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[[File:M@WDW1.jpg|thumb|300px|Swedish Chef at the Brown Derby restaurant]]
  
[[File:M@WDW1.jpg|thumb|300px|Swedish Chef at the Brown Derby restaurant]]
 
[[File:Muppets@WDW.jpg|thumb|300px|Kermit in Disney-MGM Studios]]
  
[[File:Muppets@WDW.jpg|thumb|300px|Kermit in Disney-MGM Studios]]
−
[[File:Sesame_Family_Robinson_Oh_no_Im_really_lost_now.jpg|thumb|300px|"Hey look, it's Elmo!"<ref>Martin P. Robinson, "[http://www.sesamestreet.org/parents/blog/-/blogs/telly-s-travels Telly's Travels]", ''[[Sesame Family Robinson]]'', November 28, 2010.</ref>]]
 +
[[File:Sesame_Family_Robinson_Oh_no_Im_really_lost_now.jpg|thumb|300px|[[Telly Monster]] in front of [[Cinderella]] Castle in the Magic Kingdom<ref>Martin P. Robinson, "[http://www.sesamestreet.org/parents/blog/-/blogs/telly-s-travels Telly's Travels]", ''[[Sesame Family Robinson]]'', November 28, 2010.</ref>]]
 
[[Image:Sweetumsparade.jpg|thumb|300px|Sweetums in Disney's Stars and Motor Cars Parade.]]
  
[[Image:Sweetumsparade.jpg|thumb|300px|Sweetums in Disney's Stars and Motor Cars Parade.]]
 
[[Image:Wdwexterior.jpg|thumb|300px|''Muppet*Vision 3D'' at Disney's Hollywood Studios]]
  
[[Image:Wdwexterior.jpg|thumb|300px|''Muppet*Vision 3D'' at Disney's Hollywood Studios]]
 
[[Image:Disneyworld store.jpg|thumb|300px|The Muppet store outside the ''Muppet*Vision 3D'' attraction.]]
  
[[Image:Disneyworld store.jpg|thumb|300px|The Muppet store outside the ''Muppet*Vision 3D'' attraction.]]
  +
[[File:Muppet_store_display_November_2011.jpg|thumb|300px|Display inside the Muppet Store during the third week of November 2011.]]
 
[[Image:DisneyWorldRides.jpg|thumb|300px|Promotional photo.]]
  
[[Image:DisneyWorldRides.jpg|thumb|300px|Promotional photo.]]
 
[[Image:Promo-mgm.jpg|thumb|300px|Printed ad from 1990]]
  
[[Image:Promo-mgm.jpg|thumb|300px|Printed ad from 1990]]
 
[[Image:Hensonandkermitmgm.jpg|thumb|300px|Jim and Kermit leaving their mark in cement.]]
  
[[Image:Hensonandkermitmgm.jpg|thumb|300px|Jim and Kermit leaving their mark in cement.]]
  +
[[Image:Muppet Cab Company.jpg|thumb|300px|[[Beauregard's taxi]] on display as part of the Studio Backlot Tour at Disney's Hollywood Studios.]]
⚫
'''Walt Disney World''' is a theme park resort that opened in Orlando, [[Florida]] in 1971. The resort includes four theme parks -- the Magic Kingdom, Epcot (formerly EPCOT Center), Disney's Hollywood Studios (formerly Disney-MGM Studios), and Disney's Animal Kingdom -- in addition to numerous hotels, water parks, and other entertainment offerings.
  
  +
[[File:Kids_menu_-_Mama_Melrose's_Ristorante_Italiano.jpg|thumb|300px|The kids menu at Mama Melrose's Ristorante Italiano (across from the ''[[Muppet*Vision 3D]]'' gift shop) in November 2011.]]
  +
  ⚫
'''Walt Disney World''' is a theme park resort that opened in Orlando, [[Florida]] in 1971. The resort includes four theme parks: the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom. The resort also includes numerous hotels, water parks, and other entertainment offerings. Walt Disney World is the largest resort in the world.
   
 
==The Muppets at Walt Disney World==
  
==The Muppets at Walt Disney World==
−
After [[The Walt Disney Company]] had announced the deal to buy [[:Category:The Muppets Characters|the Muppets]] characters from [[The Jim Henson Company]] in 1989, the Muppets produced ''[[The Muppets at Walt Disney World]]'', a primetime special that aired on ''[[The Magical World of Disney]]'', in which the [[Kermit the Frog]] and his friends explored the resort.
 +
After [[The Walt Disney Company]] had announced a deal to buy [[The Jim Henson Company]] in 1989, the two companies produced ''[[The Muppets at Walt Disney World]]'', a primetime special that aired on ''[[The Magical World of Disney]] ''in May 1990, in which [[Kermit the Frog]] and his friends explored the resort.
   
 
According to the special, Walt Disney World lies "just on the other side" of [[Kermit's Swamp]]. The geography of the resort is also compressed and streamlined for purposes of the plot. For example, even though the Muppets begin their trip by breaking into the Disney-MGM Studios, they don't seem to have the same problem entering the Magic Kingdom or EPCOT Center, even though each park has a separate gate.
  
According to the special, Walt Disney World lies "just on the other side" of [[Kermit's Swamp]]. The geography of the resort is also compressed and streamlined for purposes of the plot. For example, even though the Muppets begin their trip by breaking into the Disney-MGM Studios, they don't seem to have the same problem entering the Magic Kingdom or EPCOT Center, even though each park has a separate gate.
   
 
Attractions featured or mentioned in ''The Muppets at Walt Disney World'' include:
  
Attractions featured or mentioned in ''The Muppets at Walt Disney World'' include:
  +
 
===The Magic Kingdom===
  
===The Magic Kingdom===
 
*Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
  
*Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
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*Country Bear Jamboree
  
*Country Bear Jamboree
   
−
===EPCOT Center===
 +
===Epcot===
 
*The Leapfrog Fountains at Journey Into Imagination
  
*The Leapfrog Fountains at Journey Into Imagination
 
*Wonders of Life and Body Wars
  
*Wonders of Life and Body Wars
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*World Showcase pavilions: [[Mexico]], [[Germany]], [[China]], [[France]], Morocco, [[Canada]], [[Italy]], and [[Japan]]
  
*World Showcase pavilions: [[Mexico]], [[Germany]], [[China]], [[France]], Morocco, [[Canada]], [[Italy]], and [[Japan]]
   
−
===Disney's Hollywood Studios===
 +
===Hollywood Studios===
 
*[[Hollywood]] Boulevard
  
*[[Hollywood]] Boulevard
 
*[[New York City|New York Street]] on the Backlot Tour
  
*[[New York City|New York Street]] on the Backlot Tour
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*Monorail
  
*Monorail
 
*Utilidors (referred to by [[Gonzo]] as "Walt Disney's Laundryland")
  
*Utilidors (referred to by [[Gonzo]] as "Walt Disney's Laundryland")
−  
⚫
[[Telly Monster]] visited the theme park, briefly, in [[Martin P. Robinson]] and [[Annie Evans]]' blog "[[Sesame Family Robinson]]".
  
   
 
==Theme Park Attractions==
  
==Theme Park Attractions==
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In [[1990]], the ''[[Here Come the Muppets]]'' stage show, the first full-fledged Muppet attraction at the parks, premiered at the former Walt Disney Theater in the park's Animation Courtyard. The production featured walk-around characters playing to a vocal track recorded by the Muppet performers. A second stage show, ''[[Muppets on Location: Days of Swine and Roses]]'', followed in [[1991]], and played for three years.
  
In [[1990]], the ''[[Here Come the Muppets]]'' stage show, the first full-fledged Muppet attraction at the parks, premiered at the former Walt Disney Theater in the park's Animation Courtyard. The production featured walk-around characters playing to a vocal track recorded by the Muppet performers. A second stage show, ''[[Muppets on Location: Days of Swine and Roses]]'', followed in [[1991]], and played for three years.
   
−
''[[Muppet*Vision 3D]]'', an elaborate attraction featuring a 3D film with Audio-Animatronic characters and special in-theater effects, was introduced in [[1991]], along with the Stage One Company Store, which specializes in Muppet merchandise. ''Muppet*Vision 3D'' is still a popular attraction at the park and was recreated for [[Disneyland|Disney California Adventure]] in [[2001]].
 +
''[[Muppet*Vision 3D]]'', an elaborate attraction featuring a 3D film with Audio-Animatronic characters and in-theater special effects, was introduced in [[1991]], along with the Stage One Company Store, which specializes in Muppet merchandise. ''Muppet*Vision 3D'' is still a popular attraction at the park and was recreated for [[Disneyland|Disney California Adventure]] in [[2001]].
   
 
''Muppet*Vision 3D'', which was the last film directed by Jim Henson, was also the last of the originally planned attractions to be built. The attraction was originally slated to anchor a new Muppet Studios section of the park, nestled between Star Tours and New York Street. But when the Disney/Henson merger fell through, plans to build [[the Muppet Movie Ride]] and [[the Great Gonzo's Pandemonium Pizza Parlor]] were abandoned.
  
''Muppet*Vision 3D'', which was the last film directed by Jim Henson, was also the last of the originally planned attractions to be built. The attraction was originally slated to anchor a new Muppet Studios section of the park, nestled between Star Tours and New York Street. But when the Disney/Henson merger fell through, plans to build [[the Muppet Movie Ride]] and [[the Great Gonzo's Pandemonium Pizza Parlor]] were abandoned.
   
−
Most recently, walk-around versions of Kermit, Piggy, and [[Sweetums]] appeared in the park's [[Disney Stars and Motor Cars Parade]]. And the first new attraction to feature [[:Category: The Muppets Characters|the Muppets]] since Disney acquired the characters in [[2004]] was the [[Muppet Mobile Lab]], an interactive "Living Characters Initiative" starring Audio-Animatronic versions of [[Dr. Bunsen Honeydew]] and [[Beaker]].
 +
Walk-around versions of Kermit, Piggy, and [[Sweetums]] appeared in the park's [[Disney Stars and Motor Cars Parade]]. And the first new attraction to feature [[:Category: The Muppets Characters|the Muppets]] since Disney acquired the characters in [[2004]] was the [[Muppet Mobile Lab]], an interactive "Living Characters Initiative" starring Audio-Animatronic versions of [[Dr. Bunsen Honeydew]] and [[Beaker]].
  +
  +
Weatherproof versions of Kermit and Piggy appeared in [[Disney's Honorary VoluntEars Cavalcade]] in 2010.
  +
  +
A live appearance by [[Constantine]] occurred at the ''Villains Unleashed'' event at Disney's Hollywood Studios park on August 23, 2014. The meet and greet was set up inside the Muppet giftshop with Constantine caged inside a small Gulag cell.
   
 
A photo of Jim Henson (and Kermit) can be glimpsed in the film montage of American heroes near the end of the "American Adventure" attraction at the host pavilion (America) in Epcot's World Showcase.
  
A photo of Jim Henson (and Kermit) can be glimpsed in the film montage of American heroes near the end of the "American Adventure" attraction at the host pavilion (America) in Epcot's World Showcase.
  +
  +
A tile mosaic portrait of Jim Henson and Kermit was originally on display at the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Hall of Fame in Disney MGM Studios. It hung next to portraits of Fred Rogers and Burr Tillstrom.
   
 
Other Henson properties that were given attractions at Walt Disney World include:
  
Other Henson properties that were given attractions at Walt Disney World include:
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==Connections==
  
==Connections==
−
*[[David Arquette]] voiced Skully in the "Disney Junior- Live on Stage!" show at Disney's Hollywood Studios
 +
*[[Jason Alexander]] voiced Weevil Kneevil in the "Its Tough to Be a Bug!" 3-D film at Disney's Animal Kingdom
−
*[[Chevy Chase]] starred in ''The Monster Sounds Show'', a former attraction at Disney-MGM Studios
 +
*[[David Arquette]] voiced Skully in the Disney Junior- Live on Stage! show at Disney's Hollywood Studios
⚫
*[[Walter Cronkite]] was a host of ''The Magic of Animation'' film at Disney-MGM Studios and the narrator of Spaceship Earth at Epcot (1986-1994)
  
⚫
*[[Anthony Daniels]] portrayed [[C-3PO]] in the film and ride of ''Star Tours'' (1989-2010) and ''Star Tours: The Adventures Continue'' at Disney-MGM Studios/Disney's Hollywood Studios
  
⚫
*[[Allison Janney]] voiced Aly San San (spokesbot) in the ''Star Tours: The Adventures Continue'' attraction at Disney's Hollywood Studios
  
⚫
*[[Frank Oz]] voiced [[Yoda]] in the ''Star Tours: The Adventures Continue'' ride at Disney's Hollywood Studios
  
⚫
*[[James Earl Jones]] voiced Darth Vader in the ''Star Tours: The Adventures Continue'' ride at Disney's Hollywood Studios
  
⚫
*[[Cheech Marin]] voiced Chili in the ''Its Tough to Be a Bug!'' 3D film at Disney's Animal Kingdom
  
⚫
*[[Dave Goelz]] provided the voice of Figment in the Journey Into Imagination with Figment ride in Epcot
  
⚫
*[[Charles Grodin]] played the Left Brain in the Cranium Command show in the Wonders of Life at Epcot (1989-2007)
  
 
*[[Tyra Banks]] portrayed the female alien host (body performance only) in the preshow film of ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter (1995-2003) in the Magic Kingdom
  
*[[Tyra Banks]] portrayed the female alien host (body performance only) in the preshow film of ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter (1995-2003) in the Magic Kingdom
  +
*[[Chevy Chase]] starred in The Monster Sounds Show, a former attraction at Disney-MGM Studios
⚫
*[[Tim Curry]] voiced S.I.R. in the ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter preshow (1995-2003) in the Magic Kingdom
  
  ⚫
*[[Walter Cronkite]] was a host of "The Magic of Animation" film at Disney-MGM Studios and the narrator of Spaceship Earth at Epcot (1986-1994)
⚫
*[[Kevin Pollak]] played Spinlok in the ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter attraction film (1995-2003) in the Magic Kingdom
  
−
*[[Kathy Najimy]] played Dr. Femus in the ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter attraction film (1995-2003) in the Magic Kingdom
 +
*[[Tim Curry]] voiced S.I.R. in the ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter pre-show (1995-2003) in the Magic Kingdom
  ⚫
*[[Anthony Daniels]] portrayed [[C-3PO and R2-D2|C-3PO]] in the film and ride of Star Tours (1989-2010) and Star Tours: The Adventures Continue at Disney-MGM Studios/Disney's Hollywood Studios
  ⚫
*[[Ellen DeGeneres]] starred in Ellen's Energy Adventure at the Universe of Energy pavilion and Dory in The Seas with Nemo and Friends at Epcot
  +
*[[Johnny Depp]] voiced Captain Jack Sparrow in the updated (2006-present) Pirates of the Caribbean ride in the Magic Kingdom
  ⚫
*[[Dave Goelz]] provided the voice of Figment in the Journey Into Imagination with Figment ride at Epcot
 
*[[Gilbert Gottfried]] voiced Iago in "The Enchanted Tiki Room (Under New Management)" (1998-2011) in the Magic Kingdom
  
*[[Gilbert Gottfried]] voiced Iago in "The Enchanted Tiki Room (Under New Management)" (1998-2011) in the Magic Kingdom
  ⚫
*[[Charles Grodin]] played the Left Brain in the Cranium Command show in the Wonders of Life at Epcot (1989-2007)
  +
*[[Jonathan Morgan Heit]] voiced Cubby in the Disney Junior-Live on Stage! show at Disney's Hollywood Studios
 
*[[Jeremy Irons]] narrated Spaceship Earth at Epcot (1994-2007)
  
*[[Jeremy Irons]] narrated Spaceship Earth at Epcot (1994-2007)
−
*[[Nathan Lane]] voiced Timon in ''Circle of Life: An Environmental Tale'' film at Epcot
 +
*[[Michael Jackson]] starred in the "Captain EO" 3D film at Epcot
  ⚫
*[[Allison Janney]] voiced Aly San San (spokesbot) in the Star Tours: The Adventures Continue attraction at Disney's Hollywood Studios
  ⚫
*[[James Earl Jones]] voiced Darth Vader in the Star Tours: The Adventures Continue ride at Disney's Hollywood Studios
  +
*[[Richard Kind]] voiced Sergeant 90210 in the pre-show of the Stitch's Great Escape attraction in the Magic Kingdom
  +
*[[Nathan Lane]] voiced Timon in Circle of Life: An Environmental Tale film at Epcot
 
*[[Jon Lovitz]] played the Right Brain in the Cranium Command show in the Wonders of Life at Epcot (1989-2007)
  
*[[Jon Lovitz]] played the Right Brain in the Cranium Command show in the Wonders of Life at Epcot (1989-2007)
  ⚫
*[[Cheech Marin]] voiced Chili in the "Its Tough to Be a Bug!" 3D film at Disney's Animal Kingdom
  +
*[[Ian McShane]] portrayed and voiced Captain Blackbeard in the updated (2011-present) Pirates of the Caribbean ride in the Magic Kingdom
 
*[[Rick Moranis]] played Wayne Szalinski in the "Honey, I Shrunk the Audience" 3-D film at Epcot
  
*[[Rick Moranis]] played Wayne Szalinski in the "Honey, I Shrunk the Audience" 3-D film at Epcot
  ⚫
*[[Kathy Najimy]] played Dr. Femus in the ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter attraction film (1995-2003) in the Magic Kingdom
⚫
*[[Paul Reubens]] voiced RX-24 (Captain Rex) in the ''Star Tours'' film and ride (1989-2010) and in the queue of ''Star Tours: The Adventures Continue'' (archival audio) at Disney-MGM Studios/Disney's Hollywood Studios
  
−
*[[Don Rickles]] voiced William in "The Enchanted Tiki Room (Under New Management)" (1998-2011) in the Magic Kingdom and Mr. Potato Head at the ''Toy Story Mania!'' attraction at Disney's Hollywood Studios
 +
*[[Bill Nighy]] voiced Davy Jones in the updated (2006-present) Pirates of the Caribbean ride in the Magic Kingdom
  ⚫
*[[Frank Oz]] voiced [[Yoda]] in the Star Tours: The Adventures Continue ride at Disney's Hollywood Studios
⚫
*[[Martin Short]] starred in ''The Monster Sound Show'' at Disney-MGM Studios and hosted the ''O [[Canada]]!'' and ''The Making of Me'' films at Epcot
  
  +
*[[Rob Paulsen]] voiced José Carioca in the Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros ride in Epcot
  +
*[[Madison Pettis]] voiced Izzy in the Disney Junior-Live on Stage! show at Disney's Hollywood Studios
  ⚫
*[[Kevin Pollak]] played Spinlok in the ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter attraction film (1995-2003) in the Magic Kingdom
  ⚫
*[[Paul Reubens]] voiced RX-24 (Captain Rex) in the Star Tours film and ride (1989-2010) and in the queue of Star Tours: The Adventures Continue (archival audio) at Disney-MGM Studios/Disney's Hollywood Studios
  +
*[[Kevin Michael Richardson]] voiced Captain Gantu in the Stitch's Great Escape attraction in the Magic Kingdom
  +
*[[Don Rickles]] voiced William in "The Enchanted Tiki Room (Under New Management)" pre-show (1998-2011) in the Magic Kingdom and Mr. Potato Head at the Toy Story Mania! attraction at Disney's Hollywood Studios
  +
*[[Geoffrey Rush]] voiced Captain Barbossa in the updated (2006-present) Pirates of the Caribbean ride in the Magic Kingdom
  ⚫
*[[Martin Short]] starred in The Monster Sound Show at Disney-MGM Studios and hosted the "O [[Canada]]!" and The Making of Me films at Epcot
  +
*[[French Stewart]] voiced The Termite-ator in the "Its Tough to Be a Bug!" 3-D film at Disney's Animal Kingdom
  ⚫
*[[Patrick Warburton]] hosts the safety video in the Soarin' attraction at Epcot and voiced G2-4T in the queue of Star Tours: The Adventures Continue at Disney's Hollywood Studios
 
*[[George Wendt]] played the Stomach in the Cranium Command show in the Wonders of Life at Epcot (1989-2007)
  
*[[George Wendt]] played the Stomach in the Cranium Command show in the Wonders of Life at Epcot (1989-2007)
−
*[[Robin Williams]] was one of the hosts of ''The Magic of Animation'' film at Disney-MGM Studios and the voice of Timekeeper in ''The Timekeeper'' at the Magic Kingdom
 +
*[[Robin Williams]] was one of the hosts of "The Magic of Animation" film at Disney-MGM Studios and the voice of Timekeeper in The Timekeeper at the Magic Kingdom
⚫
*[[Ellen DeGeneres]] starred in "Ellen's Energy Adventure" at the Universe of Energy pavilion at Epcot
  
−
*[[Michael Jackson]] starred in the "Captain EO" 3D film at Epcot
  
⚫
*[[Patrick Warburton]] hosts the safety video in the ''Soarin''' attraction at Epcot and voiced G2-4T in the queue of ''Star Tours: The Adventures Continue'' at Disney's Hollywood Studios
  
   
  +
==Trivia==
⚫
As a kid, Kevin Clash wanted to live at Walt Disney World.<ref>Nadine Bells, "[http://ca.news.yahoo.com/blogs/good-news/kevin-clash-living-childhood-dream-being-sesame-street-195317669.html Kevin Clash is living his childhood dream being Sesame Street’s ‘Elmo’]", The Lighter Side (Yahoo), 29 September 2011.</ref>
  
  ⚫
* Telly Monster visited the Magic Kingdom park, briefly, in [[Martin P. Robinson]] and [[Annie Evans]]' blog "[[Sesame Family Robinson]]".
  +
  ⚫
* As a kid, Kevin Clash wanted to live at Walt Disney World.<ref>Nadine Bells, "[http://ca.news.yahoo.com/blogs/good-news/kevin-clash-living-childhood-dream-being-sesame-street-195317669.html Kevin Clash is living his childhood dream being Sesame Street’s ‘Elmo’]", The Lighter Side (Yahoo), 29 September 2011.</ref>
  +
  +
==Gallery==
  +
<gallery widths="300" spacing="small" position="center" captionalign="left">
  +
Pop_Century_1.jpg|Disney's Pop Century Resort is themed for the decades of the 20th century. It's main hall features a timeline of pop culture items framed in glass cases. A photo from [[The Miss Piggy Cover Girl Fantasy Calendar]] is featured in this case from the early 1980s.
  +
Pop_Century_2.jpg|The ''[[Sesame Street]]'' book ''[[Big Bird's Rhyming Book]]'', and a [[Sesame Street Musical TV|Musical TV]] toy help represent the 1970s.
  +
TV Hall of Fame.JPG|Tile mosaic portraits of Fred Rogers, Burr Tillstrom and Jim Henson at the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Hall of Fame.
  +
</gallery>
   
 
==Sources==
  
==Sources==
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==External links==
  
==External links==
−
* [http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/ Official Walt Disney World Resort website]
 +
* [http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/ Official website]
  +
  +
{{wikipedia}}
 
[[Category:Real World Locations]]
  
[[Category:Real World Locations]]
 
[[Category:Theme Parks]]
  
[[Category:Theme Parks]]

Revision as of 02:07, 24 August 2014

M@WDW

The Muppets outside the Chinese Theatre in Disney-MGM Studios

M@WDW1

Swedish Chef at the Brown Derby restaurant

Muppets@WDW

Kermit in Disney-MGM Studios

Sesame Family Robinson Oh no Im really lost now

Telly Monster in front of Cinderella Castle in the Magic Kingdom[1]

Sweetumsparade

Sweetums in Disney's Stars and Motor Cars Parade.

Wdwexterior

Muppet*Vision 3D at Disney's Hollywood Studios

Disneyworld store

The Muppet store outside the Muppet*Vision 3D attraction.

Muppet store display November 2011

Display inside the Muppet Store during the third week of November 2011.

DisneyWorldRides

Promotional photo.

Promo-mgm

Printed ad from 1990

Hensonandkermitmgm

Jim and Kermit leaving their mark in cement.

Muppet Cab Company

Beauregard's taxi on display as part of the Studio Backlot Tour at Disney's Hollywood Studios.

Kids menu - Mama Melrose's Ristorante Italiano

The kids menu at Mama Melrose's Ristorante Italiano (across from the Muppet*Vision 3D gift shop) in November 2011.

Walt Disney World is a theme park resort that opened in Orlando, Florida in 1971. The resort includes four theme parks: the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom. The resort also includes numerous hotels, water parks, and other entertainment offerings. Walt Disney World is the largest resort in the world.

The Muppets at Walt Disney World

After The Walt Disney Company had announced a deal to buy The Jim Henson Company in 1989, the two companies produced The Muppets at Walt Disney World, a primetime special that aired on The Magical World of Disney in May 1990, in which Kermit the Frog and his friends explored the resort.

According to the special, Walt Disney World lies "just on the other side" of Kermit's Swamp. The geography of the resort is also compressed and streamlined for purposes of the plot. For example, even though the Muppets begin their trip by breaking into the Disney-MGM Studios, they don't seem to have the same problem entering the Magic Kingdom or EPCOT Center, even though each park has a separate gate.

Attractions featured or mentioned in The Muppets at Walt Disney World include:

The Magic Kingdom

  • Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
  • Main Street Vehicles
  • Mad Tea Party
  • Space Mountain
  • Country Bear Jamboree

Epcot

  • The Leapfrog Fountains at Journey Into Imagination
  • Wonders of Life and Body Wars
  • The Living Seas (referred to by Gonzo as "The Ocean Thing Over There")
  • World Showcase pavilions: Mexico, Germany, China, France, Morocco, Canada, Italy, and Japan

Hollywood Studios

Other

  • Grand Floridian Beach Resort
  • The Walt Disney World Pet Care Center
  • Monorail
  • Utilidors (referred to by Gonzo as "Walt Disney's Laundryland")

Theme Park Attractions

Although the Disney/Henson deal fell through in the wake of Jim Henson's death, some of the initial plans for Muppet attractions at Walt Disney World were completed, most of which were located at the Disney-MGM Studios.

The first attraction to feature the Muppets was the Hollywood's Pretty Woman stage show at the Theater of the Stars on Hollywood Boulevard, which included Kermit and Miss Piggy walk-arounds in the surprise finale. The show, which premiered in December of 1989 was the only Walt Disney World attraction that was finished in Jim Henson's lifetime.

In 1990, the Here Come the Muppets stage show, the first full-fledged Muppet attraction at the parks, premiered at the former Walt Disney Theater in the park's Animation Courtyard. The production featured walk-around characters playing to a vocal track recorded by the Muppet performers. A second stage show, Muppets on Location: Days of Swine and Roses, followed in 1991, and played for three years.

Muppet*Vision 3D, an elaborate attraction featuring a 3D film with Audio-Animatronic characters and in-theater special effects, was introduced in 1991, along with the Stage One Company Store, which specializes in Muppet merchandise. Muppet*Vision 3D is still a popular attraction at the park and was recreated for Disney California Adventure in 2001.

Muppet*Vision 3D, which was the last film directed by Jim Henson, was also the last of the originally planned attractions to be built. The attraction was originally slated to anchor a new Muppet Studios section of the park, nestled between Star Tours and New York Street. But when the Disney/Henson merger fell through, plans to build the Muppet Movie Ride and the Great Gonzo's Pandemonium Pizza Parlor were abandoned.

Walk-around versions of Kermit, Piggy, and Sweetums appeared in the park's Disney Stars and Motor Cars Parade. And the first new attraction to feature the Muppets since Disney acquired the characters in 2004 was the Muppet Mobile Lab, an interactive "Living Characters Initiative" starring Audio-Animatronic versions of Dr. Bunsen Honeydew and Beaker.

Weatherproof versions of Kermit and Piggy appeared in Disney's Honorary VoluntEars Cavalcade in 2010.

A live appearance by Constantine occurred at the Villains Unleashed event at Disney's Hollywood Studios park on August 23, 2014. The meet and greet was set up inside the Muppet giftshop with Constantine caged inside a small Gulag cell.

A photo of Jim Henson (and Kermit) can be glimpsed in the film montage of American heroes near the end of the "American Adventure" attraction at the host pavilion (America) in Epcot's World Showcase.

A tile mosaic portrait of Jim Henson and Kermit was originally on display at the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Hall of Fame in Disney MGM Studios. It hung next to portraits of Fred Rogers and Burr Tillstrom.

Other Henson properties that were given attractions at Walt Disney World include:

Connections

  • Jason Alexander voiced Weevil Kneevil in the "Its Tough to Be a Bug!" 3-D film at Disney's Animal Kingdom
  • David Arquette voiced Skully in the Disney Junior- Live on Stage! show at Disney's Hollywood Studios
  • Tyra Banks portrayed the female alien host (body performance only) in the preshow film of ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter (1995-2003) in the Magic Kingdom
  • Chevy Chase starred in The Monster Sounds Show, a former attraction at Disney-MGM Studios
  • Walter Cronkite was a host of "The Magic of Animation" film at Disney-MGM Studios and the narrator of Spaceship Earth at Epcot (1986-1994)
  • Tim Curry voiced S.I.R. in the ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter pre-show (1995-2003) in the Magic Kingdom
  • Anthony Daniels portrayed C-3PO in the film and ride of Star Tours (1989-2010) and Star Tours: The Adventures Continue at Disney-MGM Studios/Disney's Hollywood Studios
  • Ellen DeGeneres starred in Ellen's Energy Adventure at the Universe of Energy pavilion and Dory in The Seas with Nemo and Friends at Epcot
  • Johnny Depp voiced Captain Jack Sparrow in the updated (2006-present) Pirates of the Caribbean ride in the Magic Kingdom
  • Dave Goelz provided the voice of Figment in the Journey Into Imagination with Figment ride at Epcot
  • Gilbert Gottfried voiced Iago in "The Enchanted Tiki Room (Under New Management)" (1998-2011) in the Magic Kingdom
  • Charles Grodin played the Left Brain in the Cranium Command show in the Wonders of Life at Epcot (1989-2007)
  • Jonathan Morgan Heit voiced Cubby in the Disney Junior-Live on Stage! show at Disney's Hollywood Studios
  • Jeremy Irons narrated Spaceship Earth at Epcot (1994-2007)
  • Michael Jackson starred in the "Captain EO" 3D film at Epcot
  • Allison Janney voiced Aly San San (spokesbot) in the Star Tours: The Adventures Continue attraction at Disney's Hollywood Studios
  • James Earl Jones voiced Darth Vader in the Star Tours: The Adventures Continue ride at Disney's Hollywood Studios
  • Richard Kind voiced Sergeant 90210 in the pre-show of the Stitch's Great Escape attraction in the Magic Kingdom
  • Nathan Lane voiced Timon in Circle of Life: An Environmental Tale film at Epcot
  • Jon Lovitz played the Right Brain in the Cranium Command show in the Wonders of Life at Epcot (1989-2007)
  • Cheech Marin voiced Chili in the "Its Tough to Be a Bug!" 3D film at Disney's Animal Kingdom
  • Ian McShane portrayed and voiced Captain Blackbeard in the updated (2011-present) Pirates of the Caribbean ride in the Magic Kingdom
  • Rick Moranis played Wayne Szalinski in the "Honey, I Shrunk the Audience" 3-D film at Epcot
  • Kathy Najimy played Dr. Femus in the ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter attraction film (1995-2003) in the Magic Kingdom
  • Bill Nighy voiced Davy Jones in the updated (2006-present) Pirates of the Caribbean ride in the Magic Kingdom
  • Frank Oz voiced Yoda in the Star Tours: The Adventures Continue ride at Disney's Hollywood Studios
  • Rob Paulsen voiced José Carioca in the Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros ride in Epcot
  • Madison Pettis voiced Izzy in the Disney Junior-Live on Stage! show at Disney's Hollywood Studios
  • Kevin Pollak played Spinlok in the ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter attraction film (1995-2003) in the Magic Kingdom
  • Paul Reubens voiced RX-24 (Captain Rex) in the Star Tours film and ride (1989-2010) and in the queue of Star Tours: The Adventures Continue (archival audio) at Disney-MGM Studios/Disney's Hollywood Studios
  • Kevin Michael Richardson voiced Captain Gantu in the Stitch's Great Escape attraction in the Magic Kingdom
  • Don Rickles voiced William in "The Enchanted Tiki Room (Under New Management)" pre-show (1998-2011) in the Magic Kingdom and Mr. Potato Head at the Toy Story Mania! attraction at Disney's Hollywood Studios
  • Geoffrey Rush voiced Captain Barbossa in the updated (2006-present) Pirates of the Caribbean ride in the Magic Kingdom
  • Martin Short starred in The Monster Sound Show at Disney-MGM Studios and hosted the "O Canada!" and The Making of Me films at Epcot
  • French Stewart voiced The Termite-ator in the "Its Tough to Be a Bug!" 3-D film at Disney's Animal Kingdom
  • Patrick Warburton hosts the safety video in the Soarin' attraction at Epcot and voiced G2-4T in the queue of Star Tours: The Adventures Continue at Disney's Hollywood Studios
  • George Wendt played the Stomach in the Cranium Command show in the Wonders of Life at Epcot (1989-2007)
  • Robin Williams was one of the hosts of "The Magic of Animation" film at Disney-MGM Studios and the voice of Timekeeper in The Timekeeper at the Magic Kingdom

Trivia

  • As a kid, Kevin Clash wanted to live at Walt Disney World.[2]

Gallery

Sources

  1. ↑ Martin P. Robinson, "Telly's Travels", Sesame Family Robinson, November 28, 2010.
  2. ↑ Nadine Bells, "Kevin Clash is living his childhood dream being Sesame Street’s ‘Elmo’", The Lighter Side (Yahoo), 29 September 2011.

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