to Disney's Hollywood Studios

[Casper Gutman]

Why do we believe a stage show is coming? When was the last time Disney opened a major show designed for a dedicated theater? Have they done one since Nemo, which they recently chopped up because they don’t want guests in theaters?

Monsters isn’t a musical. It’s also an IP without adult human characters. Instead, the cast is full of creatures with inhuman body dimensions. Unless you’re just going to use the existing Mike and Sully outfits, which would be awful, you’re probably going to be relying on screens. That would mean something like Muppets, a type of attraction Disney clearly sees as dead and undesirable, or something like MILF, which doesn’t fit in that theater space at all.

Disney stuck that line in the release because, outside of the coaster, this is a fairly cheap overlay and they don’t want to remove or significantly alter the theater structure but having an empty venue of that size (especially after killing Muppets) looks bad.

 

[Schmidt]

I do too. It feels like Disney doesn't feel that way and I feel some fans don't feel that way either.

From Disney's view, is if the cult classic attraction doesn't sell enough LLs than it needs to be removed for one that does.

I think the problem is that parks like Hollywood studio have always been fundamentally flawed. It’s never had enough quality attractions until recently. It’s a difficult park to build out without removing older attractions.

You can say that for a lot of classic Disney attractions. Peter Pan, Dumbo, Tiki Room.
Regardless of how popular an attraction is, parks still need those as filler attractions. Not everything needs to be brand new and have 2 hour waits.

I try to stay away from generalization, as they prevent critical thinking imo.
The truth is this park has always been a flawed park with horrible flow and a lack of top tier attractions. Removing muppets is addition by subtraction in my opinion. The overall park will be better for it down the road.

This shows attendance was also on the low side, so you have to ask what benefit it is really serving to begin with.

 

[SpectreJordan]

See that’s true but it doesn’t change the fact they’re destroying an entire Muppets LAND and all the Muppets get in return as a rethemed coaster, which doesn’t fit the brand, and MAYBE (unlikely) their show moving to a new spot or streaming. It’s such a downgrade I’m insulted.

Tbf, a good amount of the current land isn't even Muppet themed as is. I definitely would've preferred for Mama Melrose & the Christmas store to get rethemed, perhaps with a Muppets ride in the expansion plot where the Door Coaster is going. But the only real losses here are the MuppetVision building & the shuttered Muppet gift shop.

 

[Jrb1979]

This is an excellent post. I’d add that the new coasters are designed for SOME Disney adults - no one too old, as you say, or with a disability, or with too much stuffing in the wrong spots (and of course theme park fans are famously svelte).

But at least all these restrictions get us… much shorter, less narratively and aesthetically complex attractions.

I don't disagree with your point. I do think they need more attractions everyone can ride. At the same the average guest is showing Disney they enjoy these coaster type rides over the slow moving dark rides.
Look at Epcot, Guardians draws more than Remy does. Today's guest seem to want to thrills over dark rides.

 

[Casper Gutman]

Folks keep saying the Muppets announcement was a “compromise.” In fact, Disney has just announced the most aggressive and extreme plans for major attraction removals in its history - Bugs, Dinosaurs, Rivers, Muppets, etc. Major destruction in 3 out of 4 parks. A “compromise” would have been ONE new build expansion, one of three that wasn’t just a rip-out and replace.

 

[Charlie The Chatbox Ghost]

Tbf, a good amount of the current land isn't even Muppet themed as is. I definitely would've preferred for Mama Melrose & the Christmas store to get rethemed, perhaps with a Muppets ride in the expansion plot where the Door Coaster is going. But the only real losses here are the MuppetVision building & the shuttered Muppet gift shop.

True. Awhile back I had conceptualized a revamp of the area, making it the Muppets Courtyard again and adding more theming, as well as the Great Muppet Movie Ride and retheming Mama Melrose's to the scrapped Swedish Chef restaurant. I also would've demolished the shuttered gift shop and moved everything from it to the Christmas Store and put a flat ride in its place themed to the hot air balloons from The Great Muppet Caper.

 

[The Leader of the Club]

Looney Tunes. lol. Another dead IP.

Please define “dead IP” for me.
Looney Tunes is getting a theatrical movie next year and had one in 2021.
Muppets just got a show in 2023.
Both still sell merch and have dedicated fan bases. I fail to see how either of these are “dead” when compared to something like Rocky & Bullwinkle.

 

[Charlie The Chatbox Ghost]

Folks keep saying the Muppets announcement was a “compromise.” In fact, Disney has just announced the most aggressive and extreme plans for major attraction removals in its history - Bugs, Dinosaurs, Rivers, Muppets, etc. Major destruction in 3 out of 4 parks. A “compromise” would have been ONE new build expansion, one of three that wasn’t just a rip-out and replace.

The fact that every single announcement for WDW comes at the expense of destroying current experiences says a lot about current management. Despite the "blessing of size", if they can cheap out, they will. A legacy attraction isn't selling LLs and pushing merch? It's gotta go, and its replacement will be on the cheap, too.

 

[The Leader of the Club]

Folks keep saying the Muppets announcement was a “compromise.” In fact, Disney has just announced the most aggressive and extreme plans for major attraction removals in its history - Bugs, Dinosaurs, Rivers, Muppets, etc. Major destruction in 3 out of 4 parks. A “compromise” would have been ONE new build expansion, one of three that wasn’t just a rip-out and replace.

The Door Coaster is a new build. Villains is a new build. Encanto is a new build. Yes, there are replacements too, but it actually seems like a healthy mix of both right now.

 

[Charlie The Chatbox Ghost]

Please define “dead IP” for me.
Looney Tunes is getting a theatrical movie next year and had one in 2021.
Muppets just got a show in 2023.
Both still sell merch and have dedicated fan bases. I fail to see how either of these are “dead” when compared to something like Rocky & Bullwinkle.

What's the new Muppet show? IIRC they just guest starred on that mini golf show recently

 

[SpectreJordan]

True. Awhile back I had conceptualized a revamp of the area, making it the Muppets Courtyard again and adding more theming, as well as the Great Muppet Movie Ride and retheming Mama Melrose's to the scrapped Swedish Chef restaurant. I also would've demolished the shuttered gift shop and moved everything from it to the Christmas Store and put a flat ride in its place themed to the hot air balloons from The Great Muppet Caper.

That would've been amazing, if only...

I think there's a possibility to evolve the area behind Tower into a new Muppet mini land eventually. I doubt the Villains show will be around for long. Sadly, I don't think there's room for a restaurant though.

 

[Charlie The Chatbox Ghost]

The Door Coaster is a new build. Villains is a new build. Encanto is a new build. Yes, there are replacements too, but it actually seems like a healthy mix of both right now.

But the Door Coaster is coming at the expense of the entire Muppets Courtyard, Encanto is coming at the expense of Dinoland USA, and Villains is using some of the land used by the Rivers of America. All of those "new builds" are causing other attractions to close (whether or not they should is another question- Chester and Hester's has been limping along for 5 years now). Villains might not even happen on the scale we've been promised, too.

 

[Disstevefan1]

The video you're linking to says...

"BREAKING: MuppetVision 3D and Rock'N'Roller Coaster set for Destruction For Monsters Inc Land"

Which is completely untrue.

Another example of disgusting click-bait.

I didn’t even notice the title, but once the news broke I just started looking on YouTube. Now that you mention it, it is a click batey title for sure.

The creator of the meme asked me where I saw the meme and if you opened the link it should be queued to the exact moment I saw the meme and took a screen shot of the meme.

At least it opens to that moment for me anyway. In any event, the meme is in this video and that’s where I saw it. A very funny meme and better than I can create.

 

[Casper Gutman]

The Door Coaster is a new build. Villains is a new build. Encanto is a new build. Yes, there are replacements too, but it actually seems like a healthy mix of both right now.

Villains is not a “new build,” it’s being built on TSI and Rivers. They scrapped the “new build” Villains idea. Encanto is part of a land replacement, as is Monsters.

 

[Charlie The Chatbox Ghost]

That would've been amazing, if only...

I think there's a possibility to evolve the area behind Tower into a new Muppet mini land eventually. I doubt the Villains show will be around for long. Sadly, I don't think there's room for a restaurant though.

Courtesy of CosmicRewind on Bluesky- there's lots of potential expansion land they could use. Personally, I don't see them doing anything of this scale, but you theoretically could build the Gonzo Pizza Place to the left of RnR, only needing to replace that parking lot.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

But at least all these restrictions get us… much shorter, less narratively and aesthetically complex attractions.

In the past Disney could build thrill rides like ToT, RSR or IJA with elaborate themes and decent run times, but now we get coasters in boxes with noticeably less set dressing and effects that are also shorter.

 

[mattpeto]

Why do we believe a stage show is coming? When was the last time Disney opened a major show designed for a dedicated theater? Have they done one since Nemo, which they recently chopped up because they don’t want guests in theaters?

Monsters isn’t a musical. It’s also an IP without adult human characters. Instead, the cast is full of creatures with inhuman body dimensions. Unless you’re just going to use the existing Mike and Sully outfits, which would be awful, you’re probably going to be relying on screens. That would mean something like Muppets, a type of attraction Disney clearly sees as dead and undesirable, or something like MILF, which doesn’t fit in that theater space at all.

Disney stuck that line in the release because, outside of the coaster, this is a fairly cheap overlay and they don’t want to remove or significantly alter the theater structure but having an empty venue of that size (especially after killing Muppets) looks bad.

Willing to make $100 bet on charity if you’re up for it since you continue to go down every rabbit hole that announced projects won’t happen.

 

[Charlie The Chatbox Ghost]

Villains is not a “new build,” it’s being built on TSI and Rivers. They scrapped the “new build” Villains idea. Encanto is part of a land replacement, as is Monsters.

Remember when rumors were saying Villains would be entirely outside the railroad berm? Good times.

 

[WorldExplorer]

I see three things repeated a lot:

- Muppets was not a draw.

- Retheming Rockin Rollercoaster is meant to appease the Muppet fans they're ticking off.

- Muppet Vision 3D in all its glory will be preserved.

These cannot all be true at once. Either keeping Muppet Vision is worth the effort or it isn't. If they plan to preserve (actually preserve, with all of its effects) the show then they have no reason to try and appease anyone.

 

[sedati]

I know they canned Steve Whitmire because he spoke out against their handling of the Muppets (and if you ask me there’s tons of evidence proving this, especially since all the other Muppet performers are still friends with him and even Brian Henson has spoken positively about him since), but why Dave Goelz? Has he done anything to invoke the wrath of Iger?

I mean, that's Whitmire's version.