Credit: DisneyDisney’s Hollywood Studios is currently a park in the midst of a massive identity shift. For years, the park has been a collection of disparate “studios,” but the 2026 construction season is proving to be the most transformative era since the opening of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.
As of mid-March 2026, the sounds of construction and the sight of green plywood have become the new “atmosphere” in two major corners of the park: the historic former Muppets Courtyard and the end of Sunset Boulevard. The “Great Muppet Shuffle” is officially underway—a massive project that involves moving the Muppets from their long-time home to make way for the high-energy screams of Monstropolis.
Here is the latest update on the construction progress and the major announcements that fans believe are just days away.
Monstropolis Move-In: The Demolition of Muppets Courtyard
The most visible—and for many, most bittersweet—construction project is located at the back of the park. What was once the Muppets Courtyard is now officially a work site for the first-ever Monsters, Inc. Land (Monstropolis) in a Disney park.
The Door Coaster and Site Preparation
Construction walls have now fully encompassed the area surrounding the Muppet*Vision 3D theater. While the iconic hot air balloon and the fountain featuring Miss Piggy as the Statue of Liberty are currently behind barriers, heavy demolition work is already visible.
The theater itself, which famously housed Jim Henson’s final Muppet project, is being gutted and reinforced to make room for the land’s anchor attraction: the Scream Cycle Door Coaster. This suspended coaster takes guests through the iconic door vault featured in the original film. Visual inspection of the site shows heavy machinery removing Muppet-themed facades and reclaiming the brickwork to match the industrial, “monstrous” aesthetic of a city powered by screams (and laughs).
Retheming PizzeRizzo
The makeover isn’t just about rides; it’s a full-scale culinary rebrand. Construction walls now surround PizzeRizzo, the Muppet-themed pizza joint. Insiders and site observations suggest that the “Rat’s Pizza” theme is being scrapped in favor of a restaurant that fits the Monstropolis city streets—widely rumored to be Harryhausen’s, the high-end sushi spot from the first Monsters, Inc. movie.
The Tease: A Major Announcement Looms for Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster
While the Muppets are being “evicted” from their courtyard, they are not leaving the park. Instead, it appears they are preparing to take over one of the most high-profile attractions in Disney history. For months, speculation has reached a fever pitch regarding the future of the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster. Now, Disney has begun dropping breadcrumbs that suggest an official announcement is imminent.
The Electric Mayhem “Tease”
The giant 40-foot guitar on Sunset Boulevard is currently shrouded in scaffolding, but what’s happening on social media has caught the community’s attention. Cryptic teasers featuring the Electric Mayhem—the Muppets’ resident rock band—have begun to appear. One recent image showed Dr. Teeth’s iconic hat resting on a guitar amplifier with the caption: “A new beat is coming to Sunset Blvd.”
Industry insiders believe Disney is preparing to announce an opening timeframe for the Muppet takeover of the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster. Last week, Disney announced an opening timeframe for the new Magic of Disney Animation Courtyard at Hollywood Studios, but did not update fans on the Muppets.
Expect an announcement in the coming weeks with an opening timeframe of early summer. Disney Imagineers have already said they expect a quick turnaround for the ride. Ideally, it would open for Memorial Day weekend, but that’s just wishful thinking. Expect late June or even for the Fourth of July.
What Guests Should Expect This Year
If you are planning a trip to Hollywood Studios in 2026, be prepared for a “Construction Kingdom” experience.
- Walkway Narrowing: Large portions of the Grand Avenue area are currently impassable. Expect narrowed walkways near Star Tours as crews work on the transition to Monstropolis.
- Dining Gaps: With PizzeRizzo and the Muppets Courtyard snacks currently unavailable, dining capacity at ABC Commissary and Backlot Express will be under significant strain.
- A “New” Park Aesthetic: By the time the construction walls come down, Hollywood Studios will have a much more cohesive flow. Moving the Muppets to Sunset Boulevard places them near other “classic Hollywood” themes, while clearing the back of the park for Monstropolis allows for a massive, immersive land that rivals Galaxy’s Edge in scale.
The Fan Reaction: Bittersweet Magic
The community is divided. On one hand, the prospect of a high-tech Monsters, Inc. land with a “door coaster” is the most exciting expansion in years. On the other hand, the loss of Muppet*Vision 3D feels like the end of a legendary era.
However, the impending announcement for Sunset Boulevard offers a silver lining. Kermit, Piggy, and the band aren’t going anywhere—they’re just getting an upgrade. The Muppets have always been about “taking” whatever stage they can find, and if that stage happens to be a 60-mile-per-hour launch coaster, the future of Hollywood Studios looks bright, loud, and very green.
Are you counting down the days for the official Muppet coaster announcement? Stay tuned—Disney is expected to pull back the curtain on the “Electric Mayhem” very soon.