Disney’s Hollywood Studios Area Leveled, Updates on Park’s Future Revealed
New aerial photos show the latest developments in the construction of a Monsters, Inc. (2001) land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The area’s premier attraction, a long-rumored door coaster, will expand the Central Florida Disney park’s footprint into an area formerly occupied by a Disney cast member parking lot.
At D23 Expo 2024, Walt Disney World Resort confirmed it would finally build the door coaster and accompanying Monsters, Inc. land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. However, early concept art suggested that Walt Disney Imagineers were torn between creating the new area in Muppets Courtyard or Animation Courtyard. Disney Parks rallied around the former, particularly Muppet*Vision 3D, as it was one of Jim Henson’s final major projects before his death.
In November 2024, despite protests, Walt Disney World Resort announced that the Monsters, Inc. land would indeed replace Muppets Courtyard (including Muppet*Vision 3D). The land closed in phases beginning in May 2025, and Muppet*Vision 3D played its final public performance on June 7. Disney has promised to preserve the show for fans’ future enjoyment, but hasn’t shared any details about that effort.
Over the past few months, Disney Parks fans have watched most of Muppets Courtyard turn to rubble. Only the Muppet*Vision 3D theater remains, set to be transformed into “The Glob” theatre, which will house an unnamed Monsters, Inc.-inspired attraction.
Outside the perimeter of Disney’s Hollywood Studios, crews have torn up much of the former cast member parking lot and brought in equipment for the foundation of the door coaster building. It’s unclear whether Disney will build the coaster structure first, then construct the building around it, like they did with TRON Lightcycle / Run, or build the coaster inside the completed building as they did with Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind.
On September 20, aerial photographer @bioreconstruct shared multiple photos of the Monsters, Inc. construction site at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. First, let’s take a look at the former Muppets Courtyard:
Aerial overviews of current work on a Monsters Inc land in Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Aerial overviews of current work on a Monsters Inc land in Disney's Hollywood Studios. pic.twitter.com/E1RlMensGx
— bioreconstruct (@bioreconstruct) September 21, 2025
The following images show the former Disney cast member parking lot, where the roller coaster building is taking shape:
Aerial overviews of Monsters Inc roller coaster construction in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The attraction’s gravity building.
Aerial overviews of Monsters Inc roller coaster construction in Disney's Hollywood Studios. The attraction's gravity building. pic.twitter.com/jI4JGNamj7
— bioreconstruct (@bioreconstruct) September 21, 2025
Lastly, this picture hints at how Imagineers plan to use existing structures to hide the roller coaster building from Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge:
Aerial look at how the Monster’s Inc roller coaster building will be hidden from view in Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge.
Aerial look at how the Monster's Inc roller coaster building will be hidden from view in Star Wars Galaxy's Edge. pic.twitter.com/tWvva0Tz7H
— bioreconstruct (@bioreconstruct) September 21, 2025
Animation Courtyard might not be the future home of the Monsters, Inc. land, but the area didn’t survive 2025 untouched. Earlier this year, Walt Disney World Resort announced plans to revamp the area into the Walt Disney Studios Lot, with Star Wars: Launch Bay transforming into a copy of the Roy E. Disney Animation Building in Burbank, California, housing the return of “The Magic of Disney Animation” attraction. A new Disney Jr.-inspired show will replace Disney Jr. Play and Dance!.
Star Wars: Launch Bay, Disney Jr. Play and Dance!, and most of Animation Courtyard will close on September 26 to prepare for the overhaul, which is expected to premiere in 2026. “The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure” will remain available to Disney Park guests throughout the construction.
Walt Disney World Resort hasn’t announced a grand opening date for the Monsters, Inc. land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Do you agree with Walt Disney World Resort’s decision to replace Muppets Courtyard with a Monsters, Inc. land? Disney Dining would love to hear your thoughts in the comments!
