Muppet Vision 3D in Hollywood Studios: These Hilarious Antics Will Have You in Stitches!
It’s time to play the music,
Muppet Show Theme Song
it’s time to light the lights,
it’s time to meet the Muppets,
on the Muppet show tonight!
When it comes to pop culture icons, there is none more loveable than Kermit the Frog. With his signature “scrunch face” and catchy banjo tunes, Kermit is both wholesome and meme-able—the ultimate combination. Being green might not be easy, but it’s a status to strive for!
Muppet Vision 3D at Disney’s Hollywood Studios is a tribute not only to Kermit’s timeless popularity but that of the entire Muppet Show gang! As endearing as the day they debuted, the Muppets are up to their usual shenanigans in Muppet Vision 3D, complete with special live-action and on-screen effects sure to thrill and delight audience members of all ages.
When you visit Hollywood Studios, don’t let Galaxy’s Edge overshadow this adorable show! With overwhelming nostalgia and good plain fun, you’ll want to slide Muppet Vision 3D into a top-priority spot in your Disney itinerary.
Of Mice and Frogs
I think it’s safe to say Walt Disney would have loved Kermit the Frog. Singing, anthropomorphic animals were kind of his thing, after all! Thankfully, his House of Mouse went on to collaborate with Jim Henson, creator of the Muppets, for what might be the best crossover of all time!
On August 28, 1989, Mr. Henson “placed his handprints in the concrete in the forecourt of the Chinese Theater at Disney Hollywood Studios. He drew a picture of a smiling Kermit the Frog waving his left hand. Then, Henson gently imprinted the hands of his own personal Kermit puppet and signed Kermit’s name.”1
Contracts and projects were in various stages of completion, along with the main attraction, Muppet Vision 3D—it looked to be the beginning of a beautiful friendship. Tragically, however, the wonderful Mr. Henson passed away in 1990. Plans for an entire Muppet section of the park were canceled, and contracts became rocky.2
Thankfully, in the end, Muppet Vision 3D managed to survive. Just when it seemed negotiations had completely broken down, Mr. Henson’s son, Brian, saw the finished project and believed Muppet Vision 3D was the perfect way to honor his late father. He pushed for the necessary signatures, and the attraction opened in 1991.3,4
Muppet Vision 3D is extra special because it’s the last film Jim Henson directed and the last time he voiced Kermit the Frog.5 Incredibly involved in the project, Mr. Henson’s fingerprints can be seen throughout the show, making it a really wonderful trip down Muppet Show memory lane.
The Show Before the Show
Like Studebaker’s old motto, the Muppets always give more than they promise.
The Muppets have promised a fantastical 17-minute performance in Muppet Theater (designed to look just like the one from the show!), but they deliver even more with an amazing pre-show in the queue. (It makes it feel like you’re not in a queue at all!)
A small portion of the line is outdoors, where you’ll pass by hilarious Muppet movie posters like “Star Chores” and “Pirates of the Amphibian.” Be sure to peek at the lights hanging above you—they’re adorned with fuzzy-browed Muppet eyes!
Next, you’ll find yourself in the theater warehouse surrounded by props belonging to your favorite Muppet stars. Have a rummage around for hidden references and visual puns! When you see the sign that says “key under the mat,” go ahead and take a peek—there’s really a key there!
Video monitors overhead will play a 12-minute montage of Muppet musical mayhem that’ll have you giggling before the theater doors even open. (Gonzo has a tap dance routine. Need I say more??) Before you find your seat for the show, be sure to grab your 3D glasses—now you’re good to go!
Muppets, Muppets, Muppets!
Jim Henson’s Muppet Vision 3D is going to knock your socks off!
It begins simply enough, with Kermit giving you a tour of the theater, but then he opens the door to the Muppet Labs, where Dr. Bunsen Honeydew and Beaker are hard at work. Is it really any surprise things go haywire from here?
Waldo, the first computer-made Muppet, has just been activated! But mischief inevitably ensues when this CGI creation escapes the lab.
Kermit, Miss Piggy, and the whole Muppet gang stoically try to continue the show, performing an over-the-top musical number that see the audience getting squirted with water, blasted with air, and surrounded by soap bubbles.
If that wasn’t enough, there’s a runaway rabbit on the loose, too! A live-action Sweetums bumbles in front of the penguin orchestra, searching for his fuzzy companion. All the while, the iconic Statler and Waldorf heckle from the balcony throughout the show. The combination of both on-screen and live Muppets is super fun and surprisingly seamless!
The grand finale involves Sam the Eagle’s “Tribute to All Nations (But Mostly America)” with fireworks and clever effects to make it appear as if Muppet Theater is in danger of burning down around you! Uh…can someone call the fire brigade, please??
Thankfully, we can always rest assured that Kermit has things under control. Mostly.
Jim Henson’s Muppet Vision 3D is a must for your Hollywood Studios itinerary. Truly a barrel of laughs, this attraction makes you feel like you’re in a Muppet movie!
Because the theater can seat over 500 people, wait times are usually no more than the length of one show. The theater warehouse pre-show and the show itself are all indoors, meaning you get a full 30 minutes of entertaining, air-conditioned comfort!
With no height restrictions and classic humor, the show is perfect for the smallest muppet baby to the oldest balcony heckler. If you’re looking for a good time, Muppet Vision 3D absolutely delivers!
Cover Image
Photo: Josh Hallett via Flickr
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