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, much to Miss Piggy's annoyance. 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 an elderly 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 pavilion.
• 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[]

• "Bein' Green" (briefly)
• "Knee Deep"
• "Rockin' All Around the World"
• "Who's Your Lady Friend?"
• "I'm Doggin' It"
• "Rainbow Connection"
• "Love in a Laundromat"
• "More, More, More"

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[]

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, Scruffy, Bugsy Them, Mad Dog, Rover, Rufus the Dog, Lyle the Dog, Dogs, Luncheon Counter Monster, Uncle Deadly, Tug Monster, Gil, Bill, Jill, Mrs. Appleby, Yolanda, 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, Tug Monster, Frog
• Dave Goelz as Gonzo, Dr. Bunsen Honeydew, Beauregard, Zoot, Frog
• Steve Whitmire as Rizzo the Rat, Bean Bunny, Frog
• Kevin Clash as Clifford, Alligator, and Frogs
• David Rudman as Frog
• Rickey Boyd as Uncle Deadly (during the Eisner intro), Frog, Sprocket, and Lips^[2]
• Rick Lyon as Frog
• Camille Bonora as Frog
• Uncredited: Jeffrey Breslauer,^[3] BJ Guyer,^[4] Jim Martin,^[5] Joey Mazzarino,^[5] Melissa Whitmire^[2]

Special Guests[]

• Charles Grodin as Quentin Fitzwaller
• Raven-Symoné as herself
• Wayne Allwine as Mickey Mouse (voice, uncredited)
• Park characters: Snow White, the Seven Dwarves, the Country Bear Jamboree, Indiana Jones cast

Gallery[]

Jim Henson and Kermit filming the special

Jim Henson and Kermit picture taken by Steve Whitmire

Beau and Piggy

Jim Henson and Kevin Clash filming a Raiders of the Lost Ark scene

TV Guide advertisement

Credits[]

• Executive Producer: Jim Henson
• Producers: Diana Birkenfield and Martin G. Baker
• Director: Peter Harris
• Writer: Jerry Juhl
• Music Producer: Phil Ramone
• Musical Arrangements: Larry Schwartz, Charlie Camorata, Mark Radice (also wrote songs), Merrill and Rubicam
• Production Designer: Victor DiNapoli
• Muppet Workshop: Joann Green, Mark Zeszotek, Henri Ewaskio, Larry Jameson
• Costume Design: Polly Smith, Stephen Rotondaro

Sources[]