Opening on June 15, 1990, Here Come the Muppets was a live stage show performed in the Animation Courtyard Theater at Disney-MGM Studios (now Disney’s Hollywood Studios). Designed as a temporary offering while Muppet*Vision 3D was still in development, the show featured full-body walk-around versions of beloved Muppet characters—an unusual format for fans used to puppetry.
The show ran for just over a year, closing on September 2, 1991, to make way for Voyage of the Little Mermaid, which debuted in the same venue later that fall.
The show opened with Kermit the Frog on stage, waiting for the rest of the Muppets to arrive. What followed was a series of comedic misadventures:
- Kermit received a videophone call from Mickey Mouse, checking in on the show’s progress
- He tried to contact Miss Piggy, who was mid-spa treatment and hilariously unprepared for a video call
- Fozzie Bear got lost backstage and had to be coached through a door to reach the stage
- Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem arrived via a monorail crash through the wall, in true Muppet fashion
- Gonzo, Bean Bunny, and Miss Piggy eventually joined the party, and the show kicked into high gear
The pre-show featured a video of Rowlf the Dog playing piano, interrupted by Sam the Eagle, who added his usual patriotic commentary. The show included musical numbers, slapstick comedy, and projected clips from The Muppet Show and other classic appearances.
While not a puppet-based performance, the walk-around costumes were carefully designed to preserve the Muppets’ personalities. Disney developed an internal “style guide” for performers to ensure accurate movement and character portrayal.
The show was well-received by families and Muppet fans, especially as a bridge between Jim Henson’s legacy and Disney’s planned expansion of Muppet-themed attractions. Sadly, the original acquisition deal between Disney and Henson Associates fell through in late 1990, but the creative momentum continued with Muppet*Vision 3D, which opened in May 1991.
Two weeks after Here Come the Muppets closed, a second live show—Muppets on Location: Days of Swine and Roses—opened near Muppet*Vision 3D, keeping the characters active in the park.
Meanwhile, the Animation Courtyard Theater was transformed into the home of Voyage of the Little Mermaid, which ran for over two decades. Props and statuettes from Here Come the Muppets, including Electric Mayhem decor, were later repurposed in the Stage 1 Company Store near Muppet*Vision 3D.
