Disney announced at its D23 fan event that a new Monsters Inc.-themed land called Monstropolis is coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Walt Disney World, Florida. The land is set to open in 2027, bringing the world of Sulley, Mike Wazowski, and their monster friends to life for park visitors. Construction is already happening on the site, which replaces the former Muppets Courtyard area. The new land will open in phases, meaning some parts will welcome guests in 2027 while others will arrive later.
What is Monstropolis and Where Will It Be Located
Monstropolis is the name of the monster city from the Pixar movies. This new land will sit inside Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. It takes over the space that used to be Muppets Courtyard, which included the Muppet*Vision 3D show. The Muppets are not leaving the park entirely, as Disney is changing Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster into a Muppets-themed ride expected to open in 2026.
The land’s story centers on a special event called H.U.M.A.N. Day, which stands for “Humans Understand Monsters Are Nice”. In this story, the monsters of Monstropolis invite humans into their city for the first time. This idea lets visitors feel like they are part of the monster world instead of just looking at movie sets.
The Door Coaster – Disney’s First Suspended Roller Coaster
The biggest attraction in Monstropolis will be a roller coaster based on the famous door factory from the movie. This ride marks a first for Disney parks anywhere in the world – it will be a suspended hanging coaster. Riders will sit in cars that hang below the track, giving them a feeling of flying through the door warehouse.
Michael Hundgen, Vice President Creative for Walt Disney World Portfolio at Walt Disney Imagineering, called the ride “a showstopper”. The ride starts with a dramatic launch that takes guests 40 feet high in just four seconds. The opening scene drops riders straight into the laugh floor, where Mike Wazowski has created contraptions to collect both laughs and screams.
“It’s the first hanging coaster we’ve ever done at Disney anywhere in the world,” Hundgen told Variety.
The ride will feature a vertical lift that raises riders into the door vault. Disney showed a new video animation of the ride at D23, giving fans a realistic look at what to expect. The load area is themed to the Monsters Inc. scare floor, with M-shaped supports that were already installed in August 2026.
Welcome to Monstropolis – The Theater Show
Alongside the coaster, Monstropolis will feature a theater experience called “Welcome to Monstropolis”. This is not a typical stage show. Disney worked with Pixar and Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) to create a mix of high-definition video panels and physical animatronic characters. The show runs inside the Glob Theater, a play on Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre.
The story of the show follows the monsters as they get used to having humans around. Mike and Sulley serve as hosts, and Mike has a few surprises planned. The show includes humor and heart, helping visitors understand the monster world.
Randy Newman Writes First Theme Park Song
Composer Randy Newman, who wrote the music for the Monsters Inc. movies, has created an original song just for this land. The song is called “Welcome to Monstropolis,” which is also the name of the theater show. This marks the first time Newman has written a song specifically for a Disney theme park attraction.
“It’s the first time Randy has ever written something exclusively for a Disney theme park,” Hundgen revealed.
Megan Hilty performed the song during the D23 presentation, giving fans an early taste of the entertainment planned for the new land. Hundgen called the song “a perfect complement” to the high-thrill coaster nearby.
Harryhausen’s Restaurant and Other Dining Options
Monstropolis will include dining spots that come straight from the movies. The main restaurant is Harryhausen’s, the sushi place where Mike and Celia had their date in the original film. This will be a full sit-down restaurant serving monster-themed sushi rolls and tempura.
A major highlight is a working animatronic octopus sushi chef behind the counter. Testing is already underway for this audio-animatronic character.
A second dining spot is Archie’s Scare Pig Pizza, named after the mascot from Monsters University. The land will also have a Scare Emporium gift shop where visitors can buy merchandise. Other locations include a pizza shop, Monsters University, and an alumni club.
What Opens in 2027 and What Comes Later
Disney confirmed that Monstropolis will open in phases. Everything in the land except the door coaster will open in 2027. The coaster itself does not have an opening date yet. Disney did not give an exact month or day for the 2027 opening. The company also has not released ticket pricing for the new land.
The land was first announced at D23 in 2024, with Billy Crystal, the voice of Mike Wazowski, appearing on stage to share the news. The opening was moved up from its original timeline, with Imagineers confirming the land will start welcoming guests earlier than planned.
Concept Art and New Details Revealed at D23
At the D23 event in August 2026, Disney Imagineers showed off a wall of concept art covering everything from restaurant signage to themed doorbells and trash cans. The display also revealed neighborhood names like Old Town Monstropolis and Frightening Heights. A theater marquee showed “Welcome to Monstropolis! With Sulley & Mike”. The concept art included images of Mike and Sulley inside the Monsters Inc. building.
Hundgen credited the Imagineering team and their research and development efforts for pushing the boundaries of innovation. He said some of the techniques used in the theater come from partnerships with R&D and ILM.
“Monsters, being one of the first out the gate, will really raise the bar. It’s going to be quite the destination,” Hundgen said.
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What This Means for Disney World Visitors
Monstropolis adds another major Pixar experience to Walt Disney World. The land gives fans of the Monsters Inc. movies a chance to walk through the streets of the monster city, meet its citizens, try unique food, and experience the everyday world of monsters in a new way. The land also brings two worlds together – not through screams, but through laughter.
For families planning trips to Orlando, this new land gives them another reason to visit Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The suspended coaster alone makes Monstropolis stand out, as Disney has never built this type of ride anywhere in the world.
Also Read: Disney D23 2026 Showcase: Full List of Every Movie, TV Show, and Theme Park Announcement
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