As the universe would have it, my friend Nick had never seen MuppetVision 3D.

By happenstance he was in town and had freshly renewed his Annual Pass. So here we are on the eve of its closure, heading to Hollywood Studios.

We literally attended the final show of the evening and somewhere in the mix, I lost Nick. (No surprise or accident.)

Here I am, sitting on a bench in the back of the theatre taking it all in.

The show takes a few extra minutes to start. Folks are filing in at the last moment.

Finally, the show begins.

“Hey Waldorf”

The crowd erupts.

I begin to think back to that fate filled moment in 1989.

A family trip to Walt Disney World in August and its newest park “MGM Studios.”

Here I am, eight years old at the Backlot Express waiting for my meatball parmigiana hero.

In walks Chip, Dale, Kermit, Piggy and Jim Henson!

It was the day he and Eisner did the deal. My childhood hero was standing right before my eyes! I waved to him.

He waved back.

There is a photo of the back of my head and Jim standing there smiling. He is clearly enjoying the surprise moment and the love of his adoring fans.

I cherish that photo to this day. So much so I am not even sharing it. There is no negative, just a single print that over the years I had copied to ensure its memory.

There was a moment in the pre-show where I pulled out my phone to take a selfie. I never take selfies, but I felt compelled to at least have a photo of myself in the moment. It came out blurry and it instantly reminded me why, even in the moment, I prefer to have a photo of the venue.

So as the last MuppetVision 3D show of the evening continued to play, I just looked out at the audience.

It was a room of cell phones and Disney Adults cheering and reciting the words. Frankly, it was cringe.

There was a reason I snuck into a back corner to reflect quietly. So much had changed. Part of me began to feel guilty for my contributions to ruining the Disney Park experience. Kicking off a trend of TikTok livestreams that would become over saturated and wrought with blatant disregard for the guests or decency.

Perhaps Disney is ready to shed itself of those type of petulant adults who must ruin the experience for the kids and families around them. All in the pursuit of their own narcissistic endeavors.

While the trade off may be for a more short term, short attention spanned consumer, it’s sadly more appropriate for the climate. Part of me believes Disney is purposely working to alienate the type of consumer that has been obsessively loyal to the parks. For them, it is a headache in the age of social media more than a benefit. Heck, it’s easier to do a promotion with Mr. Beast. (They did.)

Generational brand loyalty comes with accountability.

We live in a culture of “I” not a culture of “We.” This is why legacy is so disregarded. Most are too bitter and spiteful in search of their own fame to even appreciate the beauty of what one man can accomplish in a short lifetime.

This applies to Jim, Walt and even Roy. All visionary businessmen pushing the boundaries of status quo. The parallels between Walt Disney and Jim Henson led to an ideal corporate synergy before it was ever a term. Many of our childhoods were filled with all Walt and Jim creations.

My personal connections to the Disney brothers is plentiful. Walt was married on my Birthday. Roy and I have the same initials and then some. The connections run much deeper than that. Hence, that is why the respect and gratitude does as well.

Probably even more-so with Jim Henson. From meeting Jim to almost being the voice of Kermit, to working for the Henson Company.

Yet, when I look at the general population of Disney adult consumers and what it has become, it is sinfully off-putting. Most of these people are not there for any other reason than clout.

We exited the building after chatting to a bunch of teary eyed Cast Members. I shared my story with them and thanked them.

Outside, a line to take photos with the Ms. Piggy fountain had hoards of Disney Adults hovering, taking selfies outside the show building.

“It’s like a nerd funeral” I said out loud to Nick as we left.

He looked at me. “You just read my mind.”

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Rest in Peace Jim Henson. Thank you and I'm Gonna Always Love You