Muppets Courtyard Removal: Cost, Timeline, and Disney World Plans
The Muppets Are Gone Forever
Muppet*Vision 3D is gone forever, and newly released documents show just how much the new experience will be as Disney World ushers in a new era of theme park entertainment.
Muppet*Vision 3D Is Gone for Good: What Is Replacing It Will Cost Millions
Muppet*Vision 3D officially closed on June 8, 2025, ending a 34-year run that began shortly after the opening of Disney-MGM Studios in 1991. The roughly 15-minute attraction blended in-theater effects, Audio-Animatronics, puppetry, and musical numbers in what became Jim Henson’s final major Muppets project.
Why Did Disney Close Muppet*Vision 3D?
The closure wasn’t isolated to the theater itself.
Nearby dining locations, retail spaces, and surrounding walkways were also shuttered as Disney began preparing the footprint for a brand-new Monsters, Inc.–themed land. At the time, Disney confirmed some Muppet elements would be preserved but declined to share what would replace the attraction.
That silence left fans speculating—until now.
How Much Is Disney Spending on the Muppet*Vision Replacement?
According to documents released on January 9, Disney is investing $22.4 million into redeveloping the former Muppet*Vision site.
Disney will spend $22 million to transform the former Muppet*Vision 3D theater into a Monsters, Inc.-themed theater as part of the upcoming Monstropolis at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, according to documents CFTOD documents obtained by @PTolleyOBJ. – @ScottGustin on X
Disney will spend $22 million to transform the former Muppet*Vision 3D theater into a Monsters, Inc.-themed theater as part of the upcoming Monstropolis at Disney's Hollywood Studios, according to documents CFTOD documents obtained by @PTolleyOBJ. pic.twitter.com/gjG6kGA8oX
— Scott Gustin (@ScottGustin) January 13, 2026
The records were obtained by the Orlando Business Journal after a public records request to the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District (CFTOD), which oversees land use across Walt Disney World Resort. Reporter Patricia Tolley first detailed the findings.
The documentation outlines:
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Extensive interior demolition
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Installation of new structural elements
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Major architectural changes within the former theater space
Disney has not publicly commented on the figure, making this one of the rare times a specific project cost has surfaced before construction completion.
What’s Replacing Muppet*Vision 3D?
Disney has confirmed the new land will take place after the events of Pixar’s Monsters, Inc., with humans now officially invited to explore Monstropolis.
The area will include:
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Themed dining
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Immersive shopping
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A headline attraction unlike anything Disney has built before
That attraction will be the first-ever suspended roller coaster at a Disney park.
Why the Monsters, Inc. Ride Is a Big Deal
The new attraction will recreate the iconic door vault chase from Monsters, Inc., allowing guests to zip through the factory alongside James P. “Sully” Sullivan and Mike Wazowski.
During the 2025 SXSW Conference, Walt Disney Imagineer Michael Hundgen revealed that the ride’s loading area will use a vertical lift system—technology Disney has never implemented before.
According to Hundgen, Imagineers have wanted to turn the door vault sequence into a ride “ever since we saw it for the first time,” signaling just how long this concept has been in development.
How This Fits Disney’s Bigger Expansion Strategy
The $22.4 million investment is part of Disney’s broader plan to spend $17 billion across its Central Florida parks over the next 10 to 20 years.
While that figure spans multiple resorts and projects, the cost of the Muppet*Vision replacement helps contextualize how aggressively Disney is reshaping Disney’s Hollywood Studios in particular.
Historically, the park has served as a testing ground for immersive lands, including:
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Toy Story Land
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Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
Both projects required large-scale backstage demolition and infrastructure overhauls—similar to what’s now underway at the former Muppet*Vision site.
What Guests Should Expect During Construction
For now, much of the work remains behind construction walls.
Guests visiting Hollywood Studios may notice:
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Altered foot traffic patterns
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Reduced access in the surrounding area
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Minimal visible progress from guest-facing walkways
Disney typically limits public updates during early construction phases, meaning timelines and opening dates may remain vague for some time.
When Will the New Monsters, Inc. Land Open?
Disney has not announced an official opening date.
Based on the scope of demolition and structural work outlined in the documents, guests should expect a multi-year development timeline. This is not a cosmetic refresh—it’s a foundational rebuild.
Why the $22.4 Million Figure Matters
The newly revealed cost confirms what many fans suspected: replacing Muppet*Vision 3D is a major capital investment, not a placeholder project.
It also signals Disney’s intent to strengthen Hollywood Studios’ attraction lineup as competition across Central Florida theme parks continues to intensify—especially with Universal’s Epic Universe on the horizon.
The Orlando Business Journal reached out to Walt Disney World for comment prior to publication, but no response was issued. Still, the records themselves paint a clearer picture of what’s coming—and how much Disney is willing to spend to bring Monstropolis to life.
As additional permits are filed and construction progresses, more details are expected to surface, offering fans deeper insight into one of Disney’s most emotional and ambitious park transformations in recent years.
