Muppet Mobile Lab

{{Short description|Attraction at Disney parks}}

File:Muppet Mobile Lab (420359093).jpg in 2007.]]

Muppet Mobile Lab is a free-roving, Audio-Animatronics entertainment attraction designed by Walt Disney Imagineering, that has been tested at Disney California Adventure Park in Anaheim, California, at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida and at Hong Kong Disneyland in Hong Kong.{{cite web|url=http://www.themeit.com/thea_15annual/articles/Disney.pdf |title=The Themed Entertainment Association's 15th Thea Awards - Delightfully Disney - Muppet Mobile Lab Profile |publisher=Themed Entertainment Association |access-date=2009-09-30 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101130090041/http://themeit.com/thea_15annual/articles/Disney.pdf |archive-date=2010-11-30 }}

Implemented on a Segway platform, the Muppet Mobile Lab is a two-wheeled science-lab vehicle that resembles a small rocket ship. Two Muppet characters, Dr. Bunsen Honeydew and his assistant, Beaker, pilot the vehicle through the park, interacting with guests and deploying special effects such as foggers, flashing lights, moving signs, confetti cannons and spray jets.{{cite news | first=Scott | last=Powers | title=Muppets go mobile at Epcot | url=http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/orl-muppetlab2207aug22,0,5737331.story | work=Orlando Sentinel | access-date=2007-09-14}}

The two animatronics characters and the special effects aboard the vehicle are controlled remotely by puppeteers, thanks to an advanced control system that allows the controllers to be located up to several miles away from the show location. On-board cameras, microphones and speakers allow the puppeteers to see and hear guests and interact with them. Muppet performers Dave Goelz (Bunsen) and Steve Whitmire (Beaker) assisted in the development of the project.{{cite web|url=http://boingboing.net/2007/02/03/mobile-disney-animat.html|title=Mobile Disney animatronics roam Imagineering's parking lot|work=Boing Boing|date=3 February 2007 }}{{cite web |last1= |first1= |date=October 8, 2021 |title=WD-FM Interview with Muppet Performers Dave Goelz and Bill Barretta |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JzDh_U6eWQ |website=YouTube |publisher=The Walt Disney Family Museum |language=en |format=video}}

The project began as a continuation of Disney's "Living Character Initiative", a program that has generated other interactive shows at Disney theme parks including Lucky the Dinosaur, Turtle Talk with Crush, Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor, and Stitch Encounter.

In 2009, the attraction was honored with the Thea Award for Outstanding Achievement (Technical) from the Themed Entertainment Association.{{cite web|url=http://www.themeit.com/thea_15annual.htm |title=15th Annual Thea Award Recipients |publisher=Themed Entertainment Association |access-date=2009-09-30 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100210060811/http://www.themeit.com/thea_15annual.htm |archive-date=2010-02-10 }}

In October 2016, the Muppet Mobile Lab returned to Epcot for a limited time.{{cite tweet |author=Attractions Magazine |author-link= |user=Attractions |number=783048672561008640|date=October 3, 2016 |title=NEW VIDEO: The Muppet Mobile Lab has returned to Epcot for a limited time: https://youtu.be/korGn9HowJM @TheMuppets |script-title= |trans-title= |language= |retweet= |link= |access-date= }}