Credit: gardener41, Flickr / Pixar Animation StudiosDisney just dropped a much bigger update on Monstropolis than many Walt Disney World fans were expecting.
We already knew the world of Monsters, Inc. (2001) was coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, complete with Disney’s first suspended coaster. But during D23, Disney revealed that guests won’t have to wait for the massive coaster to finish before they can start exploring the new land.
Instead, Disney plans to open parts of Monstropolis in 2027 while construction continues on the door coaster.
And that early opening is only part of the news.
Disney also revealed an original show, new restaurants, a Monsters University location, a merchandise shop, an Audio-Animatronics figure, and even the story explaining why humans are suddenly allowed inside Monstropolis.
Monstropolis Will Begin Opening in 2027
The biggest surprise is Disney’s opening strategy.
Disney confirmed that portions of Monstropolis will welcome guests sometime in 2027, even as work continues on the land’s major door coaster.
That means Disney is effectively giving Hollywood Studios an early Monstropolis opening rather than keeping the entire area behind construction walls until its biggest attraction is ready.
Disney has not revealed exactly which locations will be included in that initial 2027 opening or provided a specific opening date.
Still, we now know guests should get their first chance to physically enter the new world next year.
Construction is already moving forward at Hollywood Studios. Disney says steel is rising behind the construction walls as Imagineering works with Pixar Animation Studios to recreate the monster city.
And when those doors start opening, Disney has a surprisingly elaborate explanation for why we’re allowed through them.
Disney Reveals the Story Behind the New Land
Monstropolis won’t simply exist as a collection of locations pulled from Monsters, Inc. (2001).
Disney has created a new story that continues what happened after Mike and Sulley discovered the power of human laughter.
With Monstropolis no longer dependent on screams, the monsters’ attitudes toward humans have also changed. The city has now established a new Department of Human Relations tasked with helping monsters understand their human visitors.
That leads directly into H.U.M.A.N. Day, which stands for “Humans Understanding Monsters Are Nice.”
The event serves as a cultural exchange between the two worlds, allowing humans to enter Monstropolis, explore its streets, meet monsters, and experience the city for themselves.
It’s a clever way to explain something the original movie spent considerable time telling us should never happen: humans walking around the monster world.
Mike and Sulley Are Getting a New Show
One of the biggest newly announced experiences is coming to the Glob Theater.
Disney revealed a new show called Welcome to Monstropolis, with Mike and Sulley serving as its hosts.
The premise involves Sulley putting together a small show designed to introduce humans to Monstropolis. Naturally, Mike has some bigger ideas and surprises planned.
The show also comes with a notable piece of Disney history.
Disney Legend Randy Newman has written an original song called “Welcome to Monstropolis.” Disney says it is the first song Newman has composed specifically for a Disney theme park. Guests will hear it when Monstropolis begins opening in 2027.
Archie’s Scare Pig Pizza Is Coming
Disney also confirmed one of the land’s quick-service dining options.
Archie’s Scare Pig Pizza will serve pizza inside Monstropolis, with its theme tied to Archie, the six-legged Fear Tech mascot that Monsters University students repeatedly “borrowed.”
Disney describes the restaurant as the home of Monstropolis’ top-rated pizza.
But there will be another location right next door that should be especially interesting for Monsters University (2013) fans.
Monsters University Alumni Club Is Official
The Monsters University Alumni Club will also welcome humans.
Disney says the location will feature references to MU’s student clubs, fraternities, and sororities. Inside, guests will also find the elite Scarer’s Club, which honors legendary scarers from the university’s past.
That should give Imagineers plenty of opportunities to fill the space with details and references connected to the wider Monsters universe.
And Disney isn’t stopping with food and entertainment.
Disney Reveals the Scareporium
Every new land needs somewhere to buy merchandise, and now we know where Monstropolis visitors will find it.
Disney announced the Scareporium, a shop specifically designed for human tourists visiting the monster city.
Imagineer Chris Beatty described it as a place where guests can pick up souvenirs commemorating their trip to Monstropolis.
However, one of Disney’s most interesting announcements involves a location pulled directly from Monsters, Inc. (2001).
Harryhausen’s Is Becoming a Real Restaurant
Yes, Harryhausen’s Restaurant is officially coming to Hollywood Studios.
Fans will recognize the restaurant as the location of Mike and Celia’s memorable date in Monsters, Inc. (2001). Disney is now bringing that restaurant into the real-world version of Monstropolis.
And Imagineering isn’t treating it like a simple movie reference.
Disney says Harryhausen’s will feature a new Audio-Animatronics figure of the restaurant’s famous sushi chef. Guests will be able to watch the chef’s multiple tentacles preparing creations inside the restaurant.
The menu won’t be limited to sushi, either.
Imagineer Michael Hundgen said Harryhausen’s will offer a menu unlike anything else currently available at Walt Disney World and described the restaurant as a potential romantic dining destination.
The Monsters Inc. Coaster Is Still on the Way
Of course, the centerpiece of Monstropolis remains the massive Monsters, Inc. door coaster.
Disney previously revealed that the attraction will recreate the famous door vault sequence from Monsters, Inc. (2001), with guests suspended beneath the ride track.
But Disney’s latest announcement changes how we should think about the land’s opening.
Rather than waiting until every piece is finished, Disney now says parts of Monstropolis will open in 2027 while work continues on the coaster.
Disney has not said exactly when the coaster itself will open.
That creates the possibility of a phased rollout at Hollywood Studios, with guests exploring at least part of the monster city before its headline attraction begins welcoming riders.
Hollywood Studios Is Getting Monstropolis Earlier Than Expected
There are still plenty of questions Disney hasn’t answered, particularly which locations will be ready first and how much of Monstropolis guests can access during the initial 2027 opening.
But D23 gave us our clearest picture yet of what Disney is building.
We now have Welcome to Monstropolis at the Glob Theater, Archie’s Scare Pig Pizza, the Monsters University Alumni Club, the Scareporium, and Harryhausen’s Restaurant, alongside the previously announced door coaster.
More importantly, Disney has confirmed that humans won’t have to wait for that coaster to finish before entering the monster world.
H.U.M.A.N. Day arrives in 2027, and for the first time, the doors to Monstropolis are officially preparing to open.
