For better or worse, change has long been a constant at Disney’s theme parks, and this year is proving to be an exceptionally evolutionary one at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Hollywood Studios

The park — which opened as the Disney/MGM Studios in 1989 — has seen its fair share of metamorphosis over the years, with iconic rides and seasonal shows disappearing to be replaced by game-changing lands and revolutionary rides, all while the park’s theme slowly mutated from real working studio to *SHRUGS SHOULDERS*. 2025 will see three major changes to the park, eliminating some of the last vestiges of the park as it was.

The Closing of Mama Melrose – May 10th

Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano

Described by Disney as a “casual but colorful Italian eatery with a California twist”, Mama Melrose opened in the area then-known as the Backlot in 1991. The restaurant holds a special place in Disney lore, as it was originally built to be a Muppet-themed eatery (hold on to that thought) where meals were supposed to be served by versions of Rizzo the Rat. In fact, according to theme park legend, the “tracks” currently visible in the ceiling were designed for these Muppet servers.

So many neat details

Enough on the what might have been and on what was, Mama Melrose and its menu of comfort food Italian favorites has been a favorite of several generations of Disney guests. The restaurant is scheduled to close in May, the first of several closures in the same area, leading us to…

The Closing of Muppet*Vision 3D and PizzeRizzo – June 7th

Muppet*Vision 3D

About a month after Mama Melrose closes, its nearby neighbors — the iconic Muppet*Vision 3D film and its companion restaurant PizzeRizzo — will be closing after 34 and 9 years of respective operation. The loss of Muppet*Vision is especially hard for fans of the property, as the project was meant to be the launch of a full Muppet-land at the park, and the final project that Jim Henson worked on in his lifetime.

PizzeRizzo

Mama Melrose, Muppet*Vision 3D, and PizzeRizzo are all closing to make room for the brand-new Monsters, Inc. Monstropolis land – – headlined by the long-in-development door coaster – – that’s coming to the park. However, these closures aren’t marking the end of the Muppets in Hollywood Studios.

The Closing of Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster – ?

Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster

After months of speculation, Disney shocked fans that announcing that the Monsters, Inc. land would lead to the closing of Muppet*Vision 3D, but that the Muppets would remain in the parks by taking over the Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster! The renovation of the coaster, which has been open since 1999, will see the ride’s opening day Aerosmith theming stripped away, and the Bad Boys of Boston replaced by the Muppets who will be “teaming up with some of music’s biggest stars for a rockin’ music festival!”

©Disney

While a closing date for the original coaster hasn’t been confirmed, most indications seem to be that it will close by the end of the year at the latest.

©Disney

Major changes are coming to Hollywood Studios this year, headlined by some major closures. Stay tuned to DFB for more on the latest projects coming to Disney World.

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