We have been watching Hollywood Land at Disney California Adventure for a while now, waiting for the moment when the planning phase gave way to actual permits.
That moment arrived. Disney filed nine confidential demolition permits with the City of Anaheim covering Hollywood Land, including the show building for Monsters, Inc. Mike and Sulley to the Rescue! Disneyland Resort officials confirmed to The Orange County Register that the permits support “long-term work to enable expansion projects” in Hollywood Land.
The area is being cleared and replaced by a new Avatar land inspired by Avatar: The Way of Water, and it is going to include a boat ride. We have all the details on what is happening, what is staying open longer than expected, and what this means if you are planning a Disneyland trip in the next year or two.
Nine Permits at Once Is a Big Deal
Filing nine permits simultaneously for a single area of a theme park is not standard operating procedure. Individual projects get individual filings. When Disney files nine at once for a defined area, it signals a coordinated, large-scale effort that involves demolishing existing structures, rerouting underground utilities, and clearing a substantial footprint for something major.
The permits do not include start dates, so we do not know exactly when the bulldozers arrive. What we do know is that the project has moved from planning into the formal legal pre-construction phase, which is a meaningful shift. These filings fall under the Disneyland Forward framework, the multi-decade expansion initiative Disney secured approval for in Anaheim that allows for development beyond the old zoning constraints. Hollywood Land’s transformation is one of the first big applications of that expanded authority.
Disneyland Resort confirmed to The Orange County Register that the permits support “long-term work to enable expansion projects.” Careful phrasing. But a confirmation.
Monsters, Inc. Is Staying Open Longer Than Expected
Here is some good news for families who love Monsters, Inc. Mike and Sulley to the Rescue! The ride was originally supposed to close in early 2026. Disney has pushed that closing to 2027, keeping it open to give families with young children more options in Disney California Adventure during what will be an active construction period.
Disney said the delay will not impact the Avatar land construction timeline, which means the planning is far enough along that keeping the ride running a bit longer does not create any conflict with the development schedule. So if saying goodbye to Mike, Sulley, and the legendary Roz animatronic is on your list, you have time. But 2027 is not that far away and we would not wait until the last minute.
The ride has been in Hollywood Land since 2006, built on the track of the old Superstar Limo attraction. It found a genuine fanbase over the years, especially with families who appreciated the shorter waits and the charm of the interactive Roz moment. When it closes, it will take one of the last remaining structural pieces of Disney California Adventure’s original 2001 layout with it.
Avatar Land Is What Is Coming and Here Is What We Know
Disney has confirmed the replacement is a new Avatar land themed to Avatar: The Way of Water. A boat ride is confirmed as part of the lineup. An opening date has not been announced.
For those following the fan debate between Avatar and Zootopia as the expected replacement for Hollywood Land — that debate is settled. The permits and the official confirmation from Disneyland Resort end the speculation. It is Avatar.
The comparison point everyone reaches for is Pandora: The World of Avatar at Disney’s Animal Kingdom in Florida, which has been running since 2017. Avatar Flight of Passage and the Na’vi River Journey boat ride are both consistently well-regarded, and the land’s environmental immersion is among the strongest Disney has delivered anywhere in its parks. A California Avatar land would be the franchise’s first West Coast Disney installation, and the confirmed boat ride thematically tracks with The Way of Water‘s aquatic focus.
Disney CEO Bob Iger had been teasing a “bold” new Avatar experience for the Disneyland Resort in prior interviews. The two Avatar films together represent the highest-grossing film franchise in global box office history. This investment makes strategic sense even if Avatar’s domestic cultural footprint has always generated debate among Disney fans.
What This Means for Your Disneyland Trip
If riding Monsters, Inc. Mike and Sulley to the Rescue! is on your must-do list, it is open through 2027. Plan accordingly and do not assume it will always be there.
For guests visiting Disney California Adventure in the meantime, Hollywood Land will increasingly show signs of construction as the project moves forward. Expect walls, rerouted pathways, and a gradually changing skyline in that area of the park. The rest of DCA is fully operational. Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission BREAKOUT!, Radiator Springs Racers, Avengers Campus, Incredicoaster, Pixar Pier, and Buena Vista Street are all unaffected.
And when Avatar land eventually opens, we will absolutely be there on day one to report on everything, including whatever food and beverage options Disney puts inside Pandora California Edition. That part we are genuinely looking forward to.
We will keep tracking the Hollywood Land permits and Avatar land development as construction gets underway. Our full Disneyland Resort guide is on the site with current attraction availability and construction updates. Check it before your trip and come find us when you are ready to talk about what you want to eat on your last Monsters, Inc. visit.
Team Avatar or were you hoping for something else? Drop it in the comments. We want to know where the community lands on this one.
