Walt Disney World continues demolition within the former Muppets Courtyard, which shall be reimagined right into a Monstropolis space at Hollywood Studios. Together with this, development website prep has begun backstage on the Monsters, Inc. Door Coaster that had been rumored for many years. Listed below are updates on the work, together with aerial images documenting the progress.
Not a ton is seen from inside the park. Building partitions are actually up alongside the sting of Grand Avenue on the Muppets Courtyard facet, with the principle thorough resulting in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge nonetheless open. For those who stand again by BaseLine Faucet Home and the opposite facades, you possibly can nonetheless get a glimpse of MuppetVision 3D, PizzeRizzo, and so forth.
I did this simply final week, and on the time, I may additionally see Stage 1 Firm Retailer. This long-shuttered MuppetVision 3D reward store was initially going to be walled-off earlier than MuppetVision closed, however the plan was revised to start demolition as soon as the partitions went up across the entirety of Muppets Courtyard. Previous to that constructing coming down, Disney had been eradicating parts from Muppets Courtyard.
Because it seems, demolition of Stage 1 Firm Retailer lastly started this week…and ended this week. Demolition was first noticed two days in the past, and the constructing is gone as of August 1, 2025. The entire demo took 3 days from begin to end.
Fairly than this “explaining” why MuppetVision 3D needed to shut so early (so demolition may start!), it solely rekindles this query for us, as we’ll focus on within the commentary. In any case, if this complete demo was solely going to take 3 days…couldn’t these 3 days have been a full yr or extra sooner or later?
For those who’re questioning what else shall be demolished, that’s in all probability about it. The entire different buildings in Muppets Courtyard are being repurposed. The outside of what was Mama Melrose is altering significantly to grow to be Harryhausen’s, however we’re unsure “demolished” is the correct phrase to explain what’ll occur there.
As an example the work, let’s check out eye within the sky images from friend-of-the-site bioreconstruct, the go-to supply for aerial theme park images (a extremely advisable observe who graciously supplied the helicopter photographs right here)…
Our Commentary
My important thought when taking a look at these aerial images is…okay, what now?!
What will occur to the previous Muppets Courtyard over the following few years? The entire remaining buildings right here shall be preserved. The MuppetVision theater, PizzeRizzo, and Mama Melrose are all very clearly within the Monstropolis idea artwork. These shall be reimagined, however the venues will all nonetheless serve the identical functions, simply Monsters, Inc. eating places and a present.
The one construction that was going to be demolished was the Stage 1 Firm Retailer, and that’s now down. So, what else right here is presumably going to take ~3 years to perform?!
Previous to the deadline being introduced, we had hoped that MuppetVision 3D would stay open till someday in 2026, if not even later than that. Even perhaps someday into early 2027.
It appeared doable that Walt Disney World would pull from an identical playbook as is getting used with Dinoland USA, the place Dino-Rama simply closed to get replaced by the Encanto Madrigal Casita darkish experience–a brand new construct–however the place DINOSAUR and all the things else that’s simply being reimagined or repurposed received’t shut till early 2026.
Besides within the case of Monstropolis, the brand new construct is going on on the car parking zone, so it doesn’t must disrupt something contained in the park for some time. There’s an incredible quantity of labor that must be carried out backstage. The development of the curler coaster and gravity constructing round that, together with the queue and facade for the Monsters, Inc. Door Coaster, all of which can take for much longer than getting ready the MuppetVision theater for a brand new present and refreshing eating places.
There are a number of believable explanations as to why Muppets Courtyard closed this summer season, versus mid-2026 or early 2027.
The primary is that Walt Disney World administration feels that Disney’s Hollywood Studios doesn’t want the capability supplied by the eating places and MuppetVision over the course of the following couple of years and is choosing the longer closure to save lots of working bills. Whereas DINOSAUR and the remnants of Dinoland are integral to the already mild lineup at Animal Kingdom, DHS has loads of stage present.
This wouldn’t shock me within the least. It’s in all probability no coincidence that Villains Unfairly Ever After and The Little Mermaid ~ A Musical Journey each debuted shortly earlier than MuppetVision closed. As evidenced by ADR demand, or the dearth thereof, DHS additionally has extra eating capability. Walt Disney World may’ve concluded that Disney’s Hollywood Studios didn’t want this many exhibits and eating places, or wished to offset the brand new working bills. (By no means thoughts that every one three of the stage present venues had been in use concurrently till mid-March 2020.)
It’s widespread apply for Walt Disney World to search out methods to save lots of on working bills at occasions when capital expenditures are rising. On prime of that, it’s unlikely that there shall be any natural progress this yr at Walt Disney World, so the corporate will resort to cost-cutting to attain no matter targets it may need. As a lot as I really like Disney Starlight Evening Parade, it’s not too troublesome to have a look at that and see this similar mentality.
It’s a little bit of an apart, nevertheless it’s at all times baffling to me that Disney is keen to spend like a drunken sailor with regards to CapEx, however goes into full Scrooge Mode with regards to OpEx. Sure, funds cuts do happen to tasks in growth, however Walt Disney World is mostly spending so much of cash on these, and going over funds is extra widespread than coming in underneath funds.
But, they completely pinch pennies on operations, and are downright allergic to spending on reside leisure. Circling again to Starlight, the price of a dozen or so fairness performers is chump change relative to the parade’s general growth prices. I can solely assume the bonuses of native management rely upon these financial savings, and people bonuses are too vital to cross up.
The second chance is that the Monstropolis undertaking is extra concerned than beforehand thought. That it’s not a easy repurposing of the prevailing restaurant, retail, and attraction areas. This could possibly be the case, however we extremely doubt it.
There’s nothing within the latest Monstropolis idea artwork to counsel any main structure modifications to Muppet Courtyard/Grand Avenue. The idea artwork strongly suggests we’re getting one-for-one replacements of those eating places and a brand new present within the MuppetVision theater. It doesn’t seem to be they don’t seem to be being essentially remodeled.
I totally count on the desk service Mama Melrose to grow to be the desk service Harryhausen’s. It’s possible that PizzeRizzo goes to reimagined right into a counter service restaurant with an similar footprint in a fashion much like the conversion of Pizza Planet into PizzeRizzo. The title PizzeRoz’s has been thrown out, and though that’s in jest, it’s in all probability not far off. This can in all probability be the third technology of Nearly Pizza served on this area.
We already know that the MuppetVision Theater shall be residence to a brand new present. That is in all probability probably the most vital overhaul, besides, it’s not going to be extra concerned than reworking Splash Mountain into Tiana’s Bayou Journey or constructing the Monsters, Inc. Door Coaster from the bottom up.
A last chance is that Disney has opted to fast-track Monstropolis, or a minimum of the entrance portion of it, and it has leapfrogged Tropical Americas. Or that each will debut in 2027, however with Monstropolis within the first half of the yr and Tropical Americas within the second half.
Disney fast-tracking tasks would defy latest traits, nevertheless it actually is doable, particularly if the corporate anticipates development prices rising. So there could be motivation to frontload a few of this work, versus backloading all the things. This coupled with the operational cost-savings of shuttering Grand Avenue venues throughout a timeframe they received’t be “wanted” is one believable rationalization.
However, the whole lot of Monstropolis opening in 2026 is nearly not possible. The curler coaster is the anchor of this land, and its development shall be far and away probably the most time consuming part. And but, the closure of Muppets Courtyard occurred earlier than floor broke on the Door Coaster. The brand new courtyard opening then is believable, however I’m nonetheless unsure why Walt Disney World would try this.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios is poised to have a reasonably large slate for 2026. The park has the Walt Disney Studios Lot in 2026, together with Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster Starring the Muppets and Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run Starring Child Yoda. Having the ‘minor’ half of Monstropolis additionally coming in 2026 appears pointless, if not actively counterproductive.
Walt Disney World has possible realized its lesson about doing phased openings after this space’s subsequent door neighbor, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, fell flat upon its partial opening in mid-2019. My finest guess is that Monstropolis continues to be coming after 2026, with the one query being whether or not it’s now a 2027 undertaking or nonetheless 2028. I may see each Tropical Americas and this debuting in 2027, particularly given how rapidly work on Monstropolis has been transferring.
Irrespective of the way you slice it, although, Muppets Courtyard in all probability didn’t want to shut as early because it did. As we now know, demolition of the MuppetVision reward store took a grand whole of three days. That would’ve occurred 3 days this week or 3 days a yr or extra from now. What’s going to occur within the interim? Progress on the Monsters, Inc. Door Coaster will undoubtedly transfer quick, whereas the remainder of the conversion crawls alongside.
To finish on a optimistic observe, demolishing Stage 1 and additional opening the courtyard main as much as the Monsters, Inc. Door Coaster appears to be like good! I imply, not essentially proper now with a bunch of rubble from overhead, however that is in all probability a internet optimistic. As a lot as I liked the quirks of this reward store, its placement was not perfect.
Stage 1 made the entire space really feel cramped, which was in all probability the purpose at one time to make it really feel like an alley in New York, however foot visitors again right here possible suffered in consequence. Opening up this courtyard and having an extended method to the Monsters, Inc. manufacturing facility might be a internet optimistic.
Setting apart the entire MuppetVision closure part, Monstropolis as an entire must be a internet optimistic for Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Whereas this isn’t a ‘pure’ enlargement, that curler coaster shall be an enormous capacity-adding new construct that must be an asset to the park. Though DHS may actually use a number of lower-profile family-friendly rides (not exhibits), this could nonetheless be an enormous win. I simply want it weren’t on the expense of Muppets.
The Door Coaster constructing is larger than anticipated, which could additionally clarify why this spot was chosen over Animation Courtyard. There’s a whole lot of area again there, however not the flexibility so as to add as a lot buffer. There was already a whole lot of fan backlash concerning the gigantic Cosmic Rewind gravity constructing being constructed within the EPCOT car parking zone.
Think about that as a substitute plopped into the center of the park, which might’ve been the case at Disney’s Hollywood Studios if Monstropolis had been positioned in Animation Courtyard. That would’ve tousled sightlines from Sundown Boulevard all the way in which to Toy Story Land. Talking of which, let’s check out progress on the constructing for the Door Coaster…
The pavement has been torn up indicating the footprint of the Monsters, Inc. Door Coaster gravity constructing, which is in keeping with earlier GIS mapping from the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District.
There’s additionally what seems to be a brand new highway going behind the gravity constructing, which ought to lastly present readability about what’s going to occur to Cypress Drive, the backstage highway that circles the park and at the moment cuts behind the previous Muppets Courtyard and the longer term Door Coaster. The highway being re-routed was at all times probably the most believable and cost-effective end result, however this could come near confirming that’s what’ll occur.
This additionally confirms that the gravity constructing for the Monsters, Inc. Door Coaster is really monstrous! For comparability, that’s Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance instantly above and to the left. The gravity constructing is a bit larger than that–or every other present constructing at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. It’s among the many largest present buildings at Walt Disney World, nearly on par with the large blue field for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at EPCOT.
It’s additionally prone to be a tall and environment friendly present constructing, because it’s a suspended coaster with a lifting experience mechanism on the load and unload space of the attraction. Because of this, a minimum of in concept, there could possibly be a whole lot of queue and pre-show that’s actually underneath the curler coaster monitor. This isn’t the case with Cosmic Rewind, which is a mix retrofit within the outdated Universe of Vitality constructing and a indifferent gravity constructing.
Between the large measurement of the constructing and this potential effectivity, we’re now optimistic this shall be a meatier attraction than first suspected. Hopefully this coaster will clock in at over 2 minutes longer–one of many (many) huge benefits Cosmic Rewind has over TRON Lightcycle Run is a way more satisfying length. It’d be good if that’s additionally true of the Monsters, Inc. Door Coaster. Whereas I don’t love a number of the selections which have led to Monstropolis, my perspective is: what’s carried out is completed. I’m trying ahead to the brand new land and its marquee attraction, and actually hope Imagineering knocks it out of the park. (Figuratively, because the coaster is already positioned outdoors the park!)
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YOUR THOUGHTS
Theories as to why work began in Muppets Courtyard this summer season versus mid-2026 or early 2027? Suppose it’s a easy cost-savings measure, a extra elaborate undertaking, or phased opening? What do you consider the large Monsters, Inc Door Coaster constructing? Hopeful that this plus its environment friendly load mechanism means this coaster is longer than 90 seconds? Are you trying ahead to Monstropolis? Do you agree or disagree with our assessments? Any questions we might help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even whenever you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!
