Muppet*Vision 3D was a must-do during our May 2025 trip to Disney's Hollywood Studios. Its last day is June 7, then it will be closed for the area to be transformed into a new Monsters Inc. land. 

The 584-seat theater was more filled than in past visits, with people seeming to understand the moment and wanting to pay homage to puppets. We attended one of the mid-morning showings as our first stop in the park. Some people applauded and cheered at the start and the end, which was uncommon in recent visits. 

The show opened on May 16, 1991, providing 34 years of Muppet mayhem as well as a spot to sit down and take advantage of the air conditioning during the 15-minute show. In a time of technology advances in rides and shows, Muppet*Vision 3D has seemed behind the times, but somehow it's still one of attractions at Disney that makes me smile and laugh the most.

The allure of visiting a theme park, for me, is letting go of my seriousness to let myself embrace the corniness of characters like Fozzie, the Swedish chef and Beaker. The jokes stay the same — from showing to showing and decade to decade — but the commentary by the grumpy old cynics Statler and Waldorf (from their bolted-down spots in the balcony), Sam Eagle's one-liners and Gonzo's oblivious, yet softhearted spirit, still seem fresh. And I think we all can identify with one of the Muppets. For me, it's how Miss Piggy (holding court in the fountain outside the theater, as seen in the slideshow to the right) is the control freak whose plans regularly spin out of control. 

The minutes trickled down as I watched Muppet*Vision's final musical scene became more and more absurd. The show seems to end about three times, with an explosion and surrender; the 3D creation, Waldo, turning into Mickey Mouse; and the final appearance of Bean, the bunny. Each time, a smattering of people clapped before the louder applause at the end for the show's sole "live" actor — Sweetums the ogre — and the crowd-control cast members to enjoy.

The Muppets will meander over to the other side of the park, replacing Aerosmith as the headliner for the Rock 'n' Roller Coaster, which will give that high-speed completely different vibes. 

"We know so many of you share our love for The Muppets and know their energy will be a perfect fit for this coaster," according to the announcement on the Disney Parks blog.

But seeing the 3D show for the last time made me cherish the moments I had with the Muppets over the decades and think about I can let myself enjoy humor and absurdity well after I've exited the theater and theme park.