On April 3rd, 2025, I spent the entire day at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, one of the four parks that make up Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. I spent the following morning journaling in my Notes app on my phone in order to preserve all of my memories. Here is what I wrote, along with a sampling of the many, many photos I took…

I. Banana and muffin

“Muppet*Vision 3D” was closing for good. That was enough of a reason for me to finally visit Disney World for the first time. The last project Jim Henson worked on prior to his untimely death in 1990, and which Frank Oz helped him complete, was to be done away with by Disney on June 7th in favor of building a “Monsters Inc.” land. I couldn’t let the audacious, singular show and the courtyard surrounding it be extinguished without experiencing it for myself. Suddenly, after having never visited the South, I flew to Florida, home of Disney’s Hollywood Studios, where “Muppet*Vision 3D” is located.

I was able to find affordable enough flights to make the trip doable. The hotel room I reserved through Airbnb was in Kissimmee, just a few miles from the park. It was the opposite of luxurious, but had these key benefits: a bed for me to sleep in, a place to keep my stuff secure, air conditioning and TCM (when the antenna worked, that is). On the morning of April 3rd, the day I planned to spend in its entirety at the park, the power went out in the downstairs lobby, which made the complimentary breakfast less than enticing. The refreshment machine was down, so I simply ate a banana and tiny muffin before hitting the road via Uber. 

II. Early Access

I assumed that I wouldn’t be able to enter the park until its official opening time of 9am, since I wasn’t staying at one of the overpriced resorts where guests could travel to the park on a vast “skyliner” network. Still, I wanted to spend as little time at the hotel as possible, so I arrived a little after 8am carrying a small bag that contained my Music Box Theatre hat, sunscreen and a glasses case in case I needed it (I didn’t). The weather scheduled for the day was, as David Lynch would say, “blue skies and golden sunshine all along the way.” Though the temperature was to hit 89 degrees in the afternoon, the heat was never oppressive, thanks to a cooling breeze and plenty of shady areas. The security guards encouraged me to try my ticket regardless, and to my surprise, it got me in well before 9am. Yes, there is a lot to resent about modern day Disney, yet their park does indeed go out of its way to earn the title of “happiest place on earth.” The environment that is meticulously built there is one of infectious delight. Most of the guests clearly had to save up a lot to afford tickets, and were relishing the opportunity to reconnect with their inner child. I made friends with the strangers next to me in every line, which made the wait time go by in a blink. The next 13 hours were among the most blissful of my life. 

III. Muppet*Vision 3D (twice)

If someone had taken a picture of me upon entering the park, you would’ve seen my jaw dropped as if I were in a Spielberg film. You feel compelled to walk in every direction at once, yet I knew that I had only one priority, which was to experience the entirety of “Muppet*Vision 3D.” 

I got to the Muppet courtyard a half hour prior to its first showtime at 9am, and took pictures of everything I could find, from the Kermit statues and Piggy fountain…

…to Gonzo hanging off a clock tower atop the theater. I was first in line for the show, which enabled me to see the full pre-show that played out on various TV monitors.

Characters moved fluidly between the screens, while the rest of the space was loaded with gags, all of which I attempted to capture with my camera.

The show itself was a joy to finally behold in person, as it surprises the audience with 4D effects.

Animatronic versions of Statler and Waldorf heckle the action and interact with characters onscreen, while an animatronic Bean Bunny hides out in the boxed seat on the other side of the theater.

An animatronic penguin orchestra provides the score, with one performing a hilarious violin solo on sheet music…

…while an animatronic Swedish Chef handles the projector in the back and fires both a gun and cannon at the pesky computer animated character Waldo on the screen, eventually appearing to blow holes into the screen and walls of the theater. When Fozzie squirts water from a prank flower in 3D, actual water squirts onto the viewer, presumably from the seat in front of them.

As Bean blows bubbles during Piggy’s number, actual bubbles shower upon the crowd. When Waldo blows apart, multiple versions of himself are projected onto the theater’s walls, and when he gets sucked up into a vacuum, a strong wind blows through the theater. During the finale, an onscreen firework display spreads out onto the ceiling of the theater. And best of all, an actor costumed as Sweetums enters twice into the theater, interacting with the screen, animatronics and the audience. The show is such a sensory overload that I saw it twice in a row, using my second viewing to take as many pictures as possible.

Afterward, I asked the park employees (who are referred to as “cast members”) if I could get permission to explore the extended parts of the “Muppet*Vision” line that were no longer on public display.

Though some of the Muppet posters parodying famous films and comic signs featuring Bunsen and Beaker had been taken down, some remained, and I took pictures of them all.

In various corners of the ceiling were googly eye designs reminiscent of those on the Muppet Pipes (original designs by Jim Henson, Frank Oz, Jerry Juhl and Don Sahlin currently on display as part of the NBC Studio tour in New York City). The woman who gave me the personal tour told me that rumors were already spreading that “Muppet*Vision 3D” may in fact be moved to another location near the “Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster” that will soon be turned into an Electric Mayhem-themed ride. Let’s hope so. 

IV. Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance

As I awaited “Muppet*Vision 3D,” a massive line behind me was forming for entrance into the park’s “Star Wars”-themed land entitled Galaxy’s Edge. I knew once I had fully experienced the Muppet show, my next stop would have to be the most acclaimed ride in the park, which had only been around for a few years and reportedly took the park’s craftsmanship to another level. “Rise of the Resistance” only had a 50-minute wait when I got there, and I quickly made friends with guy in front of me, who turned out to have grown up in Bellevue, Iowa, not far from my wife Rebecca and my favorite Illinois vacation spot, Galena. He was with his wife and two daughters, the older of whom eventually asked, “Do you two KNOW each other?”, after we had spent much of the time geeking out about “Star Wars.” The line ran through a cave filled with props, and the ride was unlike any I’ve ever experienced. It began with us on a ship operated by an animatronic character resembling Admiral Ackbar, which is eventually taken hostage by the Empire. The doors swing open and you are faced with a line of stormtroopers who march you to a prison cell. The family I had befriended in line joined me for the ride, and their younger daughter started to cry, worrying that we had been arrested. Indeed, we ended up in the cell for longer than expected until a resistance member broke through the wall and ushered us into a vehicle that took us from one astonishing sight to another—including a room that contained full-scale AT-AT Walkers, and another with remarkably convincing animatronic versions of Kylo Ren and General Hux. In terms of sheer spectacle, nothing else in the park topped it.

V. Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run

The “Star Wars” ride was such a blast, I figured that I might as well go straight to the franchise’s other major ride in the park, featuring a full-sized version of the Millennium Falcon. This ride had a line specifically for “single riders,” which enabled me to bypass the entire crowd and be placed immediately in a group in need of one more. Suddenly, there I was in the cockpit of the Falcon with a boisterous family, pressing all the blinking buttons around me as the flight simulator moved according to the digital imagery playing out on the windshield. It was like participating in a 4D video game, and quite a fun one at that. Afterward, I quipped, “I need a drink,” though in fact, I hadn’t had a beverage all day. 

So I headed straight to Oga’s Cantina, designed like the iconic bar in the first film, where an animatronic droid served as a DJ. I ordered Jabba Juice, my favorite kind of nonalcoholic fruity drink (orange with pineapple, kiwi, cantaloupe and blueberry popping pearls) that gave me the sustenance I needed to proceed.

VI. Slinky Dog Dash

I wandered through the “Star Wars” land until I caught a glimpse of Buzz Lightyear on the horizon. Suddenly, I found myself in “Toy Story Land,” as a small band of green soldier figurines marched down the street. I spotted an old school coaster in the shape of Jim Varney’s Slinky Dog character, and figured it would be a fun ride for a beautiful day. Plus the design of the line, filled with enormous replicas of Elmer’s Glue bottles and sharpened Ticonderoga pencils, gave guests the impression that they were the height of a toy on Andy’s floor. There’s even a map of the full coaster drawn out in crayon. I made friends with the family in front of me, and we had a blast hooting and hollering on the ride itself. On the highest hill, I saw the classic Tower of Terror ride in the distance, and knew that would have to be my next destination. Or so I thought.

VII. Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway

Making my way to the haunted hotel, I saw what was the centerpiece of the park’s entrance, a replica of Grauman’s Chinese Theatre that housed one of the signature, ever-changing rides of Disney Parks, which whisks you through various themed rooms that tell a story (“Rise of the Resistance” is essentially a more elaborate version of that). My mom has fond memories of riding the now defunct “Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride” in her youth, where you enter a tunnel and it appears that a train is about to hit you head-on. Nearly all of the rides have a prologue, and this one features a new Micky and Minnie Mouse cartoon that sets up the plot, culminating with a hole blowing through the screen. When I commented that the characters had a “Ren and Stimpy” quality, the park attendant asked in mock ignorance, “Who?!” In line, I had befriended a group of older ladies with shirts that read, “Bippity Boppity We Drink Till We Droppity,” and they were entertaining in their own right. I ended up in the back of a car with four girls in the front, and we had a ball getting once again whisked from room to room, one in which Daisy Duck instructed us on dancing the conga. There was so much going on in all corners of each room that one would have to ride it multiple times to catch all the details. But it had the distinctive charm for which Disney rides are known for. And yes, I still have a bit of the song that Mickey belts out (“Nothing can stop us noooow”) running in my head. 

VIII. The Twilight Zone: Tower of Terror 

On my way to “Tower of Terror,” a ride I had dreamed about since my youth that I thought had been torn down—but apparently only in Anaheim’s Disneyland—I made a brief stop at the Star Wars Launch Bay where props and archival materials were on display. The coolest thing I saw there was an actual speeder bike used in “Return of the Jedi.”

Then I made my way to the famous Hollywood Tower Hotel, where I befriended a man from Australia in line who accompanied me on the whole journey. Extravagant cobwebs fill the hotel lobby as you are taken into a room where “Twilight Zone” host Rod Serling sets up the tale of the ghosts who are about to haunt you on the ride. They are apparitions of people who died when their elevator plummeted to the ground. Then an actor dripping with Vincent Price-level malice welcomed us into the elevator, where we entered haunted rooms until we savored a beautiful view of the park. And that’s when the elevator began to incrementally drop, causing us to repeatedly experience zero gravity (my bag levitated several feet). The dated effects only added to the atmosphere, making us feel like we were trapped in a rerun of one of television’s greatest shows. Not a bad fate to have. I believe it was in the gift shop for this ride that I bought a bottle of water and drank it all in seconds. 

IX. Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster starring Aerosmith

I have no idea why Aerosmith, and soon the Electric Mayhem, have anything to do with this ride, since it’s essentially a crazy road trip through LA in a coaster resembling an automobile (Mr. Toad would undoubtedly be impressed). This line was surprisingly dull, perhaps because the ride will soon be undergoing its shift to a Muppet theme, but I made friends with the couple behind me, while the kid in front of me kept tracking a lizard scurrying through the greenery below. Once the line got inside, we found ourselves in what appeared to be a recording studio, leading to the pre-show where Aerosmith and their manager, played by the always welcome Illeana Douglas, talk to us. No warning was made about the ride going upside down, but I started getting suspicious when I entered the car and found that the handlebars went over my shoulders. Luckily, the coaster moved so thrillingly fast that my glasses managed to stay on and my bag somehow stayed between my legs. Definitely worth the wait. 

X. Star Tours—The Adventures Continue

I knew Rebecca wanted me to catch the “Indiana Jones” stunt show she saw there when she was a little girl, but there was a long enough wait for it that I decided to find a way to kill time. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw that the 4D “Star Wars” ride only had a five-minute wait, so I bolted over to it. Since there was no one in line, I didn’t have time to fully savor the meticulously designed line, which included animatronic versions of C-3PO and R2-D2. The ride itself places you in a flight simulator ship with 3PO, while a hidden camera singles out one of the riders in the front row as an alleged spy. Though the ride was fun, it also was the first to give me the slightest tinge of motion sickness. I knew that whatever I did next had to be on solid ground. 

XI. Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Show Spectacular!

For 35 years, the “Indiana Jones” stunt show has thrilled guests with its clever breakdown and demonstration of movie magic. Rebecca’s parents had captured it on their old camcorder decades ago, and I was amazed when it appeared as if it hadn’t changed at all. The stands were filled for the final performance of the day at 4:30pm, and I found myself seated in front of a family from Chicago. Their adorable little girls had been selected as “guest directors” who would kick off the action by exclaiming, “Lights! Camera! Action!”, and they were nearly jumping out of their skin with excitement. I was moved upon reflecting that my wife was around their age when she was in this exact space. The show itself was so good, it actually fooled me into thinking that the stuntman playing Indy had been crushed by the giant boulder, as the lights subsequently snapped on and crew members rushed to his aid. Luckily, he hopped up and assured the audience that he was okay, leading to thunderous applause.

Two other variations on classic scenes from “Raiders of the Lost Ark” were staged, Indy and Marion’s battle in the streets and on the rooftops as well as Indy’s fight with the bald mechanic near a plane threatening to spiral out of control, leading to a crowd-pleasing explosion. Now after seeing the show, I can fully see why it has lasted all of these years. 

XII. Return to Muppet*Vision 3D

I had put off eating for far longer than usual since I wanted to experience as much as I could in the time I had. I also knew that there was only one place where I wanted to dine, PizzeRizzo across from “Muppet*Vision 3D.” When I arrived, however, I was shocked to learn that the venue had closed only minutes earlier (at 5pm?! Why would they lose customers who want pizza for dinner?). After spotting my big sad eyes in the window, a worker spoke with me and graciously gave me a full tour of the venue, which also turned out to be filled with Muppet in-jokes (I love the Rizzo’s First Dollar frame in which the bill has been replaced by an I.O.U. from Pepé).

There was no way I could leave without getting a collectible penny featuring the PizzeRizzo logo.

I decided I needed to see the “Muppet*Vision 3D” show one more time, and got to experience it with a packed house who broke into applause at the end. Upon leaving, I noticed how the convincing holes blown into the wall by the Swedish Chef’s cannon quietly evaporated as the audience exited, demonstrating the magic of Jim’s approach in switching techniques when conjuring illusions to keep the audience on their toes. 

XIII. The Hollywood Brown Derby

With the evening approaching, I decided that it was high time I have a sufficient meal, so I put my name on the waitlist for the Brown Derby, a loving recreation of the historic one in Los Angeles, complete with copies of the celebrity caricatures adorning its walls. With an hour to spare, I headed to the nearby Sunset Boulevard aligned with classy-looking shops and theaters that are, in actuality, filled with Disney merchandise.

My first priority was to get Rebecca a meaningful gift, which turned out to be a pin of “Alice in Wonderland,” one of our favorite stories adapted by the studio.

I also decided I should get something Muppet-related, and there was more to chose from than I expected—a Kermit plush toy, a Kermit backpack, a Muppet Show magnet and pins of Kermit & Piggy, Animal and Baby Animal. But when I saw a mug of Sam the Eagle accompanied by one of his best lines from “Muppet*Vision 3D” (“It is a salute to all countries, but mostly America”), I knew I had found my ideal keepsake from this special trip.

After getting a text that my table was nearly ready, I headed back toward the Brown Derby and ran into a girl who complimented me on my Jim Henson shirt. She turned out to be a massive Muppet fan and asked me to send her the links to my interviews with Frank Oz and Dave Goelz. Waiting in the lobby of the restaurant, I spotted caricatures of Jim’s heroes, Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy, as well as human Muppet Carol Channing, who gushed in her handwritten message about the venue’s famous Cobb Salad. That turned out to be precisely what I ordered for dinner—along with a Grapefruit Cake Martini, complimentary rolls and several glasses of water—and it did not disappoint.

XIV. Fantasmic!

Through all the lovely conversations I had with guests during the day, I learned that there was a special outdoor show put on at the park just before it closed at 9pm. I timed my dinner specifically so I could get a good place in line, and by the time I arrived, people were already streaming into the Hollywood Hills Amphitheater, which has a stage resembling “Lion King”-style mountains that are separated from the crowd by a moat of water. Hearing that I might get wet, I avoided the closest seats and sat in about the fifth row next to a woman who appeared to be in charge of a group of schoolgirls. As thousands of people filed in, I took a quick call from Rebecca and told her that I couldn’t wait to take her there one day. The woman next to me and I began riffing about the exhaustive attempts made by park attendants at creating a wave through the audience, and our joking spilled over into the show. When Mickey made his first appearance, the crowd roared as if we were being inducted into the mouse’s cult (and I’m not entirely convinced that we weren’t). The show itself essentially consisted of clips from Disney films projected onto clouds of water conjured by Mickey that were both mesmerizing and mildly irritating as they increasingly left us soaked. Every time the water cleared, there would be new actors costumed as various beloved Disney characters. The coolest parts of the show featured imagery from the masterpiece that obviously inspired it, “Fantasia,” specifically the “Sorcerer’s Apprentice” sequence. I also loved the appearance of the demon from the “Night on Bald Mountain” segment, while a massive recreation of the dragon from “Sleeping Beauty” temporarily sets the water on fire.

During the finale, when all the Disney characters appeared on a ship together, dancing while each flinging some sort of flowing prop, I quipped to the woman next to me, “Look, they brought towels for us!” I also observed how Mary Poppins, who is sorely deserving of her own ride, was the smartest of the bunch, considering she brought an umbrella. All in all, it was an absolutely fitting way to conclude the day. By the time I arrived back at my hotel, I was already dry, as if everything that happened had been a dream.

“Muppet*Vision 3D” screens daily from 9am to 8:30pm in Grand Avenue at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Bay Lake, Florida, until it closes permanently on Saturday, June 7th. I highly recommend catching it if you can.