Walt Disney World officially pulled back the curtain on Monstropolis on June 4, 2026, publishing a detailed announcement on the Disney Parks Blog that confirmed the land's narrative framing, named its key locations, and provided the first official look at several pieces of concept art. Here is everything Disney revealed.
The official announcement
The June 4 announcement, titled "Discovering Monstropolis at Walt Disney World," was published by Walt Disney World contributors Alex González and Mallory Heinz Ledet on the Disney Parks Blog. It introduced the land's central storyline, confirmed two named locations inside the land, and released six pieces of official concept art and graphics showing the monster city taking shape.
The announcement came as construction continues at Disney's Hollywood Studios on the site of the former Muppets Courtyard and Grand Avenue areas, where Muppet*Vision 3D and PizzeRizzo closed after their final operating day on June 7, 2025. Disney noted that steel is now rising behind the construction walls.
The storyline: H.U.M.A.N. Day
Disney confirmed that Monstropolis will be set after the events of Pixar's 2001 film Monsters, Inc., in a city now powered by human laughter rather than screams following Mike Wazowski and James P. Sullivan's discovery that laughter generates significantly more energy than fear.
The land's central narrative device is called H.U.M.A.N. Day — an acronym standing for "Humans Understand Monsters Are Nice." Disney describes it as "a citywide celebration" and "part celebration, part cultural exchange" that marks the first official invitation for humans to visit Monstropolis. The event is organized by a fictional in-world body called the Department of Human Relations, established to help monsters better understand human guests.
The Monstropolis Horn — the city's in-universe newspaper — is the vehicle through which the H.U.M.A.N. Day announcement is made to monster citizens. Disney released an official graphic of the newspaper's front page as part of the announcement.
Image: Disney Parks Blog / © Disney/Pixar
Confirmed locations inside the land
Disney confirmed two named destinations inside Monstropolis:
Harryhausen's — the Japanese restaurant featured in the original Monsters, Inc. film, where Mike takes Celia Mae for her birthday. The restaurant's appearance in the announcement confirms it will be a dining location in the land. No menu, pricing, or reservation details have been released.
The Glob Theater — a performance venue inside the land. In Disney's earlier planning materials, this space was associated with a show experience. The June 4 announcement officially named it for the first time.
The announcement also described walkable streets with storefronts and businesses that "reflect the quirky, character-filled world fans fell in love with," suggesting an immersive streetscape environment similar in approach to Galaxy's Edge.
Artist concept: © Disney/Pixar via Disney Parks Blog
The centerpiece attraction
Disney did not provide new details about the ride attraction in the June 4 announcement, but the suspended roller coaster set inside the Monsters, Inc. door vault was confirmed at the D23 Expo in August 2024 and at SXSW in March 2025. Disney CEO Josh D'Amaro described it as "the first suspended coaster ever in a Disney park" — a format where the ride vehicle hangs below the track and swings freely through turns, suited to the warehouse-full-of-doors setting from the film. The SXSW presentation revealed the coaster includes a vertical lift element that hoists riders before entering the door vault environment.
No height requirement, ride duration, or opening date has been announced.
The D23 2026 update: a 2027 opening, in phases
At D23 in August 2026 — two months after the June announcement above — Disney gave Monstropolis its biggest update yet and, notably, moved the timeline up. Disney confirmed the land will open in phases beginning in 2027, with the non-coaster portions arriving first and the headlining door coaster following later.
D23 also named the rest of the land. Alongside Harryhausen’s and the Glob Theater, Disney revealed:
- “Welcome to Monstropolis” — the show inside the Glob Theater, hosted by Mike and Sulley, featuring the first Disney-park song composed by Randy Newman.
- Archie’s Scare Pig Pizza — a quick-service spot named for the Fear Tech mascot.
- Monsters University Alumni Club — a lounge.
- The Scareporium — a shop.
The suspended door coaster remains the centerpiece, but Disney confirmed it opens after the first phase of the land rather than alongside it. No date for the coaster has been given.
Construction status
As of the June 4 announcement, Disney confirmed that steel is rising behind the construction walls at Hollywood Studios. Aerial construction photos from fan accounts in April 2026 showed ride building structures and coaster support columns taking shape. The land is actively under construction and visible above the construction walls from certain areas of Hollywood Studios, though the footprint itself is fully enclosed.
What Disney still hasn’t announced
Even after the D23 reveal, a few things remain unconfirmed:
- A specific opening date within 2027
- Which locations open in the first 2027 phase and which come later
- The door coaster’s opening date — it follows the land, and while some outlets speculate 2028, Disney hasn’t confirmed one
- The coaster’s official name, height requirement, and ride duration
One note on timelines: earlier industry expectations placed Monstropolis in a 2028 window, but Disney’s own D23 confirmation that parts of the land open in 2027 has overtaken that estimate.
What this means for your 2026 Hollywood Studios visit
For guests visiting Hollywood Studios in 2026, Monstropolis is a construction-wall story — not a planning priority yet. The current park lineup remains strong: Galaxy's Edge, Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets, Tower of Terror, Toy Story Land, Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway, and Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular. Monstropolis will be worth a dedicated return trip when it opens.
Background
Monstropolis was first announced at the D23 Expo in August 2024. In November 2024, Disney confirmed that Muppet*Vision 3D and PizzeRizzo would close, with their final operating day on June 7, 2025, to make way for the Monstropolis construction project. The attraction was revealed as a suspended roller coaster at SXSW in March 2025, and the land's name — Monstropolis — was confirmed via trademark filings in October 2025. The June 4, 2026 announcement was, at the time, the most detailed public information Disney had released about the land; the D23 update above has since added to it.
This post will be updated as Disney releases additional information about Monstropolis at Hollywood Studios.
Frequently asked questions
More magic.
Get the Theme Park Co-Pilot app and see real Walt Disney World wait times, crowd forecasts, and personalized plans.
Try free for 7 days →
