The transformation of Disney’s Hollywood Studios is picking up speed.
Disney is currently building Monstropolis, an entirely new Monsters, Inc.-themed land scheduled to open in 2027. Until now, much of what guests knew about the project came from concept art, announcements, and glimpses of construction from outside the work zone.
Disney has now taken fans behind the scenes.
The latest update doesn't reveal an exact opening date, but it does show that crews are preparing to make some significant visual progress. Imagineers say detailed finishes currently being tested could begin making their way onto the real buildings within just weeks.
And those buildings won't look like anything else at Hollywood Studios.
Disney Is Building a City for Monsters
One of the challenges with bringing Monstropolis into the real world is making an environment designed for humans feel like monsters actually live there.
Imagineers appear to be having some fun with that idea.
The buildings will incorporate monster characteristics directly into their architecture. Guests can expect to find details inspired by teeth, eyes, horns, and other unusual features throughout the land.
Disney has already shown a closer look at windowsills designed with tooth-like elements.
These aren't simply decorations being attached at the end of construction.
Imagineers are currently creating mock-ups and testing textures before applying the designs to the actual buildings. According to Disney’s latest update, that work could move onto the real structures within a couple of weeks.
That gives visitors another construction milestone to watch as 2027 gets closer.
Welcome to Dark Avenue
Disney also finally gave a name to one of the most important areas inside the expansion.
Dark Avenue will become Monstropolis' central street.
The street will lead guests through the new area and connect several of its biggest experiences, including Harryhausen’s, Archie’s Scare Pig Pizza, stores, the Welcome to Monstropolis show, and the Monsters, Inc. Laugh Factory coaster.
The reveal helps fill in some of the gaps surrounding how the finished land will work.
Guests won't simply enter the area, ride a coaster, and leave. Disney is creating a street filled with different destinations and monster-inspired details that visitors can experience on their way toward the headlining attraction.
For fans of Monsters, Inc. (2001), Harryhausen’s should be particularly recognizable.
But the biggest draw will almost certainly be waiting farther down Dark Avenue.
Disney's New Coaster Will Take Guests Into the Door Vault
The Monsters, Inc. Laugh Factory coaster will serve as the centerpiece of Monstropolis.
Disney is using a suspended coaster system for the attraction, with the experience inspired by the door vault sequence from Monsters, Inc. (2001).
It's an ambitious concept.
The movie's enormous door storage facility naturally lends itself to a fast-moving ride, and suspending the ride vehicles gives Disney another way to recreate the feeling of racing through that environment.
It will also give Hollywood Studios another major coaster following the transformation of Rock ‘n' Roller Coaster into Rock ‘n' Roller Coaster Starring the Muppets.
Still, the newest Monstropolis update is significant because it shows Disney isn't relying entirely on the coaster.
The surrounding city will be a major part of the experience.
The Countdown to 2027 Continues
Disney hasn't announced a specific opening date for Monstropolis beyond 2027.
That means guests shouldn't read the latest construction progress as confirmation that Disney has selected an earlier opening date.
However, the project is clearly advancing.
Disney is already reaching the point where Imagineers are testing the final textures and decorative details that will eventually cover portions of the buildings. With crews preparing to bring some of those elements to the actual structures within weeks, Monstropolis should look increasingly recognizable as construction continues.
Dark Avenue also gives the expansion another piece of its identity.
Eventually, guests will walk down that street toward the Laugh Factory coaster while passing restaurants, shops, entertainment, and buildings filled with monster-inspired architectural details.
For now, they'll have to settle for watching everything come together from outside the construction walls.
But with Disney targeting 2027 and detailed theming moving forward, Monstropolis is getting closer to becoming one of the biggest new additions to Hollywood Studios.
