Did you know that once upon a time plans were set in motion to bring a Muppet Studios Land to life where guests would be fully immersed in the world of The Muppets inside a Disney themed land complete with rides, restaurants and more? We dive into this theme park project that Disney abandoned.
In a brand new documentary that has been released on YouTube we dive into the forgotten magic of Muppet Studios Land at Walt Disney World as this film dives into the abandoned project of this dedicated Muppets themed land within the theme park.
The documentary features exclusive interviews with Marcelo Vignai who was one of the imagineers responsible for designing the lost rides, attractions and restaurants including the Muppet Movie Ride which would have seen guests sit in themed trams going around a Muppets themed movie studio.
Muppets Movie Ride Concept
The Muppet Movie Ride would have worked similar to Haunted Mansion at Disney with an omnimover system that would continuously be moving guests around whilst the individual 2 person trains would twist and turn to face various scenes themed around this Muppets movie studio tour experience.
This documentary offers a rare glimpse into the creative process that shaped this unrealized gem. Vignali shares captivating anecdotes about his time working on the Muppet Studios project, providing insights into the challenges, triumphs, and tragedies he faced with his team.
Viewers are treated to never-before-seen artwork, unveiling the intricate details of the Great Muppet Movie Ride, and other planned attractions that never came to fruition.
Marcelo ends the documentary on a positive note, explaining how the spirit of Muppet Studios lives on in other Disney themed lands and attractions around the world. “Muppet Studios: The Lost Legacy” is a nostalgic journey through the unexplored corners of Disney history, reminding us of the vibrant Muppet dreams that once danced within Disney/MGM Studios.
Marcelo Vignali’s artistic career began with The Walt Disney Company at DIC Entertainment in 1987. Later, at Walt Disney Imagineering, he served as a Concept Designer leaving an indelible mark on projects such as Disney America, Tokyo Storybook Gardens, ToonTown, and Muppet Studios. – Beyond Disney.
Marcelo has been involved in a wide range of projects in the realms of family entertainment, themed entertainment, and animation, boasting an illustrious career that spans across renowned studios and projects. – Marcelo’s tenure at Sony Pictures Animation from January 2003 to April 2019 his creative fingerprints are evident in blockbuster films such as Vivo, Spider-Man Into the Spider-Verse, Smurfs – The Lost Village, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, Surf’s Up, Open Season, and the Hotel Transylvania trilogy.
You can check out this incredible documentary behind a land that could have been at Walt Disney Studios.
A real shame that this project didn’t go ahead, I could imagine something like this being very popular back then but even now with a little bit of a rebrand would be something special indeed!
Marcelo also spends a considerable amount of time mentoring young artists and encouraging the next generation. For more information about Marcelo Vignali’s career and online galleries of his art, visit his website at: www.vignalistudio.com
