Fast Facts
- What: Monstropolis construction and municipal permit update at Disney’s Hollywood Studios as of October 17, 2026
- Permits: Two filings on October 13 and October 15, 2026 for a physical playground and Harryhausen’s scenic fabrication
- Coaster: Vekoma suspended coaster track installed from October 9 to October 16, 2026 inside the Gravity Building
- Phase 1: The Glob Theater, Harryhausen’s, Archie’s Scare Pig Pizza, and The Scareporium open in 2027
- Phase 2: The Monsters, Inc. Door Vault Coaster is excluded from the 2027 lineup and targets 2028 or later
OPEN Brief: If you want the latest October 2026 municipal permits, Vekoma coaster track progress, Dark Avenue facade details, and phased opening timeline for Monstropolis at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, this OPEN guide has the verified site data in one place. Disney filed two major construction permits in mid-October 2026 for the former Muppets Courtyard footprint. Crews also installed Vekoma coaster track inside the Gravity Building while painting exterior trim along Dark Avenue. Phase 1 dining, retail, and live stage entertainment open in 2027.
What Do the October 2026 Permits Reveal About Monstropolis at Disney’s Hollywood Studios?
Two October 2026 municipal permits confirm scenic installation at Harryhausen’s and a physical playground at the former Stage 1 Company Store.
Disney filed the two permits on October 13, 2026 and October 15, 2026 for addresses along Cypress Drive. Both filings move the project from structural work into thematic fabrication and guest logistics at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. OPEN tracks every municipal filing across Central Florida on our Permits & Construction Tracker.
What Is Planned for Harryhausen’s at 359 Cypress Drive in Monstropolis?
A permit filed on October 15, 2026 assigns Artistic Entertainment Services to build interior and exterior scenic elements at Harryhausen’s.
The filing covers 359 Cypress Drive, which formerly housed Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano. Disney contracted Artistic Entertainment Services (AES) for general construction with an expiration date in October 2027. AES is the same scenic fabrication firm working on Project Fedora, the Indiana Jones Adventure ride conversion at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
The permit signals the shift from structural steel work, such as the giant chopstick steel X-beam installed in July 2026, to thematic finishes. Crews will build the interior and exterior sets, including the housing for the sushi-slinging octopus Audio-Animatronic.
Where Is the New Monstropolis Play Area Located at Disney’s Hollywood Studios?
Disney filed a permit on October 13, 2026 for a dedicated playground at 361 Cypress Drive next to The Glob Theater.
The site at 361 Cypress Drive replaces the former Stage 1 Company Store footprint. Disney named commercial playground manufacturer Landscape Structures, Inc. as the contractor. Landscape Structures, Inc. is also building the play zone inside Pueblo Esperanza at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
Hiring Landscape Structures, Inc. confirms that the colorful shade canopies shown in early concept art will cover a physical playground structure. From a park operations strategy, a dedicated play zone solves a major family bottleneck. Parents with toddlers will have a shaded waiting zone near the front of the land while older guests ride the height-restricted coaster.
What Is the Construction Status of the Monsters, Inc. Door Vault Coaster?
Crews installed Vekoma coaster track and support columns inside the Gravity Building between October 9 and October 16, 2026.
Workers transferred Vekoma coaster track pieces from the EPCOT staging yard to the massive steel show building over the past week. The Gravity Building sits on the former cast member parking lot. Black multi-legged support columns and curved gray and black track sections now stand inside the steel frame.
Construction crews are attaching exterior wall panels and roof decking to enclose the show building. Enclosing the Gravity Building protects the ride hardware from Florida weather so interior ride system installation can continue without rain delays.
What Exterior Work Is Happening Along Dark Avenue in Monstropolis?
Crews are adding brickwork, monster architectural trim, and multi-colored shingle paint to storefronts along Dark Avenue.
Scaffolding lines the main thoroughfare, which is officially named Dark Avenue. Workers are applying themed paint and monster-styled architectural details across the existing buildings. Look for three specific facade updates now visible on site:
- Dark Avenue Storefronts: Storefronts feature teeth-like cream zigzag trim over arched windows, sculpted eyes on support pillars, and monster horns on doorframes.
- Archie’s Scare Pig Pizza Roofline: Painters covered the gable shingles on the former PizzeRizzo building in teal, gold, brown, and bronze-copper patina shades beneath sawtooth trim.
- Restroom Signage: A painted Public Restrooms graphic is now visible on the lower base of an exterior wall at Archie’s Scare Pig Pizza.
Early restroom signage on the former PizzeRizzo building confirms where guests will navigate for basic amenities along the main walking path.
How Are the Monstropolis Entrance and Central Courtyard Taking Shape?
Crews installed monster-scale panels on four gateway columns, poured a new fountain base, and framed curved entry garden walls.
The land’s entrance sits just left of the Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge entrance off Grand Avenue. After Disney demolished the first set of concrete entrance columns in August 2026 and poured a second version, the four concrete gateway columns now hold light-colored, textured decorative panels. Each square pedestal frames a repeating monster-scale pattern.
Along the entry corridor leading into the courtyard, curved garden walls, greenery planters, and triangular wooden forms for monster horn-and-teeth concrete features are taking shape. In front of The Glob Theater, where the Miss Piggy fountain once stood in Muppets Courtyard, crews poured fresh concrete inside the circular and octagonal footprint of a new central fountain. Rebar with orange safety caps rings the perimeter next to a smaller wooden-braced circular concrete form closer to the entrance columns.
Grand Avenue Navigation
Construction walls around the Monstropolis gateway sit directly off Grand Avenue to the left of the Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge tunnel, creating a narrower walking path during peak afternoon crowd flow.
When Will Monstropolis Open at Disney’s Hollywood Studios?
Monstropolis will open in two phases, starting with dining, retail, and a live show in 2027, followed by the coaster later.
The land’s story takes place during H.U.M.A.N. Day (Humans Understand Monsters Are Nice Day). The event is coordinated by the Department of Human Relations after Mike and Sulley proved laughter is ten times more powerful than scream energy. Here is how the phased opening lineup breaks down by venue.
| Venue or Attraction | Former Location | Category and Details | Opening Window |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Glob Theater | Muppet*Vision 3D | Welcome to Monstropolis live show with Mike, Sulley, and a new Randy Newman song | 2027 (Phase 1) |
| Harryhausen’s | Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano (359 Cypress Drive) | Table-service dining with octopus chef Audio-Animatronic and tonkotsu ramen | 2027 (Phase 1) |
| Archie’s Scare Pig Pizza | PizzeRizzo | Quick-service dining serving purple Blort drink with Scream Apple Foam | 2027 (Phase 1) |
| Monsters University Alumni Club & The Scareporium | Muppets Courtyard footprint | Walkthrough MU Greek life hangout and anchor retail store | 2027 (Phase 1) |
| Monstropolis Play Area | Stage 1 Company Store (361 Cypress Drive) | Physical playground structure built by Landscape Structures, Inc. | TBA |
| Monsters, Inc. Door Vault Coaster | Former cast member parking lot | Disney’s first suspended coaster with a vertical door lift mechanism | Likely 2028 / TBA (Phase 2) |
What Attractions and Dining Open in Phase 1 of Monstropolis in 2027?
Phase 1 opens in 2027 with Welcome to Monstropolis at The Glob Theater, two restaurants, a walkthrough club, and a shop.
The Glob Theater replaces Muppet*Vision 3D and houses “Welcome to Monstropolis”, a live theatrical show hosted by Mike and Sulley. Composer Randy Newman wrote an original song for the production, marking his first original composition created specifically for a Disney Park.
Menu details revealed on October 6, 2026 confirm that Harryhausen’s will serve tonkotsu ramen bowls with alkaline noodles and fishcake sliced to look like eyeballs. Archie’s Scare Pig Pizza, named after Fear Tech’s six-legged mascot from Monsters University, will serve Blort, a purple frozen and carbonated beverage topped with Scream Apple Foam. Guests can also visit the Monsters University Alumni Club, a walkthrough space celebrating MU Greek life and the Scarer’s Club, alongside the land’s main shop, The Scareporium.
When Will the Monsters, Inc. Door Vault Coaster Open in Phase 2?
Disney excluded the Monsters, Inc. Door Vault Coaster from the 2027 Phase 1 lineup, pushing its likely opening to 2028 or TBA.
The Monsters, Inc. Door Vault Coaster is Disney’s first suspended coaster and uses a vertical lift mechanism to hoist riders into the air like warehouse doors. Opening the restaurants, shops, and theater first in 2027 adds dining and show capacity to Walt Disney World while Vekoma track testing continues inside the Gravity Building.
Coaster Not Opening in 2027
Disney has left the Monsters, Inc. Door Vault Coaster out of the Phase 1 lineup for 2027. Do not book a 2027 vacation expecting to ride the suspended coaster.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Monstropolis open at Disney’s Hollywood Studios?
Monstropolis at Disney’s Hollywood Studios will open its Phase 1 dining, retail, and live stage show in 2027. The Monsters, Inc. Door Vault Coaster is excluded from Phase 1 and is expected in 2028 or TBA.
What is replacing Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano and PizzeRizzo in Monstropolis?
Harryhausen’s table-service restaurant is replacing Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano at 359 Cypress Drive in Monstropolis. Archie’s Scare Pig Pizza quick-service restaurant is replacing PizzeRizzo.
Will Monstropolis at Disney’s Hollywood Studios have a playground for young kids?
Monstropolis at Disney’s Hollywood Studios will feature an interactive play area at 361 Cypress Drive, formerly Stage 1 Company Store, built by commercial playground manufacturer Landscape Structures, Inc. per an October 13, 2026 permit.
What show is replacing Muppet*Vision 3D in Monstropolis?
A live theatrical show titled “Welcome to Monstropolis” hosted by Mike and Sulley is replacing Muppet*Vision 3D inside The Glob Theater in Monstropolis, featuring an original song by Randy Newman.
Status Brief
Monstropolis at Disney’s Hollywood Studios is shifting from structural steel into scenic fabrication and ride track installation as of October 17, 2026. Permits filed on October 13 and October 15, 2026 confirm a Landscape Structures, Inc. playground at 361 Cypress Drive and Artistic Entertainment Services scenic work for Harryhausen’s at 359 Cypress Drive, while Vekoma track goes up inside the Gravity Building. Watch for additional mechanical and ride-system permits as Disney prepares Dark Avenue, The Glob Theater, and dining venues for the Phase 1 opening in 2027.
Follow the OPEN News Desk on X (Twitter) for real-time Central Florida construction updates.
