Movies

Disney Announces Closing Date For Jim Henson’s Final Muppets Film

BBG News

The news is confirmed: Jim Henson’s last Muppets venture, specifically the “Muppet*Vision 3D” at Disney’s Hollywood Studios within Walt Disney World, is set to permanently shut down over the next few months.

The news isn’t surprising anymore; Disney confirmed back in November that they would be shutting down a popular attraction to construct a new Monsters Inc. area. Since August, the blueprint for this Monsters Inc. land, as well as the potential closure of Muppet*Vision 3D to accommodate it, has been openly disclosed.

As per Disney Parks Blog announcement, the location of Muppet*Vision 3D (Grand Avenue area) will start a period of closure beginning in May. The final day for dining at Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano is set for May 10.

Muppet*Vision 3D and the adjacent PizzeRizzo restaurant will then close on June 7.

The “Muppet*Vision” is a 3D film experience that includes additional theater effects. It first opened at what was then called Disney-MGM Studios in 1991, although Jim Henson, who passed away in 1990, had already directed the movie and provided the voice for Kermit the Frog and several other Muppet characters within it. This attraction represents one of the last projects that Henson was involved with before his death at the age of 53.

For devoted Muppet enthusiasts, that particular element elevates the movie’s importance, as it offers a nostalgic experience. On the other hand, casual visitors merely appreciate the attraction for its enchanting and amusing qualities, leveraging impressive 3D and 4D technology to create an entertaining experience.

Disney announced that the Muppets, who are currently without a theater, will be taking over another attraction at Disney Hollywood Studios that seems to need an update. The Muppets will replace Aerosmith as the focus of the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, which now plays their songs and showcases their likenesses. (Disney has not specified when the Aerosmith version of this ride will end.)

Regarding Muppet*Vision 3D, Disney has mentioned they’ve been discussing creative ideas and considering methods to keep the movie and other aspects of the experience accessible for fans in the future. This could mean various things: maybe they plan to distribute the film on home video without the theater effects, or possibly some pieces of the show building might be transferred to the Muppets’ new location at Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster. Alternatively, these discussions could lead nowhere and mark the end of Jim Henson’s final Muppets movie if it does indeed close. If that’s the case, you have until June 7 to catch it before it’s gone.

Amazing Theme Park Rides Based on Movies That Were Never Built

Indiana Jones and the Lost Expedition

Initially, Disneyland had grand plans for an Indiana Jones attraction called “The Lost Expedition” in 1995. Instead of just one ride (The Indiana Jones Adventure), Imagineers originally intended a much larger project that would have significantly transformed the Adventureland area. The pavilion for this lost expedition would have contained two rides: a roller coaster inspired by the mine-car finale from ‘Temple of Doom’, and a dark ride in jeeps showcasing Indy’s most memorable adventures, including elements from the existing Jungle Cruise. However, due to changes in plans, much of this designated space was repurposed to construct Splash Mountain instead.

Indiana Jones Ore Car Attraction

Let’s take a peek at the “Ore Car Simulator” which was planned to be part of the Lost Expedition complex, had the Indiana Jones land been constructed. However, the Indiana Jones land was never built. Instead, Disney has an Indiana Jones mine-train roller coaster: Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril, situated at Disneyland Paris. This was the first looping coaster in any Disney park. (I remember taking a ride on it as a teenager once, but unfortunately, it got stuck during the ride – not a very enjoyable experience.)

Indiana Jones Jungle Cruise

The “River Idol” figure likely would’ve served as a focal point in the reimagined Jungle Cruise, designed to fit within a whole land dedicated to Indiana Jones-themed experiences. It appears to be straight out of an Indiana Jones film set.

The Hauntington Hotel

Prior to interactive shooting galleries becoming commonplace in Orlando attractions such as Toy Story Midway Mania and Men in Black Alien Attack, Six Flags had devised a concept for a Ghostbusters ride called Hauntington Hotel. In this proposed ride, passengers would have explored a haunted building, firing at targets using car-attached proton packs. As revealed in an interview with the ride’s designer on 2600connection.com, the entire project – from creation and design to engineering and prototyping – was complete and ready for installation in Texas when Six Flags’ parent company sold its theme parks division. Under new ownership, the project disintegrated, a potential disappointment that may rank among the greatest misfortunes in human history.

Nostromo

For roughly eight years, the Magic Kingdom’s Tomorrowland housed an attraction named ExtraTERRORestrial: Alien Encounter. Riders were restrained in their seats as a menacing alien appeared in the center of the room, reaching out and breathing on them in the dark. This attraction, which initially featured H.R. Giger’s famous xenomorph from the 1979 film “Alien,” was quite unsettling, even for Disney World. Remarkably, someone at Disney thought it appropriate to introduce a touch of horrifying alien terror into the Happiest Place on Earth. Later, Disney decided to drop the ‘Alien’ element (and the original name for the attraction, Nostromo, from the film) but not the overall idea. After terrifying children for nearly a decade (I was one of them; it was truly nightmare-inducing), Alien Encounter closed in 2003. The location now hosts a more tamed version starring Stitch from “Lilo & Stitch.

The James Bond Live-Action Stunt Show

Initially, the plan for Universal Studios Florida envisioned a breathtaking design by ‘Star Wars’ artist Ralph McQuarrie for a thrilling stunt show themed around James Bond. This concept was heavily influenced by Ken Adam, a longtime James Bond production designer. The proposed “Giant Circular Roof” would have been able to open, revealing screens on the walls displaying Bond’s most formidable enemies, who would supposedly watch as 007 met his demise and a nuclear warhead was launched. Unfortunately, this project never took flight, but over the years, Universal Studios has hosted stunt shows based on ‘Conan the Barbarian,’ ‘The A-Team,’ ‘Miami Vice,’ ‘Spider-Man,’ and ‘Waterworld.’

Mel Brooks’ Hollywood Horror Hotel

Initially, the Tower of Terror wasn’t connected to ‘The Twilight Zone,’ but was instead planned as a joint venture between Disney and Mel Brooks. However, Brooks eventually decided to withdraw from the project, and ‘The Twilight Zone’ elements were added later. During the early stages, the concept was known as “Hotel Mel,” which combined an attraction and a functioning hotel within the same structure. There was also a murder mystery that could be solved using clues hidden around the property. It’s fascinating to think about what might have been if Mel Brooks hadn’t lost interest and instead made ‘Life Stinks,’ as it was around this time that Imagineers came up with the idea of incorporating haunted elevators that suddenly plummet from their shafts. The Tower of Terror is a fantastic ride, but when you consider we almost had an entire Mel Brooks hotel, it’s hard not to feel like life can be disappointing sometimes.

Batman Island

Originally, Islands of Adventure at Universal Studios had an entire zone dedicated to Batman instead of Marvel Super Hero Island. This was designed during the 1990s when Tim Burton’s Batman films were popular. The proposed attractions included a Batmobile ride, a Bat-jet experience, and a live-action stunt show starring Batman, Robin, and Superman. However, plans changed over time, as they sometimes do, and the spot designated for Batman was eventually taken by characters like Spider-Man and the Hulk from Marvel.

Batwing: Batman vs the Penguin

On Batman Island, some notable features might have been a suspended roller coaster offering two distinct tracks: one modeled after Batman and the other after the Penguin. Each track would provide unique experiences, special effects, and even pyrotechnics. In the lower left corner, you can spot Shreck’s Department Store, a nod to Christopher Walken’s character in ‘Batman Returns.’ Regrettably, this specific roller coaster never materialized. However, Islands of Adventure incorporated the idea of competing coasters into their Dueling Dragons ride (formerly known as Dragon Challenge and now part of its Harry Potter realm).

Dick Tracy’s Crime-Stoppers

In 1990, prior to Warren Beatty’s “Dick Tracy” release, there was anticipation that the movie would be a massive success, leading Disney to consider creating a theme park attraction based on it. The proposed ride concept involved dark sets depicting Chicago, where riders could join Dick Tracy in a chase. Each vehicle would have been armed with tommy guns for interactivity, allowing riders to shoot at targets throughout the ride. However, since “Dick Tracy” didn’t become a franchise as expected, the project was abandoned. Interestingly, the design of the intended vehicles resembles those in the Indiana Jones Adventure, and the concept of a shooting gallery can still be found in Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin.

‘The Nightmare Before Christmas’ Ride

Visitors on this ride inspired by the 1993 stop-motion Christmas movie would have climbed aboard eerie flying caskets resembling Peter Pan’s Flight, but with a unique, spooky, and Tim Burton-esque twist. Disney found the concept intriguing, but Tim Burton, who jointly owned the characters, wasn’t keen on it and vetoed the plan altogether. Instead, every year, Disney turns the Haunted Mansion in California into the “Haunted Mansion Holiday,” incorporating figures from the movie.

Godzilla Bullet Train

Since the 1970s, there had been preliminary discussions about incorporating a simulated bullet train experience into the Japan Pavilion at Epcot. Visitors would have found themselves seated in a ride vehicle, peering out at screens depicting a voyage through the Japanese landscape. However, an intriguing twist on this idea involved introducing Godzilla; he would emerge from the sea to assault the train during its trip through Tokyo Bay. It’s said that the project never progressed beyond talks with Toho, the studio behind Godzilla, as they felt a colossal, world-wrecking lizard was too out of place in Epcot’s tranquil, naturalistic setting. Too bad.

The Great Muppet Movie Ride

For over two decades, The Muppets have been a significant part of Disney’s Hollywood Studios, with their MuppetVision 3D movie. Originally, plans were set for the Muppets to play a bigger role in the park, including a parody of the Great Movie Ride called The Great Muppet Movie Ride. In this attraction, Jim Henson’s iconic characters would have reenacted famous movie scenes. However, these plans were halted when Disney and Henson’s merger deal failed following Henson’s passing in 1990. Yet, Disney eventually acquired the Muppets in 2004, so perhaps their ultimate theme park attraction is still on the horizon.

Jurassic Park Jeep Safari

At Universal’s Islands of Adventure, Jurassic Park features a River Adventure ride, which is somewhat unlike the Jurassic Park movies in appearance but boasts animatronic dinosaurs. The initial plan, however, envisioned multiple Jurassic Park attractions, one being a Jeep Safari that would have closely followed the movie’s narrative. This attraction would have allowed visitors to experience a remote-controlled ride through the park, encountering brontosaurus, evading T-Rexes, and confronting raptors. As per DisneyAndMore.Blogspot.com, the Jeep Safari concept was considered too similar to the River Adventure for both to exist together.

Jurassic Park Jeep Safari

Take a look at this detailed shot of the Jurassic Park Jeep Safari vehicle, reminiscent of the iconic 8-seater DeLoreans seen in the ‘Back to the Future’ experience.

Baby Herman’s Runaway Buggy Ride

Although only one theme-park ride, Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin, was developed from ‘Who Framed Roger Rabbit’, Disney initially intended to create multiple rides based on the film. One proposed ride, Baby Herman’s Runaway Buggy Ride, would have allowed guests to act as Baby Herman’s stunt double in a perilous scene, riding in vehicles modeled after baby carriages. Guests would have donned baby bonnets during the ride to enhance the illusion and boost photo sales. Regrettably, disputes between Disney and Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Entertainment over creative control of Roger Rabbit halted the development of this ride, as well as other planned projects.

Toontown Trolley

Similar to how the Baby Herman ride hindered the creation of a simulator ride akin to Star Tours, which would have guided visitors through the cartoon-filled world of Toontown from ‘Who Framed Roger Rabbit’, plans for such rides were initially part of an entirely new section in Disneyland called Hollywoodland. However, this area was later reimagined as Mickey’s Toontown instead. Unfortunately, Roger Rabbit didn’t make the final cut.

Toontown Trolley

Here’s another intriguing sketch for the Roger Rabbit Trolley Ride. It seems quite psychedelic. I believe the children, particularly those fueled by sugar, would find it fascinating.

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2025-01-25 00:54

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