Monstropolis will start letting humans in next year. Disney announced Saturday at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event that portions of the Monsters, Inc. themed land will open at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in 2027, with a theater show, dining and a merchandise shop arriving while work continues on the land’s headline door coaster.
Randy Newman Writes His First Song For A Disney Park
The land’s anthem comes from Disney Legend Randy Newman, whose new song “Welcome to Monstropolis” is the first he has ever composed specifically for a Disney theme park. Broadway star Megan Hilty performed it live at the Honda Center. The song lends its name to a new show at the Glob Theater, the former MuppetVision 3D house, where Mike and Sulley host a welcome that introduces humans to the monster world. New details shared by Disney this week add that the high-tech show will feature an animatronic one-monster band as part of the performance. Imagineering Vice Presidents Michael Hundgen and Chris Beatty walked the crowd through the land, and Hundgen said the team is drawing on immersive theater and optical illusions in both the show and the coaster, pairing tricks that make things feel present with physical elements that truly are.
The song’s full lyrics have since circulated, and they confirm what the staging implied. It is written as a direct address to arriving guests, inviting them into town for a look around and playing the host role Mike and Sulley take in the show. Newman also builds in a joke at the monsters’ own expense, having them admit outright that they used to be scary and mean, before insisting they are the sweetest monsters in history and that the visitors have nothing to fear. He has written for every Toy Story film and both Monsters, Inc. features, so the voice is familiar even though the venue is new.
Harryhausen’s Gets A Sushi Chef Animatronic
Dining is led by Harryhausen’s, the restaurant where Mike and Celia had their memorable date in Monsters, Inc., now realized with an Audio-Animatronics sushi chef whose multiple tentacles prepare monster sized creations in view of guests. Imagineering teased a menu unlike anything currently offered at Walt Disney World, and confirmed the restaurant will serve more than sushi.
The casual counterpart is Archie’s Scare Pig Pizza, named for Archie, the six legged Fear Tech mascot from Monsters University, and billed as the place for Monstropolis’ top rated pizza. Next door sits the Monsters University Alumni Club, a walk through the school’s clubs, fraternities and sororities that houses the elite Scarer’s Club honoring MU’s legendary scarers. Rounding out the list is the Scareporium, a merchandise shop designed for human tourists visiting the city.
The Door Coaster Comes Later
The land’s marquee thrill ride will not make the 2027 opening. Disney confirmed the door coaster remains under construction as the first phase debuts, which means Monstropolis effectively gets a built in expansion after launch. The ride lifts guests roughly 40 feet in about four seconds before sending them into the door vault from the film’s finale. The coaster is being built backstage on former cast member parking, with work visible along Grand Avenue on the walk toward Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.
Monstropolis has been rising on the former Muppets area at the park for months, and the construction has recently turned decorative, with monster horns, teeth and the giant Harryhausen’s chopsticks already appearing above the walls. With a 2027 first phase now on the calendar, Hollywood Studios has its next big opening in sight.
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