Put away the sock alarms because humans are FINALLY being allowed into Monstropolis, and apparently, the monsters have planned quite the welcome party.
We’ve known for a while that the world of Pixar’s Monsters, Inc. is taking over a portion of Disney’s Hollywood Studios, but Disney just revealed a TON of new details about what we’ll actually find once those doors open.
During Horizons: A Carousel of Progress at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, Walt Disney Imagineers Michael Hundgen and Chris Beatty revealed new attractions, restaurants, shops, entertainment, and story details for Monstropolis, the new Monsters, Inc.-themed land currently under construction at Walt Disney World.
And we finally have an opening timeframe.
Parts of Monstropolis will officially open to humans in 2027, while work continues on the land’s highly anticipated door coaster. But that coaster is only ONE piece of what’s coming.
Humans Are FINALLY Being Invited Into Monstropolis
Disney has created an entire in-universe explanation for why we’re suddenly allowed to wander around a city where humans were once considered toxic. And yes, this all takes place after the events of Monsters, Inc.
After Mike and Sulley discovered that laughter generates significantly more power than screams, Monstropolis didn’t simply change its power supply—the monsters’ entire perception of humans began changing, too.
The city’s newly established Department of Human Relations is now working to help monsters better understand humans and has decided it’s finally time to invite us into Monstropolis.
The occasion even has a name: H.U.M.A.N. Day. That stands for “Humans Understanding Monsters Are Nice.”
H.U.M.A.N. Day will serve as both a celebration and cultural exchange, allowing humans to explore the city, meet its residents, sample monster cuisine, and experience everyday life in Monstropolis for the first time. Considering Boo needed a monster disguise just to survive her last visit, I’d say we’ve made some progress.
Mike and Sulley Are Getting a NEW Show
One of the biggest surprises from Horizons is that Monstropolis isn’t only getting a roller coaster. It’s getting a new show, too.
The Glob Theater will be home to “Welcome to Monstropolis,” a new production hosted by Mike Wazowski and James P. Sullivan.
According to Disney, the monsters performing in the show will introduce humans to their city while demonstrating that monsters and humans might have more in common than either group realized.
Sulley has apparently been putting together a small, homespun production for the occasion. Mike? Well, Mike is Mike.
Disney teased that our favorite one-eyed showman has a few additional surprises planned that he thinks will really “bring down the house.” Hopefully that’s figurative.
Randy Newman Wrote a NEW Song for Monstropolis
The Glob Theater announcement gets even more interesting when you hear who’s providing the music.
Disney Legend Randy Newman has written an entirely new song called “Welcome to Monstropolis.” And there’s a pretty significant Disney milestone attached to it.
According to Disney, this is the first song Newman has ever composed specifically for a Disney theme park.
Considering Newman composed the music for the original Monsters, Inc. and has been such an enormous part of Pixar’s musical identity, bringing him back to create original music for the land feels especially appropriate. Guests will hear the new song when Monstropolis begins welcoming humans in 2027.
Harryhausen’s Is Becoming a REAL Restaurant!
Okay, Monsters, Inc. fans, this one is FUN. Harryhausen’s is officially becoming a real Walt Disney World restaurant.
Yep. THAT Harryhausen’s.
The upscale monster restaurant where Mike takes Celia for her birthday in the original movie will be one of the dining locations inside Monstropolis. And Disney isn’t simply borrowing the name.
The restaurant’s famous sushi chef will be brought to life as a new Audio-Animatronics figure, with his many tentacles working away on monster-worthy creations.
Disney also confirmed the menu won’t be limited to sushi. Imagineer Michael Hundgen teased that Harryhausen’s will have a menu unlike anything else currently offered at Walt Disney World and joked that it’ll be a great place to bring your “Schmoopsie-poo” for a romantic meal.
Honestly? Just keep the CDA away from the restaurant this time.
Archie’s Scare Pig Pizza Is Coming, Too
If Harryhausen’s sounds a little too fancy for your monster appetite, there’s another option. Archie’s Scare Pig Pizza will serve up Monstropolis’ top-rated pizza.
The restaurant is themed around Archie, the six-legged scare pig mascot belonging to Fear Tech University that Monsters University fans might remember from Mike and Sulley’s college days.
Apparently, Archie has become something of a celebrity among students at both Fear Tech and Monsters University. And speaking of MU…
Monsters University Is Getting an Alumni Club
Next door to Archie’s will be the Monsters University Alumni Club, and it sounds like Disney is going DEEP with the Monsters University references here.
Guests will find nods to MU’s various student clubs, fraternities, and sororities throughout the space. There’s also an elite Scarer’s Club honoring some of Monsters University’s most legendary scarers from years past.
That opens the door (pun absolutely intended) for Disney Imagineers to pack this location with Easter eggs from both Monsters University and the larger Monsters, Inc. universe.
And There’s a NEW Store
Because obviously we can’t visit another dimension without bringing home a souvenir. The land’s merchandise location will be called the Scareporium.
Disney describes it as the place where human tourists can pick up souvenirs commemorating their first visit to Monstropolis. Disney hasn’t revealed what merchandise will be sold inside just yet. But considering the amount of monster-specific branding Imagineers are developing for this land, we’re expecting plenty of opportunities to spend a few scream canisters’ worth of money.
And YES, the Door Coaster Is Still Coming
Then there’s the attraction everyone has been talking about since this project was originally announced. Disney is still working on the massive suspended roller coaster inspired by the door vault sequence from Monsters, Inc.
Construction has made major progress in recent months, with steel and coaster infrastructure rising at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
The attraction is especially significant because it will become Walt Disney World’s first suspended roller coaster, recreating the sensation of flying through the enormous door vault seen in the movie. But Disney’s latest announcement includes an interesting distinction.
While parts of Monstropolis will begin opening in 2027, Disney specifically says work will continue on the door coaster. In other words, don’t necessarily assume everything in Monstropolis will debut simultaneously.
Disney hasn’t provided a specific opening date for the coaster in this latest announcement.
Keep checking back with Theme Park Scope for the latest Monstropolis construction updates, Monsters, Inc. door coaster news, Disney’s Hollywood Studios updates, Walt Disney World opening dates, and everything else announced during D23.
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