Muppet Vision 3-D
Opened: May 16, 1991
Location: Streets of America across from Toy Story Pizza Planet
Extra Magic Hours: Morning, Evening
FASTPASS: No
Type: 3D show
Similar To: Mickey’s PhilharMagic
Requirements: None
What to Expect: After you move through the queue (if there is one), you’ll enter a large room full of crates, Muppet memorabilia, and movie poster spoofs featuring the Muppets as the main characters. In front of the room, a number of monitors will play a 12-minute video introducing the group to the Muppets and what is about to take place. Once the preshow concludes, you will move into the air-conditioned theater with some of the most comfortable seats at Disney World. The show features the 3D Muppets film as well as animatronic Muppets inside of the theater and a live version of Sweetums, the large, hairy Muppet.
Where to Sit: Capacity crowds are very rare at Muppet Vision and theaters that are about half full, at best, are common. Nonetheless, this is another one where you’ll want about half of a row full of people to enter before heading into a row if they’re enforcing the “Everyone move down to the end of the row” bit. If it’s obvious that the theater is only going to be 25% full, then you can safely go to the middle of a row and plop yourselves down. Everyone else will be doing the same. I’d sit at least half way back so you’re far enough away from the screen that head turning won’t be necessary.
Exit: You’ll exit on the opposite side of the theater. It’s usually orderly and only takes a moment as you head out down a ramp.
Scary Factor: Low. At times the show is loud, but there is nothing here that should scare anyone of any age. Although Muppet Vision is “similar” to It’s Tough to be a Bug and (the now defunct)Honey I Shrunk the Audience, it is nowhere near as intense or scary. If the kids were fine with Mickey’s PhilharMagic, they should have no problems here.
When To Go: I would go in the late afternoon, after you’ve completed the headlining rides and shows. The theater and preshow area are nicely air-conditioned and Muppet Vision 3-D makes for a nice break from standing in the sun. The theater seats 584 people and the preshow allows just as many to stand and watch for a total of more than 1,000 people engaged in the attraction at any given time.
Expect to Wait: Waits are generally 10 minutes or less. You should only have to wait for the next preshow to start and most often you can walk into a preshow that has already begun.
Length: The standing preshow video takes about 12 minutes and the theater show is 17 minutes long, for a total of about 30 minutes.
Rating: 9/10
Commentary: The only problem with Muppet Vision 3D is that the attraction is still using the same 20 year old film. It has been upgraded to digital, but it still shows signs of its age. In addition, younger people may not be as familiar with the Muppets as the older generation. Nonetheless, Muppet Vision remains a fantastic attraction and one of the Hollywood Studios’ pure delights. Everyone should do their best to see it. Doing otherwise would be unpatriotic.
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Forgive me, but I have to argue with you on one point. The fact that Muppet Vision still uses the same 20 year old film is a big PLUS to us rabid Muppet fans.
You say, back in the Muppets’ hayday there were five core puppeteers, and MV3D was the last major production to feature all five of them. Since MV3D’s production, three of the five have passed away (two, including Jim Henson, in the early 1990s) and one has retired. When I visited WDW for the first time earlier this year, my little Muppet fan heart soared to hear all the members of the original cast in the queue video and actual attraction. It was a nice little touch to see one last big to-do with the fab five.
So MV3D may be a little retro, but it’s got a nostalgia factor that’s worth the mothballs.