For those keeping track of changes at Disney’s Hollywood Studios this week, there’s one more to add to the list. You already likely know that the construction of Toy Story Land and Star Wars Land is now officially underway, as evidenced by the very recent closure of Streets of America fixtures such as Studio Catering Co. and the Lights! Motors! Action Extreme Stunt Show to make way for the new ventures.
Construction Walls Blocking the Streets of America
But what about Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano? It was always part of the former Streets of America section of the park, and yet it’s still in operation. (Yay!)
Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano
Well, it’s now part of the newly renamed Muppets Courtyard! The new name of this area of the park is revealed in the updated Guide Map for Disney’s Hollywood Studios (it’s listed on the bottom right of the shot below).
Muppets Courtyard on Hollywood Studios Updated Guide Map
You’ll also spot, naturally, the Muppet Vision 3D attraction listed in the same section (you know, the movie that ends with “a salute to all nations, but mostly America.” 😉 ).
Hollywood Studios Updated Guide Map
Closeup on Muppets Courtyard on the Hollywood Studios Updated Guide Map
All this, of course, lends a WHOLE LOTTA credence to the rumors that the closing of Toy Story Pizza Planet will result in a Muppets-themed restaurant when it reopens in late 2016. Of course, there was already plenty of support for the rumors, thanks to the fun construction walls surrounding the restaurant obviously inspired by Muppet-style humor.
Walls surrounding Pizza Planet
Walls surrounding Pizza Planet
Rumor ALSO has it that Mama Melrose will undergo a makeover of its own beginning sometime later this year. Is Muppets theming in the future for Mama Melrose? And will it be a whole new restaurant, or simply an overlay of the Italian eatery as it already exists?
We can’t wait to find out! In the meantime, we’re signing off with a big “Wocka, Wocka, Wocka” from the new Muppets Courtyard!
What do you think of this “new” section of Disney’s Hollywood Studios? Please let us know with a comment!
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Would love to see a diner restaurant similar to the one the Muppets worked at in Muppets Take Manhattan…I want to say it was called “Pete’s?” Maybe the Kids Today wouldn’t get the reference, but I think a lot of us older kids would!
EEEEEEEEE! I HOPE so!!!!! I listened to a Podcast that talked about the original plans for a Muppet Themed Restaurant, and ever since then, I’ve wanted to eat spaghetti by Gonzo and a dessert from The Chef!
It seems like so much is closed at Hollywood studios right now, is there really even a point in going? We’re planning a trip at the end of June and have a day planned there (we’re not doing the park hopper pass) but should we avoid Hollywood Studios this trip and spend another day at Magic Kingdom or something instead?
Colleen….We could never do a full day at Hollywood Studios. We love Toy Story and I enjoy the Great Movie Ride and that’s about it. There is Tower of Terror and Rockin’ Roller Coaster but other that that, we wouldn’t do it without a park hopper. Have a wonderful time, whatever you decide.
Colleen, only a portion of HS is currently closed. There is plenty to do, although I agree that you don’t need the ENTIRE day to do it. HS is visually appealing since it is like being on a move set. It is also a fantastic park to make dining reservations at as they have a great variety of themed restaurants. Also, they have quite a few live stage performances. As for rides, there’s Toy Story Midway Mania, The Great Movie Ride, Star Tours, Tower of Terror and Rocking Roller Coaster. I highly recommend making time to go to One Mans Dream to see the story of Walt Disney himself and learn of his life and how the parks came to be. And it wouldn’t be a visit to HS if you missed Fantasmic. Hope that helps!
OMGosh! The Swedish Chef’s restaurant. Or maybe Pete’s Diner from the Muppets take Manhattan? So many directions they could go in for Mama Melrose’s makeover!
I thought originally Mama Melrose was supposed to be the Swedish Chef restaurant. I hope they go in that direction if Mama Melrose is rethemed.
I’m so darn happy that we aren’t losing the Muppets altogether, that I think I’ll be happy with whatever it becomes. Maybe Mama’s will be a Swedish Chef TS and Pizza planet will be a Muppet QS!
Like I said a couple months ago, it’s a half day park for the foreseeable future. I like a lot of the Stars Wars stuff they are doing, but this place is tiny now. Theme parks are supposed to have a theme. Maybe it should be Under Construction Studios. I’m sure it will be great when it’s done.
I’ve never thought of Hollywood Studios as a half day park myself. I usually schedule one full day there if we are doing a 7 day trip to WDW and I’ve been there 16 times. There are more to Disney parks than just rides. Having the time to stop and watch the wonderful character actors doing their skits is all part of the enjoyment of the park . Let’s not forget the hilarious Drew Cary Sounds Dangerous, Voyage of the Little Mermaid, the past parades and numerous shows over the years, such as Who Wants to be a Millionaire. All these things take time to watch and enjoy and fit into the day so you can see all of them. Anyone who is only spending 1/2 a day at the Studios is not seeing everything the park has to offer and is missing it’s theme. 🙁 But that’s just my opinion….of course.
Just keep them ALWAYS!!
Can you imagine how much fun a Swedish Chef restaurant would be… Musical soundtrack by Doctor Teeth…
Muppets forever!
We just got back from a week-long Disney vacation. We did spend a whole day there and really wish we’d had more time. We rode all the rides, but didn’t have time for all the shows we wanted to see. We loved the new star tours ride and Jedi training was the highlight of my son’s trip. Fantasmic blew us away. I don’t know how this place got a reputation as a half day park. Even with the closures, there is so much to see. We almost missed the muppet courtyard, but the impressive fountain in the middle grabbed our attention as we were headed into Mama Melrose for dinner, where the food was top-notch.