Muppet*Vision 3D – Jim Henson’s final project – has been a Walt Disney World mainstay for over three decades. And while Disney’s overall support of the Muppets has fluctuated over those years, the attraction has defied all odds by sticking around. So long, in fact, that we are constantly and consistently worried that it will someday close unexpectedly.
Thankfully, this recent news gives us hope that the Disney parks are committed to retaining the show. According to WDW News Today, there’s been a minor update in the technology used in certain parts of the show. Specifically, it is now using “projection mapping” to project the images of hundreds of tiny Waldos on the walls after the digital character explodes and multiplies.
Previously, these images were projected using a GOBO system (no, not that Gobo), which consisted of static images floating around the walls. Now with the new system, all those little Waldos are fully animated and alive.
As far as we can tell (someone please correct us if we’re wrong!), this is the first real upgrade to Muppet*Vision 3D since the film stock was updated to digital in 2009.
Now, this may seem like minor news. But the mere fact that Disney is investing in keeping this attraction alive is a huge sign that they’ll continue to invest in the Muppets’ presence at the parks. Here’s hoping we’ll be seeing more from the Muppets at Walt Disney World someday soon.
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by Joe Hennes – Joe@ToughPigs.com
