By Jacob Passy

One woman dressed for a wake. Another showed off a tattoo she got to commemorate the occasion. A group gathered with battery-operated candles to sing in a makeshift vigil.

They were outside Muppet*Vision 3D, an attraction at Walt Disney World in Florida devoted to Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Gonzo and the rest of the Muppets crew.

This used to be their happy place. But ever since Disney announced plans to close what had become a mecca for Muppets fanatics, the mood turned far more somber. Leading up to this month's closure, fans have traveled across oceans and borders to get one last look at the felted band of misfits in 3D.

Eric Clingersmith showed up early on the last day Muppet*Vision was open to the public to be among the first to experience the film. He watched it multiple times and waited in line for 40 minutes just to purchase pressed-penny souvenirs. When a crowd gathered that evening to sing "Rainbow Connection" outside the theater's entrance, Clingersmith said he had to call it a day.

"I was all cried out," said the 39-year-old from Buffalo, N.Y., who wore a shirt emblazoned with the phrase "Save Muppet*Vision."

Alicia Stella arrived on closing day donning a black dress to honor the soon-to-be departed. Despite the somber occasion, she said a celebratory spirit was on full display. "You could feel the love and respect for the Muppets in the air," said Stella, who owns the theme-park website Orlando ParkStop.

Disney dropped the bomb in January when it announced that the attraction and its surrounding area previously known as Muppets Courtyard would be redeveloped into a section based on the "Monsters, Inc." franchise.

Fans organized online petitions and letter-writing campaigns in the hopes of saving the attraction. Some even called for it to be declared as a historic landmark. Disney has taken steps to preserve the attraction.

Soon after the announcement, Muppet lovers began formulating plans for how to say goodbye.

Melia Schnefke, a 29-year-old who lives in Orlando, organized a prom-themed gathering in February at the Muppet-themed PizzeRizzo restaurant nearby Muppet*Vision. The unofficial event drew more than 100 people. Many wore formal clothing befitting the prom theme; others donned Muppet-inspired getups.

"Everyone was so excited to dress up and celebrate this silly place that serves frozen pizzas," Schnefke said. "It was such a magical time."

Aging franchises routinely get pushed aside to make way for something new. This closure carried special significance in part because it was one of the last projects Muppets creator Jim Henson worked on before he died in 1990. It was also among the few remaining physical tributes to the furry troupe, which forged a bond with a generation of fans with their weekly appearances on "The Muppet Show" from 1976 to 1981.

"Being in that theater in some sense felt like being a part of 'The Muppet Show,'" said J.D. Hansel, a writer for Muppet fan site ToughPigs who recently made the pilgrimage to pay his respects.

The attraction, which opened in 1991, primarily consisted of a film hosted by Kermit to demonstrate the Muppet gang's new 3D technology created by Dr. Bunsen Honeydew and his assistant, Beaker. The characters regularly broke the fourth wall to speak directly to the audience, and the typical Muppet chaos ensued.

Muppet*Vision featured multiple animatronic versions of characters, like the cranky critics Statler and Waldorf, and tactile effects including bubbles that would shower down as Miss Piggy sang. It culminated with the Swedish Chef blowing up the theater with a cannon after the "glorious" finale organized by Sam the Eagle went off the rails.

Steven Gurman, a 34-year-old stay-at-home dad from New Jersey, brought his three-year-old son along to say goodbye. While his son got a thrill from the attraction, Gurman recognizes the youngster may prefer the "Monsters, Inc." attractions replacing it.

"My son is going to have a favorite ride that I've never been on, and it could have potentially replaced one of my favorite rides," Gurman said, noting that the Muppets may not hold the same appeal as they once did for younger generations.

Mia Drumm grew up going to Disney World with her family, and Muppet*Vision was one of the few attractions she could do as a young child since it had no height requirements. The visits solidified her fandom and the 23-year-old is as devoted as ever. Before the closing, she got the first of multiple planned Muppets tattoos. She also got to fulfill a goal.

"My one wish was that it would stay open long enough for me to take my graduation photos because I had always dreamed of decorating my cap to the Muppets," said Drumm, who graduated from college this spring and donned the cap on a recent visit.

Disney, which acquired the franchise in 2004, said the closing isn't the end of the Muppets in its theme parks. A lightly Muppet-themed restaurant still operates at the nearby Epcot park, and the Muppets appear in a safety demonstration that plays before the World of Color evening show at Disney California Adventure park in Anaheim.

Disney also will be overhauling the Rock 'n' Roller Coaster ride at Hollywood Studios to feature the Muppets. It's the only ride at the resort that goes upside down.

Write to Jacob Passy at jacob.passy@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

June 13, 2025 05:30 ET (09:30 GMT)

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