Well, Disney’s Hollywood Studios is an ever-changing park like most Disney Parks. Although Hollywood Studios tends to change way more than the others. In 2016, it was announced that Pizza Planet based on Toy Story would close. Which made sense due to its location was nowhere near Toy Story Mania or the future Toy Story Land. Then rumors began that The Muppets would be receiving a restaurant in that location. It turned out to be PizzeRizzo. Based off of Rizzo the Rat, and it had the same exact menu as Pizza Planet, which was basically universally hated. But it was good for Muppet fans as the restaurant would create a new land called “Muppet Courtyard.” So everyone thought The Muppets would be safe through Hollywood Studios rebuild. Sadly, that wouldn’t last.
Many Muppet fans hoped Disney was resurrecting Swedish Chef’s Cooking School or The Great Gonzo’s Pandemonium Pizza Parlor. Both concepts were supposed to be included in Muppet Studios for Hollywood Studios. That concept never got off the drawing boards. Sadly, Disney gave Hollywood Studios years later I may add… PizzeRizzo, a New York-themed pizza joint based off of Rizzo’s family of rats…
Soon Muppet Courtyard was changed to Grand Avenue. Now it looks like that whole area may be used as a potential expansion pad for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.
Now we found out today that PizzeRizzo will be on a seasonal schedule. The restaurant won’t re-open until Spring 2019. Like most seasonal things at Walt Disney World, it might mean that its days are numbered. Which will be unfortunate for Muppet Vision 3D, which was one of the last projects Jim Henson ever worked on.
Sadly, the reason why The Muppets make a sacrificial expansion pad work is due to where it is located by Star Tours, which was the first Star Wars themed attraction in Disney Parks. If Disney has plans to incorporate Star Tours into Galaxy’s Edge they will have to go through The Muppets.
PizzeRizzo will re-open in Spring 2019. Follow Boardwalk Times as we continue to update on the state of Muppet Vision 3D.
Zach Perilstein is the Editor-in-Chief of the Boardwalk Times
