Aerial photos posted early on Sunday, September 20, 2026, by aerial photographer bioreconstruct show the gateway columns at the Grand Avenue entrance to Monstropolis being themed at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. His posts also point out an octagonal excavation where a fountain is in development and concrete forms going in for the foundations of an L-shaped garden wall.
Aerial photo of the development of the entrance plaza of Monstropolis. Concrete columns of the gateway are being themed. A fountain is in development at the octagonal excavation.
— bioreconstruct (@bioreconstruct) September 20, 2026
In another post, bioreconstruct wrote that the gateway theming seems like it will be visible from Grand Avenue soon.
Harryhausen’s And The Glob Theater
Another photo from the flight shows scaffolding on the facades of Harryhausen’s, the restaurant taking over the former Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano, and the Glob Theater, which is going into the former Muppet*Vision 3D building. bioreconstruct identified a building extension for Harryhausen’s with its chopsticks theming in view.
2 aerial photos of Monstropolis construction. First photo has scaffolding for theming Harryhausen’s (at left) and The Glob theater. Second photo is a closer look at carpenters actively creating concrete forms for foundations of an L-shaped garden wall.
— bioreconstruct (@bioreconstruct) September 20, 2026
Since that flight, new Glob Theater lobby art went on display at the park.
Door Coaster Show Building
Photos bioreconstruct posted the evening of Saturday, September 19, show the Monsters, Inc. suspended door coaster show building still going up behind the land. Aerials earlier in September showed where trains will rise vertically before launching into the first scene. In the new set, exterior walls are being added to one side of the building, and steel sheets are arriving for a ride-level floor above the unload area. Blog Mickey noted roof decking now covering parts of the structure.
bioreconstruct also posted an aerial video on the morning of September 20 that he described as likely the last look through the multiple track levels into the unload area before that floor is placed.
When It Opens
Disney announced at D23 in August 2026 that Monstropolis will open in phases starting in 2027, with the door coaster not expected to open with the rest of the land. Disney has not given a specific date for either. Blog Mickey wrote on September 20 that the coaster will likely open in 2028.
Monstropolis is replacing Muppets Courtyard, including Muppet*Vision 3D, in the Grand Avenue area of the park. Disney first announced the Monsters, Inc. land and its door coaster at D23 in August 2024.
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