Goodbye Muppets: Disney To Demolish Iconic Area for Pixar Attraction
The Muppets gift shop at Disney’s Hollywood Studios is set to be demolished after nearly five years of abandonment. Walt Disney World Resort recently filed a permit for the Stage 1 Company Store demolition, a significant step in transforming the area as part of the upcoming Monsters, Inc. (2001) expansion. This follows the closure of several Muppets-related attractions, including Muppet*Vision 3D.
The Stage 1 Company Store, which had been closed since COVID-19, was briefly used for special pop-ups and merchandise events like Disney Jollywood Nights in 2024 and May the 4th in 2025. But for the most part, it had remained dormant, with remnants of Muppets-themed decor still visible in unused parts of the building.
In 2024, Disney announced that the Muppets Courtyard and Grand Avenue would close to make way for an all-new Monsters, Inc. area. The new land, which will feature a door coaster, a restaurant, and other Pixar-themed experiences, will transform the current Muppets area into a space dedicated to Monstropolis.
On Thursday, Walt Disney World Resort filed a “Notice of Commencement” to demolish the Stage 1 Company Store. The permit filed with PCL Construction Services, Inc. outlines plans for “demo, infrastructure prep, and utility modification” in the shuttered gift shop.
Despite this major transformation, Disney is not abandoning its Muppets legacy entirely. While the area will be reimagined for new Pixar-themed offerings, Disney fans will still be able to enjoy the Muppets in another part of Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Walt Disney Imagineering has promised replace Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster‘s current Aerosmith theme with the Muppets sometime in the future.
The official closure dates for PizzeRizzo, Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano, and Muppet*Vision 3D have already been announced. Muppet*Vision 3D and PizzeRizzo will welcome their final guests on June 7, 2025, while Mama Melrose’s will close its doors for the last time on May 10. However, Walt Disney World Resort has yet to announce an opening date for the Monsters, Inc. land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Which part of the Muppets Courtyard are you going to miss the most? Disney Dining would love to hear from you in the comments!
