Tonight at the D23 Expo, we got a huge surprise! Monsters, Inc. is coming to Hollywood Studios in a big way. In this post, we’ll share the news and add in our own commentary in the coming days! Let’s get to the news.

It’s laughter they’re after when a brand-new land themed around Disney and Pixar’s “Monsters, Inc.” comes to life at Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World Resort. 

The news was shared during Horizons: Disney Experiences Showcase at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event. Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D’Amaro, with a little help from Disney Legend Billy Crystal, took to the stage to reveal plans to build a living, breathing, and not-at-all-scary Monsters-inspired area where you’ll be able to stroll the streets alongside some of your favorite monsters. 

Picking up after the events of Pixar Animation Studios’ beloved film, humans have now been invited to visit the world of Monsters, Inc. — and the monsters need laughter to power the city and keep it running smoothly. But it’s not a true visit without the factory itself. You’ll be able to see the sights, hear the laughs and zoom through the building just like James P. Sullivan (a.k.a. Sulley) and Mike Wazowski — via a door!

Yes, a door. If you’ve been dreaming of riding through the door vault since the movie was released in 2001, you’re not alone — Josh has been thinking about this, too.  “The first time I saw Monsters, Inc., all I wanted to do was ride on one of those doors like Mike and Sulley,” he told the crowd. “You’ll go into the factory and experience the first suspended coaster ever in a Disney park. Remember in the movie how those claws grab the doors and hoist them up into the air to take them away? We’re doing that, too. And you’re going along for the ride.”

The coaster will put you right in the middle of the monster action. Just be sure to fill out your paperwork! Roz is always watching…

Work on the project is slated to begin next year, so get ready to ROAR with laughter!

Update from SXSW

While many details about the attraction are still locked up, the Imagineering team is ready to reveal the load area for the attraction. The upcoming door ride will feature the first-ever suspended coaster at a Disney Park, and the first-ever vertical lift. Get ready to scream — not out of fright, but fun. 

Showing off a new animatic of the attraction, guests will board the vehicle before being hoisted into the air (just like in the movie!) to zoom into the door vault. It’s going to be, “an experience that’s as memorable and fun as the film,” Hundgen continued.

“I can tell you that everyone at Pixar is excited about how this is coming together,” Docter told the crowd. “It really is like a dream come true for us.”

@disneyparks POV: You’re a Monsters, Inc. door on the first-ever vertical lift coaster coming to Monstropolis at Disney’s Hollywood Studios!🚪🎢 #DisneyWorld#MonstersInc#DisneyParks#SXSW#Pixar♬ original sound – Disney Parks

Commentary

This was a huge surprise to me at D23 Expo this year. I didn’t include anything like this in my predictions post and wouldn’t have guessed it in a million years. Maybe that shows just how few ‘sources’ I have? Or maybe it’s how I’ve put those oft-rumored but long awaited dreams of a Monsters, Inc. door coaster on the backburner? It’s probably a little bit of both.

Whatever the case, we’ve got it! And Hollywood Studios needs more attractions and interesting places to visit. A land themed to this beloved franchise makes sense, as the park is such a mishmash already that it might as well become the ‘immersive lands from movies’ park. That’s a bad name for it so they’ll probably just keep sticking with Hollywood Studios. I can come up with something better if you need me to, Mr. Bob Iger.

Let’s get the bad news out of the way… This is replacing MuppetVision 3D. That’s a decision I’ve been against since it was announced. Muppet fans like myself were given a few consolation prizes and it’s time to move on. You can read more of my thoughts on that specific move here.

No matter the decision though, the door coaster announcement is a thrill! This project has been rumored for nearly 2 decades! At one point, a door coaster was a night away from being announced and then was squashed at the last second. The scene from the movie is one of those things that is just made for a theme park to adapt. That, along with a new to WDW coaster technology, is incredibly exciting.

As for the land, it should be fun to have another area in Hollywood Studios worth walking around. I would have been just fine with an attraction only but having more fully formed ideas coming to the park is good news. Starting the project next year is even better news! My final reaction will depend on the location this is taking over, but a door coaster is one of the most exciting attractions announced at this year’s D23 Expo.

Are you excited for this Monsters, Inc. land? Let us know, along with any thoughts you might have, in the comments below! If you are planning a trip to Disney World, then check out our planning guide. Looking for discount Walt Disney World tickets? Check out this site! If you enjoy what you are reading here on Wandering in Disney please share this post with your friends, as well as like our social media pages. You can also subscribe to the blog via WordPress or email. You can do all of that on the right side of this page. Thank you for reading, we really appreciate it!