Disney has closed many favored attractions before; that's just part of the theme park business. However, there's a certain flavor of tragedy whenever a Disney attraction has such a large fan following or cultural significance.
Muppet*Vision 3D is closing its doors after bringing decades of delight with its "cheap 3D tricks," but to say fans are taking it well would be a bald-faced lie. As Hollywood Studios ushers out Kermit and the gang to make room for Mike and Sully, guests are paying their respects in a shocking way.
Fans mourn Muppet*Vision
Images like the one featured above surfaced on Reddit and Facebook, depicting a resort room window at Disney's Port Orleans with a shrine to the fallen attraction. Complete with candles and heartfelt photos of the film's cast of fur and felt, it feels like a bittersweet addition amongst Disney's magical lodgings.
Upon further inspection of the gallery, viewers will also find various magnets and stickers criticizing the closing decision. This writer's personal favorite was the use of the Kermit tea meme with the phrase "Muppets are better than monsters, but that's none of my business." Unsurprisingly, many fans in and out of the parks share these sentiments.
While this might seem a bit over-the-top to some, it demonstrates a very clear message. Disney fans aren't happy, and any Disney execs out there should be paying close attention.
This isn't unlike the mourners we saw at Splash Mountain just a couple of years ago, and no amount of Mama Odie's magic will put out that fire any time soon. Instead of a "problematic" animated rabbit, however, we've lost one of the biggest contributions to the Walt Disney Company by Jim Henson himself. In short, it's not a good look.
For a corny, comical, and (let's be honest) dated 3D attraction, Muppet*Vision 3D has a surprisingly vocal support network, and Disney might have just lost a huge chunk of goodwill with its fanbase. Hopefully, a Muppetized version of Rock-N-Rollercoaster will smooth things over.
Did you see this touching Muppet memorial?