Muppets Mini-Land / Muppets Courtyard Additions & Refurbishments

[sedati]

What if I blew your head open with this cognitive dissonant busting knowledge and I told you that the new sign was further watering down/dumbing up/gentrifying the parks into the lifeless blob of nothing that they currently are?

I can't help but think that if this change had happened in reverse there would be cries about the "Toonification" of the area. How the (old) sign looks nothing like what you'd see hanging over a real world theater. How cheap and tacky it looks.

Both are fine BTW, but I agree that more could be done with the now exposed area on the facade.

 

[Disney Analyst]

This sign makes it look easy to swap out for Movie previews.

 

[rct247]

I actually like the new sign and understand it can serve multiple purposes, but how does a theater entrance go with the story that you are entering Muppet Labs?

 

[lilclerk]

I actually like the new sign and understand it can serve multiple purposes, but how does a theater entrance go with the story that you are entering Muppet Labs?

You're in the theater the whole time. Kermit takes you on a tour, and at one point into the Muppet Labs.

 

[rogerrabbitfan9]

I kind like the new sign. I think this makes the area look more real. The original look of this area, with the cartoon logo on the side, stuck out, but worked because it was obvious all of the theming was fake.

Most of the alternate ideas in this thread also would look fake or would remove the neighborhood-y look I think they are going for. It's unfortunate the building is so tall.

 

[HauntedMansionFLA]

Star Wars has movies coming out every year

This sign makes it look easy to swap out for Movie previews.

 

[Thebolt]

This sign makes it look easy to swap out for Movie previews.

The sign suggests that Disney aren't fixed on keeping Muppet Vision 3D for ever; but that the theatre will be there a few years.

 

[NearTheEars]

It's a new sign that doesn't have any Muppet theming whatsoever and the letters could be replaced overnight if they wanted to. I'm sure it was well worth the expense to them.

Are we sure the letters are easily replaceable? There was a photo of this thing being towed by a truck with them in place. Seems like they are stuck on there pretty good.

PS I'm not defending the change.

 

[J. D.]

Are we sure the letters are easily replaceable? There was a photo of this thing being towed by a truck with them in place. Seems like they are stuck on there pretty good.

I was going to say the same thing.

 

[Kram Sacul]

Well that was underwhelming. When I heard they were adding a marquee I thought it would be grand and give some life back into this great attraction. I guess Disney has other plans.

 

[trainplane3]

Are we sure the letters are easily replaceable? There was a photo of this thing being towed by a truck with them in place. Seems like they are stuck on there pretty good.

PS I'm not defending the change.

Anything is removable when you use enough force!

I agree with your point though.

 

[Fox&Hound]

I like it, but like others said, it either needs to be moved up or something done to fill the space. With the location of Star Tours where it is, I feel like it would have been easy to demo Muppets with the cry of "we need to connect Star Tours to SWL" but they didn't. Instead they gave us more theming in a dedicated Muppets court yard. While it may not be around forever, I think WDW management has already shown us that they plan to invest in the muppets as a franchise and their place in DHS. If not, now was the perfect time to remove them all together, not increase their presence. Would I love to see MORE muppet theme to Rizzo's- sure. Do I think this sign means anything about their longevity? Nope....

 

[Mad Stitch]

The Swedish Chef had better turn his cannon towards the projection room door. Walt Disney Studios is coming for his space.

 

[DisneyJayL]

I don't know if I am a fan of it. I gotta see it when I am back down. Just looks like a step down.

 

[YodaMan]

I saw it in person today and I will admit that the scale looks better in person than in any photo I've seen, but I do still prefer the old sign.

 

[EPCOTCenterLover]

The new Muppets theater sign gives some weight that the transition from the area to SWL would be a theater marquee displaying "Star Wars" on it. Kind of clever, actually.

 

[Kman101]

Where did it come from that it would be a theater marquee as the entrance to SWL? I didn't think that was serious. I don't know that I'd like that. I get it but can't we just walk through the tunnel and voila you're there?

 

[DHoy]

What I've yet to see mentioned and it was my first thought. Grand Arts? Where does that come from? Are we seeing some foreshadowing of the future park name ... "Disney's Grand Arts Park"? Idk just a thought

 

[PizzaPlanet]

Are we sure the letters are easily replaceable? There was a photo of this thing being towed by a truck with them in place. Seems like they are stuck on there pretty good.

I think you're right. The letters are meant to look temporary because it's supposed to be a theatre sign, but they're probably stuck on permanently.

And for those suggesting this might be the next movie preview space, let's not forget that Muppet*Vision still plays to packed houses, and DHS desperately needs high capacity attraction for when SWL opens. I don't know about anyone else, but I've never seen more than 10 people at a time watching the pathetic movie trailers.

 

[MightyMouse]

Quite a few comments here about the letters being easily interchangeable. Those letters are not zip track letters that you would find on a typical readoboard. They are fixated in place. Possibly on standoffs although it's hard to tell from the photos. Shadowing underneath though would lead to my assumption.