The Muppets at Walt Disney World

Grodin — Quentin Fitzwaller interrogates Rizzo the Rat.

Startours — Beauregard and Miss Piggy in front of Star Tours.

Animalsnowwhite — Animal introduces himself to Snow White.

Tumblr n327j2BBIC1r337tvo1 500 — Raven-Symoné and Kermit.

The Muppets at Walt Disney World premiered on NBC on May 6, 1990 as an episode of The Magical World of Disney. It was part of an awareness campaign to promote the planned merger of The Jim Henson Company with The Walt Disney Company.

In this one-hour special, the Muppets visit Kermit's hometown of Paradise Swamp, Florida for the annual Frog Festival and Bug Fry. Once there, they discover Walt Disney World on the other side of the swamp. After a run-in with Quentin Fitzwaller, an irate, bumbling security guard played by Charles Grodin, the group splits up to explore the wonders of the theme parks and resort complex.

Highlights include:

Quentin and Rizzo the Rat try to find the rest of the Muppets all over the park
Beauregard forces Miss Piggy to accompany him on a variety of thrill rides, including Star Tours, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, and the Mad Tea Party.
Rowlf the Dog performs "live from the detention hall of the Disney World Pet Care Center" with other Muppet dogs (including Baskerville, Foo-Foo, and Sprocket), singing "I'm Doggin' It."
Fozzie Bear, who brings his mother Emily along for the trip, performs a comedy routine on a Frontierland street corner to get some cash.
While at the swamp, a bucket falls onto Beaker's head, and Beaker's head gets stuck inside the bucket, only briefly coming off and then back on. Later, Bunsen decorates the bucket with a wig and sunglasses.
Statler and Waldorf take a ride on a horse-drawn trolley down Main Street, U.S.A. and serenade a female passenger.
Gonzo and his sweetheart Camilla the Chicken visit the Disney World laundry facilities.
Scooter and Bean Bunny play around the leaping fountains at EPCOT Center's Journey Into Imagination pavillion.
Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem, accompanied for the first and only time by Clifford, perform in costumes from different countries at EPCOT Center's World Showcase singing "Rockin' All Around the World."
Raven-Symoné sings "Rainbow Connection" to cheer up Kermit.
The cast gathers at the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular, where Miss Piggy and Kermit are picked to perform in the stage show.
The entire Muppet gang meets Mickey Mouse in his executive office.

Songs

Four of the original songs were written by Mark Radice for the special. No songwriter is credited in the special itself.

Notes

This is one of the last productions that Jim Henson would live to see before his death, ten days after the special's premiere.

In Michael Eisner's introduction, he is mauled by Gonzo, Tug Monster, Uncle Deadly, Animal, and Luncheon Counter Monster.

For scenes taking place on the Disney World thrill rides, Dave Goelz puppeteered Miss Piggy instead of Frank Oz, who claimed to have motion sickness.^[1]

Cast

DisneyWorldRides — The Muppets at Walt Disney World.

Muppets Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Gonzo, Camilla the Chicken, Ma Bear, Rizzo the Rat, Beauregard, Dr. Teeth, Animal, Floyd Pepper, Janice, Zoot, Clifford, Bean Bunny, Scooter, Dr. Bunsen Honeydew, Beaker, Rowlf the Dog, Statler and Waldorf, Link Hogthrob, Frogs, The Swedish Chef, Robin the Frog

Background Muppets Sprocket, Foo-Foo, Baskerville the Hound, Afghan Hound, Ace Yu, Laughing Boy, Bugsy Them, Mad Dog, Rufus the Dog, Lyle the Dog, Dogs, Luncheon Counter Monster, Uncle Deadly, Tug Monster, Gil, Bill, Jill, Mrs. Appleby, Rats, Lips

Muppet Performers

Jim Henson as Kermit the Frog, Rowlf the Dog, Dr. Teeth, Waldorf, Link Hogthrob, Swedish Chef
Frank Oz as Fozzie Bear, Miss Piggy, Animal
Jerry Nelson as Robin the Frog, Emily Bear, Floyd Pepper, Camilla the Chicken, Frogs
Richard Hunt as Beaker, Janice, Scooter, Statler, Frog
Dave Goelz as Gonzo, Dr. Bunsen Honeydew, Beauregard, Zoot, Frog
Steve Whitmire as Rizzo the Rat, Lips, Bean Bunny, Frog
Kevin Clash as Clifford, Alligator, and Frogs
David Rudman as Frog
Rickey Boyd
Rick Lyon
Camille Bonora as Frog
Jeffrey Breslauer (uncredited)