Walt Disney World is turning the page on a bold new era—and Disney’s Hollywood Studios is right at the heart of it. The transformation is full steam ahead as Disney replaces the Grand Avenue area with Monstropolis, the laughter-powered metropolis from Pixar’s Monsters, Inc.
Revealed at the D23 Expo, the new land is set to include multiple experiences inspired by the Monsters universe and feature an all-new E-ticket attraction. According to Disney, “You’ll be able to see the sights, hear the laughs, and zoom through the building just like James P. Sullivan (AKA Sulley) and Mike Wazowski—via a door!”
This new ride isn't just another coaster—it’s a Disney Experiences first. The yet-to-be-named attraction will be the first suspended coaster at any Disney destination, and the first to include a vertical launch. “The upcoming door ride will feature the first-ever suspended coaster at a Disney park, and the first-ever vertical lift. Get ready to scream—not out of fright, but fun,” Disney shared at SXSW 2025.
Josh D’Amaro, Disney Experiences chairman, highlighted the innovation during the D23 Expo: “You’ll go into the factory and experience the first suspended coaster ever in a Disney park. Remember in the movie how those claws grab the doors and hoist them up into the air to take them away? We’re doing that, too. And you’re going along for the ride.”
As groundwork for the massive showbuilding begins, aerial photos from user @bioreconstruct reveal just how large this coaster’s footprint will be. The structure is being erected near the park's perimeter service road, and, as WDWMagic reports, “expected to be roughly 103,000 square feet based on recent data from the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District’s GIS mapping tools.” Only EPCOT’s Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, at 197,000 square feet, tops it in size.
It’s worth noting that the upcoming coaster will seemingly replace Cosmic Rewind as the most advanced attraction on Disney property, with TRON Lightcycle / Run also yielding the title to this high-tech, high-energy ride. The shift marks a significant moment in Walt Disney World's evolution, as it embraces the next generation of thrills.
The skyline of Hollywood Studios will be forever changed by the new ride’s gravity building, which, intriguingly, may be visible from Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. However, Disney Imagineers are known for seamlessly blending themed environments, and guests might not even realize the world of Batuu shares a horizon with Monstropolis.
But this isn’t the only project reshaping Walt Disney World Resort. Magic Kingdom Park is currently preparing for its largest expansion ever. With Tom Sawyer Island and Rivers of America officially closed as of July 7, construction is now underway for Piston Peak National Park, inspired by the Cars universe. Nearby, work is progressing on the “Beyond Big Thunder” expansion, which will bring Disney Villains to life in a yet-unrevealed way.
At Animal Kingdom, the long-discussed reimagining of DinoLand U.S.A. is now in motion. The area is transitioning into Pueblo Esperanza, inspired by the Tropical Americas and home to Encanto and Indiana Jones-themed attractions. According to Walt Disney Imagineering, the transformation is expected to be completed in 2027.
And over at EPCOT, change continues. Test Track 3.0 has opened in the World Discovery neighborhood, while the park-wide transformation recently wrapped up with the debut of World Celebration.
As these sweeping changes unfold across all four parks, it’s clear that Walt Disney World is embracing the future while celebrating the stories guests love most. And for Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Monstropolis is just the beginning.
