The holiday merch cupboard has received a visit from the spirits, and this time it has brought felt, feathers and at least one rat with excellent literary credentials. Disney Store’s US shop has introduced a new The Muppet Christmas Carol collection through its Disney Store Private Access program, giving members an early ordering window before the assortment opens more broadly on October 26.

The release centers on characters and imagery from the Muppets’ take on Charles Dickens’ seasonal ghost story. Reported items include a Loungefly backpack featuring Gonzo and Rizzo the Rat, a run of plush, a light-up tree decoration with Kermit and Miss Piggy in their Bob and Emily Cratchit outfits, and a blind-box ornament product with six possible Muppet-themed designs.

For fans who make the film part of their annual December rotation, the timing is unusually neat: this is not generic Muppets merchandise wearing a festive hat, but a lineup tied specifically to the movie’s Victorian Christmas setting and its best-known cast of characters. That distinction matters to collectors and gift buyers, particularly where a favorite film has historically had a relatively limited dedicated merchandise presence.

What is included in the new assortment?

The available information identifies several product formats rather than a complete item-by-item catalogue. The headline piece is a Loungefly backpack starring Gonzo and Rizzo. Loungefly bags are wearable collectibles: practical accessories first, but often purchased for character artwork, franchise-specific design, and display value as much as daily use. Gonzo and Rizzo make particular sense for this theme because they are closely associated with the film’s narration and its opening movement into Dickens’ world.

Plush are also part of the collection, though the supplied details do not specify every character or size. The report mentions Robert and Jacob Marley as especially appealing potential gift subjects, but does not establish the full plush lineup. Buyers should therefore treat character, scale, materials and availability as product-page details to verify rather than assume.

The most overtly seasonal entry is a light-up decoration intended for a Christmas tree. It depicts Kermit and Miss Piggy dressed as Mr. and Mrs. Cratchit—Bob and Emily in the film’s casting. A light-up decoration is more than a shelf collectible: it is designed to become part of an annual decorating routine. That can make it especially attractive for households that revisit the film every holiday season, since the item is likely to be packed away and rediscovered with the rest of the decorations each year.

Then there is the blind box. This format keeps the exact ornament hidden until after purchase, with one of six themed Muppets ornaments available. A blind box is a sealed package that contains a randomly assigned design from a stated set. It can be a fun way to add surprise to a gift or swap, but it is not the most direct route for someone seeking one specific character. Anyone trying to complete all six designs should keep the random nature of the format in mind.

Private Access explained

The initial ordering period is tied to Disney Store Private Access. The program provides early access to merchandise before it reaches the general public, and joining it carries no fee. For this release, that early window is already live, while wider availability is stated for October 26.

Early-access programs can be useful for shoppers who know they want a particular product, but they are not the same thing as a guarantee of stock or a promise that an item will remain available until the general release. The practical takeaway is straightforward: prospective buyers should check the official US Disney Store listing for the current item selection, ordering eligibility, inventory status and delivery information before making a decision.

The US storefront detail is important. The information available identifies the collection as a US Disney Store rollout and does not establish UK availability. International Muppet fans should avoid assuming that every product will be offered in every Disney Store region.

Why this collection fits the film so well

The Muppet Christmas Carol remains a natural match for holiday merchandise because its characters are already organized around a story of generosity, family, transformation and Christmas spectacle. Gonzo and Rizzo provide playful narration; Kermit and Miss Piggy bring warmth to the Cratchit household; and the Marley connection supplies the ghost-story side of Dickens. Those are recognizable roles that can translate cleanly to a bag, plush or ornament without requiring a buyer to explain a deep-cut reference.

The reported assortment also spreads the license across different kinds of collecting. The backpack is for wearing or display. Plush are soft gifts and character keepsakes. The tree decoration is part of seasonal home décor. The blind box introduces chance-driven collecting. Rather than making five versions of the same object, the lineup gives fans several ways to bring the film into a holiday tradition.

That variety is particularly helpful for gift-givers. A decorative item may suit the person who hosts the annual movie night. A plush can work for a recipient who likes character-focused presents. A backpack may make more sense for someone who collects franchise accessories. Blind boxes are better suited to someone who enjoys a surprise, or to a group that can trade duplicates—though no trading or completion system has been detailed for this particular release.

Buying and collecting considerations

For a seasonal collection, the most sensible first step is deciding whether an item is meant to be used, displayed, gifted or opened as a surprise. That sounds obvious, but it changes the right purchase considerably. A collector looking for a centerpiece may prioritize the light-up Kermit and Miss Piggy decoration. A fan seeking a daily reminder of Gonzo and Rizzo may favor the Loungefly bag. Someone shopping for a stocking-style gift might be drawn to the blind-box ornament.

  • Check the exact listing: Confirm the character, format and any stated product details before ordering.
  • Remember the blind-box premise: A purchase offers a chance at one of six ornament designs, not a choice of a specific design.
  • Consider the calendar: A tree-focused decoration has its clearest use during the holiday season, while a backpack or plush can be enjoyed year-round.
  • Confirm storefront eligibility: The rollout described is for the US Disney Store.
  • Use early access deliberately: Private Access is free to join, but it is most useful when a buyer has identified an item they genuinely want rather than treating it as an obligation to buy.

The collection’s appeal is ultimately less about turning every shelf into a tiny Victorian London and more about recognizing why this adaptation endures as a ritual. It has the familiar Dickens framework, Muppet comedy, and a cast that can move from silly to sincere without needing to pick a side. A holiday ornament of the Cratchits or a bag featuring the narrating duo fits that combination remarkably well.

Physical media and physical objects still have a special place in nostalgia-driven fandom, whether that means an ornament pulled from storage each December or a cartridge-based gaming collection. For a different angle on modern hardware built around tangible retro releases, see this look at Evercade Nexus and physical retro gaming. The connection is not that a Muppet ornament and a game cartridge do the same job; it is that both turn affection for familiar entertainment into an object people can keep, use and revisit.

For now, the clearest facts are simple: Disney Store Private Access members in the US can order from the new The Muppet Christmas Carol range ahead of the October 26 general release, and the announced formats include a Gonzo-and-Rizzo Loungefly backpack, plush, a Kermit-and-Miss-Piggy light-up decoration, and a six-design blind-box ornament assortment. That is a rather good haul for anyone whose holiday viewing starts when Gonzo opens Dickens’ tale.