Disney News, Discussion & an Element of Fun - 2025 Edition

[Duckbug.Ducktales]

No phased closure for Muppet Courtyard. May 10 last day of operation for Mama Melrose. June 7 for Muppet Vision 3D and PizzeRizzo

https://twitter.com/x/status/1882826113891930284

I hope they will put Muppet Vision 3D back in DHS, near the rethemed RnR!

 

[Gary Stocker]

I hope they will put Muppet Vision 3D back in DHS, near the rethemed RnR!

Isn't that villains show going into the Lightning McQueen building? I say put it in the Stitches Great Escape building that is just sitting there. To make it "future" create a Muppets in Space 3D show or something.

 

[Duckbug.Ducktales]

Isn't that villains show going into the Lightning McQueen building? I say put it in the Stitches Great Escape building that is just sitting there. To make it "future" create a Muppets in Space 3D show or something.

Yes, the Villains show will be there starting this summer but I think that show will go away eventually and Muppets 3D could go in there to be near RnR. It's possible that the Villains show is a prelude and testing ground for Villains Land at MK. Of course, who really knows?!

 

[kylenne]

No phased closure for Muppet Courtyard. May 10 last day of operation for Mama Melrose. June 7 for Muppet Vision 3D and PizzeRizzo

https://twitter.com/x/status/1882826113891930284

We will JUST make it in time for Muppetvision... At least our first timer will get to see it.

 

[Gary Stocker]

I really hope they don't have Aerosmith down at the same time...DHS is already a series of bottlenecks and having 2 more for my Summer trip will really stink....all the other rides will get busier..ugh.

Also "late summer" for Test Track is making me think around Labor Day. Doh!

Need some positive news.

 

[HopperFan]

No phased closure for Muppet Courtyard. May 10 last day of operation for Mama Melrose. June 7 for Muppet Vision 3D and PizzeRizzo

https://twitter.com/x/status/1882826113891930284

WOW. I really thought they would start all the backstage first and keep the rest open for awhile. Was already booked for May with DS#1 and now booked in June with DS#2 to say goodbye. Will leave a huge hole in our Muppet hearts!

 

[BorderTenny]

So, let me get this straight - Disney is closing an attraction and two restaurants (in a park that's severely lacking both) at basically the exact same time that Universal is opening a brand new park with tons of attractions and restaurants? The optics on this couldn't possibly be worse. I'm starting to think all those saying that Epic Universe will be a Disney killer might have a point.

I was planning to finally try Mama Melrose the beginning of June, but I guess I'll have to try to find a day between now and May 10.

 

[Gary Stocker]

So, let me get this straight - Disney is closing an attraction and two restaurants (in a park that's severely lacking both) at basically the exact same time that Universal is opening a brand new park with tons of attractions and restaurants? The optics on this couldn't possibly be worse. I'm starting to think all those saying that Epic Universe will be a Disney killer might have a point.

I was planning to finally try Mama Melrose the beginning of June, but I guess I'll have to try to find a day between now and May 10.

Great observation....the only way this makes any sense is they know they are going to get their clocks cleaned when Universal rolls out their new shiny object..so why not prepare for after that initial period and have some shiny new objects of their own? They really should pair this with deep ticket discounts...free dining isn't good enough with current rack rates.

 

[Naomeri]

No phased closure for Muppet Courtyard. May 10 last day of operation for Mama Melrose. June 7 for Muppet Vision 3D and PizzeRizzo

https://twitter.com/x/status/1882826113891930284

At least I'll get to see Muppet Vision a couple more times on my April trip

 

[HopperFan]

Great observation....the only way this makes any sense is they know they are going to get their clocks cleaned when Universal rolls out their new shiny object..so why not prepare for after that initial period and have some shiny new objects of their own? They really should pair this with deep ticket discounts...free dining isn't good enough with current rack rates.

I think this might behind, what appears to be, sped up work. Funny when DS#2 and I were talking today he said "Do we get our UO APs again and get those EPIC day tickets and mix with our Muppets farewell tour?" I said "NO, I'm not going to EPIC while they are in work-out-bugs stage, and it is at an insane capacity. I say we stick with Disney which might be quiet those weeks when EPIC opens."

NOTE: Booked with a 30% discount at POP so I'm fine with room cost.

 

[kylenne]

So, let me get this straight - Disney is closing an attraction and two restaurants (in a park that's severely lacking both) at basically the exact same time that Universal is opening a brand new park with tons of attractions and restaurants? The optics on this couldn't possibly be worse. I'm starting to think all those saying that Epic Universe will be a Disney killer might have a point.

Gonna be totally honest when I say that the “optics” of this only matter to ppl who are desperate for Epic to kill Disney aka the folk on certain other message boards. If Disney had instead decided to keep this area open through 2025 like with Dinosaur then I guarantee you the goalposts would have changed to “why are they moving so slow on this, they need to respond to Epic!” Like when exactly do you think they should start lol.

I’m not happy about losing Muppetvision, like at all—I literally cried when the news broke. But i think this type of talk is unfair and unrealistic given the reality of the situation. It’s been been extremely clear since the D23 announcements that 2025 was largely going to be a transitional year at WDW and the plan was going to be to counterpunch in a couple years time once the new park sheen has worn off. Which is smart of them tbh, because nothing is going to “compete” with a brand new whole park short of another whole new park. Muppetvision and an okayish Italian restaurant closing are not moving the needle for anybody’s trips who didn’t already care about Muppets Courtyard. Better to rip the bandaid off now so they can get started on Monstropolis and have new attractions to showcase sooner rather than later. It’s still not going to be nearly as bad a transition time at HS as when TSL and Galaxy’s Edge were getting built.

 

[lowlight]

Gonna be totally honest when I say that the “optics” of this only matter to ppl who are desperate for Epic to kill Disney aka the folk on certain other message boards. If Disney had instead decided to keep this area open through 2025 like with Dinosaur then I guarantee you the goalposts would have changed to “why are they moving so slow on this, they need to respond to Epic!” Like when exactly do you think they should start lol.

I’m not happy about losing Muppetvision, like at all—I literally cried when the news broke. But i think this type of talk is unfair and unrealistic given the reality of the situation. It’s been been extremely clear since the D23 announcements that 2025 was largely going to be a transitional year at WDW and the plan was going to be to counterpunch in a couple years time once the new park sheen has worn off. Which is smart of them tbh, because nothing is going to “compete” with a brand new whole park short of another whole new park. Muppetvision and an okayish Italian restaurant closing are not moving the needle for anybody’s trips who didn’t already care about Muppets Courtyard. Better to rip the bandaid off now so they can get started on Monstropolis and have new attractions to showcase sooner rather than later. It’s still not going to be nearly as bad a transition time at HS as when TSL and Galaxy’s Edge were getting built.

Nothing is ever going to kill Disney. They are gonna take their lumps with EU though. If they had used some of their abundant land, Muppets and Monstropolis could have been an “and” instead of an “either/or”. I think you give them too much credit for plotting a counter punch- I think they simply got lazy and rested on their laurels until the danger was at their doorstep. By danger I don’t mean any actual threat except to their jobs by way of shareholder revolt.

 

[The Foolish Mortal]

Gonna be totally honest when I say that the “optics” of this only matter to ppl who are desperate for Epic to kill Disney aka the folk on certain other message boards. If Disney had instead decided to keep this area open through 2025 like with Dinosaur then I guarantee you the goalposts would have changed to “why are they moving so slow on this, they need to respond to Epic!” Like when exactly do you think they should start lol.

I’m not happy about losing Muppetvision, like at all—I literally cried when the news broke. But i think this type of talk is unfair and unrealistic given the reality of the situation. It’s been been extremely clear since the D23 announcements that 2025 was largely going to be a transitional year at WDW and the plan was going to be to counterpunch in a couple years time once the new park sheen has worn off. Which is smart of them tbh, because nothing is going to “compete” with a brand new whole park short of another whole new park. Muppetvision and an okayish Italian restaurant closing are not moving the needle for anybody’s trips who didn’t already care about Muppets Courtyard. Better to rip the bandaid off now so they can get started on Monstropolis and have new attractions to showcase sooner rather than later. It’s still not going to be nearly as bad a transition time at HS as when TSL and Galaxy’s Edge were getting built.

I had a similar thought when I saw this post yesterday. But I will add an additional, probably unpopular, thought:

Closing those two restaurants and that one attraction is not going to make any difference is HS attendance and any loss of enjoyment people feel there will be minimal. i say that as someone who enjoys the Muppet attraction and I eat at Mama Melrose more than any other sit down restaurant in HS. But let's be honest, Muppets is not a high demand attraction and those restaurants almost always have seating/availability. I will miss them. But their absence wouldn't stop me from visiting HS and I doubt it will any other significant amount of people also

 

[Duckbug.Ducktales]

Usually when someone posts a lot of hyperbole like this or that thing "couldn't possibly be worse," or "is going to be the Disney killer," I just roll my eyes and move along
Sadly, our society has become one of extremes. Everything is either great or terrible with little in between.

 

[The Foolish Mortal]

Usually when someone posts a lot of hyperbole like this or that thing "couldn't possibly be worse," or "is going to be the Disney killer," I just roll my eyes and move along
Sadly, our society has become one of extremes. Everything is either great or terrible with little in between.

This post is the most sane, accurate, and non-hyperbolic post of all time in the history of the universe!!!!

 

[LSUmiss]

Anyone know if you can use extra magic hours at the parks the day of checkout? Ex- we check out of deluxe room on a Wed morning. Can we do mk extra magic that evening?

 

[BrianL]

Anyone know if you can use extra magic hours at the parks the day of checkout? Ex- we check out of deluxe room on a Wed morning. Can we do mk extra magic that evening?

I believe that you can - pretty sure anyway. Someone else may be able to confirm that.

 

[Duckbug.Ducktales]

Anyone know if you can use extra magic hours at the parks the day of checkout? Ex- we check out of deluxe room on a Wed morning. Can we do mk extra magic that evening?

Yes, you can! You are considered a guest of the resort even on the day of check out. Now, if you check into another Disney resort that isn't deluxe, then I don't know if you can use the extended evening hours benefit

 

[CJK]

Anyone know if you can use extra magic hours at the parks the day of checkout? Ex- we check out of deluxe room on a Wed morning. Can we do mk extra magic that evening?

Yes! I've done this myself! We checked out of the Riviera resort on an evening extended hours day for MK, and checking into Caribbean Beach that day. We DID do extended evening hours with no problem that day! But, there was no bus to Caribbean Beach of course, so we just drove our car. We could have taken the Riviera bus, and walked to Caribbean Beach.

 

[HopperFan]

Closing those two restaurants and that one attraction is not going to make any difference is HS attendance and any loss of enjoyment people feel there will be minimal. i say that as someone who enjoys the Muppet attraction and I eat at Mama Melrose more than any other sit down restaurant in HS. But let's be honest, Muppets is not a high demand attraction and those restaurants almost always have seating/availability. I will miss them. But their absence wouldn't stop me from visiting HS and I doubt it will any other significant amount of people also

We LOVE Muppets and go to the show every day we are in the park. It is usually only about 25-30% full. We haven't been to Mama Melrose in a decade and there are ALWAYS ADR times available. PizzaRizzo is one of DS favorite places. I love it because we can share a meal saving money, and recharge/rest in quiet ... because is is never crowded. And we go upstairs where no one goes and have the place to ourselves. All that closing is not going to impact the park at all. If the opening of EPIC does cause a lull at WDW in June, then it is a perfect time to shut down.

Disney is not going to fail because of EPIC, good grief even Universal is making it very hard to be able to go to that park. Where Disney might find fall off is families with pre/teens, but otherwise I think the basic fanbase is different. I'm also wondering how much a UO AP will cost once they include that park, that might zap the budget of locals who currently have AP to both. Plus is there will be people traveling to EPIC that might add on WDW while they are there.