The revival of “The Muppet Show” has brought Jim Henson’s creations back into the spotlight, and fans are anticipating news of the virtual return of the popular “Muppet*Vision 3D” via Apple Vision Pro.
Jim Henson has been responsible for a lot of the world’s most popular entertainment and even Apple has one in its studio. We’re not here to talk about that Fraggle Rockbut instead the green guy and his friends who are a bit more popular.
It’s a great time to be a Muppets fan, as Seth Rogen’s new special seems to have successfully revived the brand. Longtime fans recently packed the theater for the first time and mourned the loss of the popular Muppet*3D Vision attraction at Hollywood Studios in Orlando.
But there is good news.
Before Muppet*3D Vision the attraction was closed, work was being done to preserve the experience. Jim Henson’s son Brian Henson confirmed that we can expect something to arrive on VR headsets and the Apple Vision Pro, but that’s about all we know.
Message from TheWrap summarized what has been publicly shared since June 2025.
A little Muppets background
Around the same time, Disney acquired Henson Associates in 1989. At the time the acquisition was announced, Disney announced that it had begun work on an exhibit for its line of parks.
A pre-recorded segment of Sam the Eagle was shown in the pre-show
The attraction opened as Jim Henson’s Muppet*Vision 3D on May 16, 1991 at Disney-MGM Studios, now called Hollywood Studios. A second installation opened at Disney California Adventure on February 8, 2001 and closed about 13 years later.
It was no ordinary ride. It combined animatronics, a live performer in a Sweetums costume and a 3D presentation. The interior of the experience was a mock-up of the Muppet Theater as popularized in the original The Muppet Show.
Other physical effects were in the show, such as bubbles falling from the ceiling, LED lighting effects simulating fireworks, and a spray of water splashing on individual guests of the show.
Muppet*Vision 3D at Hollywood Studios closed on June 8, 2025. The Muppet Courtyard will be replaced by the Monsters, Inc. area. and roller coaster.
At the time of the closure, Disney said there were discussions and “creative conversations and exploration of ways to preserve the film and other parts of the experience for fans to enjoy in the future.”
Prior to the announcement of the Orlando closure, the show was not well received. It was adjacent to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge an area that has been attracting significant traffic since opening in 2019.
Since closing, we’ve heard whispers that the show was recorded in 3D for Apple Vision Pro in recent days, following a renovation in 2023 to return the experience to its full glory. Henson’s comments over the past year have confirmed what we’ve been hearing.
Before the performance, there was an extensive pre-show, mostly to accommodate the guests of the park and practice for entering the theater. Many of the Muppets in Muppet*3D Vision the show also featured the likes of Sam the Eagle, Scooter, Gonzo, Bean Bunny, various penguins, construction workers and so on.
It is unclear if the preview was recorded, but the archive footage is 2D and should be able to be incorporated.
The release window is still unknown
Disney confirmed that it worked to preserve Muppet*3D Visionbut that’s about it. Henson’s comments on the project provide information about the nature of the preservation, but no further details are available.
An immersive experience for Apple Vision Pro is possible
Recent success The Muppet Show special brought all this news back to the fore, but no new details emerged. Expect the Apple Vision Pro to have some sort of Disney+ app or experience — maybe even an immersive experience.
Disney isn’t ruling out other VR headsets either, so maybe it’s a 3D capture of the show, as suggested by Henson. Commentary from Henson said you’ll be able to watch the show from any seat in the theater.
One of the authors of this piece has seen the show several times. To say the show is fine no matter where you sit is a stretch. Regardless, after seeing 2D video rides of popular Disney+ rides, it’s obvious and welcome for VR.
We suspect a The Muppet Show an immersive theater environment would be the least Disney could do, and we’re surprised none were released alongside the reboot of the show. Stay tuned for more information as it becomes available.