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Muppet*Vision 3D is a 3D film attraction located at Disney's Hollywood Studios and formerly at Disney California Adventure. Directed by Jim Henson, the attraction features Kermit the Frog guiding park guests on a tour through Muppet Studios, while the Muppets prepare their sketch acts to demonstrate their new breakthrough in 3D film technology. The show, however, completely unravels when Dr. Bunsen Honeydew's experimental 3D spirit, Waldo, causes mayhem during the next portion of the show.

The attraction—which was filmed on January of 1990, opened as Jim Henson's Muppet*Vision 3D[1] on the first anniversary of Jim Henson's death on May 16, 1991, at Disney's Hollywood Studios (then Disney-MGM Studios)—incorporates the 3D film in conjunction with in-theater 4D effects, such as Audio-Animatronics, lighting, projections, smoke, and a live full-bodied performer. Muppet*Vision 3D had a subsequent incarnation that opened at Disney California Adventure on February 8, 2001.[2]

The theater at Disney California Adventure has been used to present sneak peeks of Disney's Tron: Legacy, Frankenweenie, and Oz the Great and Powerful. Although the event officially ended on May 15, 2015, the venue housed the Frozen sing-along until April 17, 2016. After the sing-along ended, the location was renamed to the Sunset Showcase Theater with a movie preview that began showing in May 2016.[3][4][5]

Premise[]

The show is a 3D film featuring Jim Henson's Muppets. Due to the use of Audio-Animatronics, a live full-bodied Muppet and other similar effects, the show is sometimes referred to as "Muppet*Vision 4D" (which was used in The Walt Disney World Explorer application, displayed as "Jim Henson's Muppet*Vision 3D 4D" with a slanted red strikethrough on "3D"). It was directed by Jim Henson and written by Bill Prady. The show was one of the final Muppets projects with the involvement of Henson, as well as veteran Muppet performer Richard Hunt and one of the last times they performed their characters.[6] Henson died in 1990 before production of the film was completed, and Hunt died in 1992.

Queue[]

Before guests are seated in the theater where the film is shown, they go through the queue, which winds through "Muppet Labs", home of Dr. Bunsen Honeydew and his assistant Beaker. The audience passes several office doors, all featuring outlandish job descriptions and spoof movie posters featuring Muppets. Guests then enter a large room filled with Muppet "props" and boxes with comical and humorous labels. Above guests' heads are sets of three television monitors, where the pre-show featuring several Muppets is shown.

The audience is repeatedly reminded to take a pair of 3D glasses from several containers around the room before entering the theater, which is modeled after the theater depicted on The Muppet Show. Muppet*Vision 3D is the only Disney 3D attraction currently playing which refers to the glasses as "3D Glasses" (It's Tough to Be a Bug! utilizes "Bug Eyes", Star Tours: The Adventures Continue refers to them as "Flight Glasses", Toy Story Midway Mania! calls them "3D Game Glasses", Avatar: Flight of Passage calls them "Flight Visors", Mickey's PhilharMagic calls them "Opera Glasses", and Remy's Ratatouille Adventure calls them "RatVision Goggles"). However, the glasses are sometimes referred to as "3D Safety Goggles", foreshadowing the "dangerous" experiments guests will be visiting.

At Disney California Adventure, the queue was different in that it featured a cast member at the turnstile handing out the glasses individually and the "hallway" scene from Disney's Hollywood Studios' queue was replaced with a "courtyard" filled with various props. The queue went around a fake "set", blending in with the rest of the Hollywood Land district. Guests also saw a half of a motorbike protruding from the wall above, with a hole in the shape of Gonzo. The pre-show room there included a scrolling LED monitor known as The Official Time Clock which displayed various messages and jokes (including references to Elvis and The Mickey Mouse Club) while counting down to showtime.

In the spring of 2008, the queue was replaced with an eating area for the Award Weiners restaurant in order to provide more seating for it. The original "Disaster Effects" storage area still remains, but many of the spoof movie posters were removed, now in their place are real movie posters promoting current films from Walt Disney Studios. Many of the original props from the queue were moved to the post-show area outside the exit doors.

Constantine, the villain from Muppets Most Wanted, was added to the pre-show at the beginning of March 2014 to advertise the new film.

On September 23, 2021, Disney's Hollywood Studios announced that exclusive content for Muppets Haunted Mansion will be added to the pre-show starting on October 1, 2021, as part of Walt Disney World's 50th anniversary celebration.

The Show[]

Muppet-Vision 3D introduces Waldo C. Graphic, the world's first computer-generated Muppet, who actually originated in The Jim Henson Hour's Muppet television segments. Waldo is "created" by Bunsen and Beaker during a demonstration of three-dimensional imagery, but proves uncontrollable and wreaks havoc throughout the remainder of the film, especially when the ending patriotic number by Sam the Eagle is reduced to shambles.

Aside from the Muppets on-screen, there are also a number of in-theater Muppets, mostly animatronic, that interact with the show. Statler and Waldorf heckle the show from their traditional balcony, an orchestra of penguins rises into view from the orchestra pit to underscore the show and the Swedish Chef "operates" the film projector from the booth above and behind the audience. Bean Bunny leaves the film at one point after being blamed for ruining several scenes (mainly Miss Piggy's musical number) in his attempt to help, and Sweetums, who is a live full-bodied Muppet, comes out into the audience to search for him after having already done so on the screen and when he came to put out a fire in the orchestra pit caused by Waldo.

At one point in the show, there appear to be computerized bubbles blown, although, if the glasses are removed, there are real soap bubbles. At the end of the show, the Swedish Chef tries to destroy the now out-of-control Waldo, who has caused a fire to break out in the orchestra pit, (resulting in Sweetums dumping a bucket of water on the penguins, who retaliated by firing a cannon that destroyed the film, as Waldo himself states) and is all alone on a blank screen, by firing a gun at him. After missing several times (shooting holes in the screen and even the theater wall in the process), the Chef resorts to using a larger cannon. This "blows-up" the theater, leaving a (projected) hole in the main screen, as well as "revealing" some bricks and sheetrock throughout the main theater.

Cast[]

Performers[]

Additional performers include; Kevin Carlson, Rick Lyon, Allan Trautman, Rickey Boyd, Steven Ritz-Barr, Len Levitt, and Mark Bryan Wilson.

Trivia[]

Muppet Vision 3-D

Former Disney's Hollywood Studios Sign

References[]

v - e - d
Disney's Hollywood Studios logo 2019
Hollywood Boulevard
Mickey and Minnie's Runaway RailwayCitizens of Hollywood (Reopening in 2024)
Echo Lake
Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Hall of Fame PlazaFor the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along CelebrationIndiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular!Star Tours: The Adventures ContinueVacation Fun
Grand Avenue
Muppet*Vision 3D
Animation Courtyard
Walt Disney PresentsDisney Junior Play and Dance!The Little Mermaid - A Musical Adventure (Opening in Fall 2024) • Star Wars Launch Bay
Sunset Boulevard
Lightning McQueen's Racing AcademyTheater of the Stars (Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage) • Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring AerosmithThe Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
Toy Story Land
Alien Swirling SaucersSlinky Dog DashToy Story Midway Mania!
Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge
Millennium Falcon: Smuggler's RunStar Wars: Rise of the Resistance
Current Entertainment
Fantasmic!Wonderful World of AnimationDisney Movie Magic

Seasonal: Unleash the Villains • Rockin' Fourth of July Celebration • Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM!

Former Attractions and Entertainment
The Great Movie RideThe Magic of Disney AnimationSorcery in the SkyAladdin's Royal CaravanThe Sorcerer's HatMulan ParadeStar Wars: A Galaxy Far, Far AwayHere Come the MuppetsDisney Junior - Live on Stage!The American Idol ExperienceStar ToursThe Making of the Haunted Mansion MovieJourney into Narnia: Creating the Lion, the Witch, and the WardrobeJourney into Narnia: Prince CaspianThe Legend of Captain Jack SparrowStar Wars: Path of the JediMonster Sound Show • ABC Sound Studio • Sounds Dangerous! • Jedi Training Sign Up • Muppets Courtyard Streets of America (Honey, I Shrunk the Kids: Movie Set AdventureLights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt ShowStudio Backlot TourEarffel Tower) • Disney Junior Dance Party!Hercules "Zero to Hero" Victory ParadeSuperStar Television • Disney's Doug Live • Voyage of the Little MermaidJedi Training: Trials of the TempleStar Wars: A Galactic Spectacular

Seasonal: Disney Society Orchestra and Friends

Resorts
Star Wars: Galactic StarcruiserDisney's Yacht Club ResortDisney's Beach Club ResortDisney's BoardWalk ResortDisney's BoardWalk VillasDisney's Caribbean Beach ResortDisney's Riviera Resort


v - e - d
Disney California Adventure logo
Buena Vista Street
Red Car Trolley
Hollywood Land
Disney Animation Building (Turtle Talk with CrushAnimation AcademySorcerer's Workshop) • Disney Junior Dance Party!Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue!Mickey's PhilharMagicHyperion TheaterRed Car Trolley
Grizzly Peak
Grizzly River RunSoarin' Around the WorldRedwood Creek Challenge Trail

Seasonal: Villains Grove

San Fransokyo Square
The Bakery Tour
Performance Corridor
Walt Disney Imagineering Blue Sky Cellar
Cars Land
Radiator Springs RacersMater's Junkyard JamboreeLuigi's Rollickin' Roadsters

Seasonal: Haul-O-Ween • Mater's Graveyard JamBOOree • Luigi's Honkin' Haul-O-Ween • Mater's Jingle Jamboree

Paradise Gardens Park
Goofy's Sky SchoolSilly Symphony SwingsJumpin' JellyfishThe Little Mermaid: Ariel's Undersea AdventureGolden Zephyr
Pixar Pier
IncredicoasterInside Out Emotional WhirlwindJessie's Critter CarouselPixar Pal-A-RoundToy Story Midway Mania!Games of Pixar Pier
Avengers Campus
Avengers Quinjet (Opening in ???) • Doctor Strange: Mysteries of the Mystic ArtsGuardians of the Galaxy - Mission: BREAKOUT!Web Slingers: A Spider-Man Adventure

Seasonal: Guardians of the Galaxy - Monsters After Dark

Current Entertainment
Better Together: A Pixar Pals Celebration! (Opening in April 26, 2024) • World of Color

Seasonal: Disney's Celebrate America • World of Color: Seasons of Light • World of Color: Villainous • Frightfully Fun Parade

Former Attractions and Entertainment
A Bug's Land (Flik's FlyersFrancis' Ladybug BoogieHeimlich's Chew Chew TrainIt's Tough to Be a Bug!Princess Dot Puddle ParkTuck & Roll's Drive 'Em BuggiesThe Ugly Bug Ball) • Bountiful Valley FarmHyperion Theater (Steps in TimeThe Power of Blast!Aladdin: A Musical SpectacularFrozen: Live at the Hyperion) • California Screamin'Disney Junior - Live on Stage!Golden DreamsKing Triton's Carousel of the SeaLilo & Stitch's Ohana LuauLuigi's Flying TiresMaliboomerMission Tortilla FactoryMuppet*Vision 3DSeasons of the VinePaint the NightSuperstar LimoThe Twilight Zone Tower of TerrorWho Wants to Be a Millionaire – Play It!S.S. RustworthyDisney's LuminAriaDisney's Electrical ParadeDisney's Eureka! A California ParadeBlock Party BashPixar Play ParadeCondor Flats (Paradise PierGolden State)

Seasonal: World of Color: Winter Dreams • World of Color: Celebrate! - The Wonderful World of Walt Disney

Resorts
Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & SpaDisney's Paradise Pier Hotel


v - e - d
The Muppets Logo
Media
Television shows: The MuppetsMuppet BabiesMuppets NowThe Muppets Mayhem

Television specials: The Muppets at Walt Disney WorldStudio DC: Almost LiveA Muppets Christmas: Letters to SantaGood Luck CharlieMuppets Haunted Mansion
Movies: The Muppet Christmas CarolMuppet Treasure IslandThe Muppets' Wizard of OzThe MuppetsMuppets Most WantedMuppet Man
Video Games: My Muppets ShowAnimal DrummerTap Tap MuppetsDisney Emoji BlitzDisney Heroes: Battle ModeDisney Magic Kingdoms
Albums: The Muppet Christmas Carol Story AlbumThe Muppet Christmas Carol soundtrackMuppet Treasure Island soundtrackBest of the MuppetsA Green and Red ChristmasA Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa soundtrackMuppets: The Green AlbumThe Muppets soundtrackMuppets Most Wanted soundtrackMuppets Most Wanted scoreLondon Music Works Perform Music From The MuppetsDisney Junior Music: Muppet BabiesMuppets Haunted Mansion soundtrackThe Muppets Mayhem soundtrack
Cancelled projects: America's Next MuppetMuppets Live Another Day

Disney Parks
Muppets CourtyardMidship Detective AgencyMuppet*Vision 3D

Entertainment: Here Come the MuppetsHollywood's Pretty WomanMuppet Mobile LabMuppets on Location: Days of Swine and RosesThe Muppets Present… Great Moments in American History
Restaurants: PizzeRizzoThe Great Gonzo's Pandemonium Pizza ParlorRegal Eagle Smokehouse
Shops: Stage 1 Company Store
Parades: Disney Stars and Motor Cars Parade
Christmas: Disney Holidays in Hollywood

Characters
Muppets: Kermit the FrogMiss PiggyFozzie BearGonzoAnimalRizzo the RatPepe the King PrawnStatler and WaldorfDr. Bunsen HoneydewBeakerScooterBean BunnyDr. TeethFloyd PepperJaniceZootRowlf the DogRobin the FrogThe Swedish ChefSam the EagleSweetumsBobo the BearPopsUncle DeadlyCamillaWaldo C. GraphicCliffordThogSeymourLew ZealandLink HogthrobBeauregardJohnny FiamaSal MinellaAngeloWalter80's RobotThe MoopetsConstantineDeniseChip
Big Mean Carl

Humans: Dorothy GaleClaireSanta ClausFrank MeanyJoyBeaker's GirlfriendGaryMaryTex RichmanVeronica MartinHobo JoeMargeReceptionistDominic BadguyNadyaJean Pierre NapoleonBeckyHolly and Carl
Muppet Treasure Island: Jim HawkinsBilly BonesMrs. BluveridgeLong John SilverPolly Lobster
The Muppets' Wizard of Oz: Dorothy Gale

Vehicles
HispaniolaThe Electric Mayhem Bus
Songs
The Muppet Movie: The Rainbow Connection

The Muppet Christmas Carol: ScroogeRoom in Your HeartGood King WenceslasOne More Sleep 'til ChristmasMarley and MarleyChairman of the BoardFozziwig's PartyWhen Love is GoneIt Feels Like ChristmasChristmas ScatBless Us AllThankful HeartWhen Love Is Found
Muppet Treasure Island: Treasure IslandShiver My TimbersSomething BetterSailing for AdventureCabin FeverA Professional PirateBoom ShakalakaLove Led Us HereLove PowerLove Led Us Here
Muppet Treasure Island (Sing-Alongs): There Was an Old PirateI'm a RockReal PirateLet the Good Shine Out
The Muppets' Wizard of Oz: KansasWhen I'm With YouNap TimeThe Witch Is in the HouseCalling All MunchkinsGood Life
A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa: Delivering ChristmasIt's All About HeartI Wish I Could Be Santa ClausMy Best Christmas Yet
The Muppets: The Muppet Show ThemeLife's a Happy SongPictures in My HeadMe and Julio Down by the SchoolyardWe Built This CityMe PartyLet's Talk About MeMan or MuppetSmells Like Teen SpiritForget YouThe Whistling Caruso
Muppets Most Wanted: The Muppet Show ThemeWe're Doing a SequelI'm Number OneThe Big HouseI'll Get You What You Want (Cockatoo in Malibu)Interrogation SongMy Heart Will Go OnSomething So RightWorking in the Coal MineTogether AgainMoves Like JaggerMacarena
Muppet Babies: Muppet Babies Theme
Muppets Haunted Mansion: Rest in PeaceLife HereafterTie the Knot TangoDancing in the Moonlight

See also
The Muppets
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