DHS Monster Inc Land Coming to Disney's Hollywood Studios

[Animaniac93-98]

This an issue with the IP mandate that I think gets overlooked -- it's very unlikely management would be on board with a ride based on something like the Rescuers, even though it's a Disney IP (and one that was a pretty big hit at the time).

It almost certainly needs to be a recent IP (or one that is still moving a lot of merch and/or Disney+ streams), and one that they think will drive merchandise sales. Imagineers don't really have the freedom to design using ANY Disney IP.

It’s better described as a franchise mandate.

The exception would be rides like Ratatouille and TRON which were built elsewhere first and then copied for the USA.

(TRON very much being a dead franchise for years by the time it was greenlit for MK)

 

[celluloid]

The exception would be rides like Ratatouille and TRON which were built elsewhere first and then copied for the USA.

(TRON very much being a dead franchise for years by the time it was greenlit for MK)

Tron had a movie that was not entirely a flop at the end of 2010 to 2011, just meh and then a cartoon push and then plans to continue because of Bob Iger's love for it. Delayed response to Hagrid's and Velocicoaster made it the best they had for MK.
Synergy hits before too. It's a synergy mandate. The same way Tiana was having a series made for D+ as Splash's sure was the basis for.

Tron Ares was in the pipeline by the time MKs was greenlit.

 

[SpectreJordan]

It's also possible once someone on the key voice cast retires or passes, the show ends

Disney is infatuated with the series ever since they got control. I doubt they let this happen. They'll keep those characters alive as long as they make money.

I wonder if this is why they haven't started to actively replace members of the key voice cast, but I'm surprised the show is still running either way.

Nah, that's just animation tradition sadly. Mel Blanc voiced the Looney Tunes until the very end. There were some clip show movies in the 80s that cut between new segments & prime Mel Blanc, the difference was super jarring.

 

[celluloid]

Nah, that's just animation tradition sadly. Mel Blanc voiced the Looney Tunes until the very end. There were some clip show movies in the 80s that cut between new segments & prime Mel Blanc, the difference was super jajarring.

This is why although not completely the same, Steve was smoother transition under Henson as his selection than an abrupt change like Matt V.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

Tron had a movie that was not entirely a flop at the end of 2010 to 2011, just meh and then a cartoon push and then plans to continue because of Bob Iger's love for it. Delayed response to Hagrid's and Velocicoaster made it the best they had for MK.
Synergy hits before too. It's a synergy mandate. The same way Tiana was having a series made for D+ as Splash's sure was the basis for.

Tron Ares was in the pipeline by the time MKs was greenlit.

TRON 3 had been in development hell for a long time before shooting began with multiple false starts. The animated series was cancelled after one season in 2011 and ended on a cliffhanger. The only reason the coaster got built in Shanghai was that the decision to build it was made before TRON: Legacy's box office results came in.

It was very much a disappointment for Disney and deemed unnecessary for further development after they acquired Star Wars and the MCU really took off. Let's not revise history and say Bob Iger always loved it.

 

[celluloid]

TRON 3 had been in development hell for a long time before shooting began with multiple false starts. The animated series was cancelled after one season in 2011 and ended on a cliffhanger. The only reason the coaster got built in Shanghai was that the decision to build it was made before TRON: Legacy's box office results came in.

It was very much a disappointment for Disney and deemed unnecessary for further development after they acquired Star Wars and the MCU really took off. Let's not revise history and say Bob Iger always loved it.

It's not revising history. At opening day one of the few slindbytes from Bob is "I love Tron"
It has been a pet franchise chose for him since 2010 and why he has tried to keep it going. Which is what he wants. Everything else you post is spot on.
The MK one was a chance to have an E ticket already designed and at the time Tron e was likely got g forward so it.will be ready when it does.

 

[GoofGoof]

At the risk of scouring 366 pages, can someone give me a synopsis of what we are getting and when.

Hopefully this isn't 'classic Josh'.

Monsters Land is replacing Muppets Courtyard area.
Additions:

• Monsters Door Coaster - suspended coaster through door factory
• Monsters theater show (using the theater currently occupied by Muppet Vision 3D)
• Harry Hausen’s Restaurant (replacing Mama Melrose)
• Probably another quick service restaurant replacing PizzaRizzo, no word on what type of food
• Shopping
• Muppets overlay of RocknRoller Coaster

Removals:

• Muppetvision 3D
• Mama Melrose
• PizzaRizzo
• Muppets store
• Other store only open seasonally
• Aerosmith role at RnRC

Here is the Monsters Land concept art.

The building in the front right is the current MV3D building which will stay with a new Monsters Show. The building on the left with the green roof is current PizzaRizzo. Behind that is assumed to be shops and then the building with the triangle is HarryHaussens replacing MamaMelrose. The middle of the picture which is an open courtyard is where the current Muppet store is. That building will be demolished. The building in the back is the Door Coaster which extends beyond the back of the current Muppet Courtyard area.
This is a map of the current Muppets Courtyard with red circle roughly around where Door Coaster gets added:

As far as timing, they are supposed to “break ground“ in 2025. No official timing of when the project will be done but assuming around 3 years to build should be open by end of 2028 at latest and possibly sooner.

 

[Nickm2022]

Monsters Land is replacing Muppets Courtyard area.
Additions:

• Monsters Door Coaster - suspended coaster through door factory
• Monsters theater show (using the theater currently occupied by Muppet Vision 3D)
• Harry Hausen’s Restaurant (replacing Mama Melrose)
• Probably another quick service restaurant replacing PizzaRizzo, no word on what type of food
• Shopping
• Muppets overlay of RocknRoller Coaster

Removals:

• Muppetvision 3D
• Mama Melrose
• PizzaRizzo
• Muppets store
• Other store only open seasonally
• Aerosmith role at RnRC

Here is the Monsters Land concept art.
View attachment 832899
The building in the front right is the current MV3D building which will stay with a new Monsters Show. The building on the left with the green roof is current PizzaRizzo. Behind that is assumed to be shops and then the building with the triangle is HarryHaussens replacing MamaMelrose. The middle of the picture which is an open courtyard is where the current Muppet store is. That building will be demolished. The building in the back is the Door Coaster which extends beyond the back of the current Muppet Courtyard area.
This is a map of the current Muppets Courtyard with red circle roughly around where Door Coaster gets added:

View attachment 832900

As far as timing, they are supposed to “break ground“ in 2025. No official timing of when the project will be done but assuming around 3 years to build should be open by end of 2028 at latest and possibly sooner.

Maybe I'm being an optimist here but I really just don't think it may take that long as it's keeping a lot of what's there and just demoing one building and adding a big white show building. As for what we're getting the honestly answer is people eating coaster on the left side of the park which will help as any new expansion will likely be right side of the park. We can debate on the why, but that's the bet.

 

[mattpeto]

Maybe I'm being an optimist here but I really just don't think it may take that long as it's keeping a lot of what's there and just demoing one building and adding a big white show building. As for what we're getting the honestly answer is people eating coaster on the left side of the park which will help as any new expansion will likely be right side of the park. We can debate on the why, but that's the bet.

I think 2028 makes sense since Tropical Americas will open in 2027.

 

[President Loki]

Monsters Land is replacing Muppets Courtyard area.
Additions:

• Monsters Door Coaster - suspended coaster through door factory
• Monsters theater show (using the theater currently occupied by Muppet Vision 3D)
• Harry Hausen’s Restaurant (replacing Mama Melrose)
• Probably another quick service restaurant replacing PizzaRizzo, no word on what type of food
• Shopping
• Muppets overlay of RocknRoller Coaster

Removals:

• Muppetvision 3D
• Mama Melrose
• PizzaRizzo
• Muppets store
• Other store only open seasonally
• Aerosmith role at RnRC

Here is the Monsters Land concept art.
View attachment 832899
The building in the front right is the current MV3D building which will stay with a new Monsters Show. The building on the left with the green roof is current PizzaRizzo. Behind that is assumed to be shops and then the building with the triangle is HarryHaussens replacing MamaMelrose. The middle of the picture which is an open courtyard is where the current Muppet store is. That building will be demolished. The building in the back is the Door Coaster which extends beyond the back of the current Muppet Courtyard area.
This is a map of the current Muppets Courtyard with red circle roughly around where Door Coaster gets added:

View attachment 832900

As far as timing, they are supposed to “break ground“ in 2025. No official timing of when the project will be done but assuming around 3 years to build should be open by end of 2028 at latest and possibly sooner.

So if they plan on demolishing it around maybe the middle of the year, or after summer. I have about... 212 days to go experience Muppet Vision

 

[President Loki]

I think 2028 makes sense since Tropical Americas will open in 2027.

I was thinking probably closer to 2029, but with Disney re-using a lot of the Muppet buildings, it is possible for 2028. The coaster is probably the deciding factor.

 

[mattpeto]

So if they plan on demolishing it around maybe the middle of the year, or after summer. I have about... 212 days to go experience Muppet Vision

I tend to think MV3D is safe until 2026.

 

[Gusey]

I can see them starting on the coaster in 2025 as that doesn't require any in-park demo and they'll want to keep the Muppet Vision capacity as long as possible, especially if RNRC closes in 2025. Then, the can open Muppets RNRC and close Muppetvision in the same timeframe

 

[GoofGoof]

Maybe I'm being an optimist here but I really just don't think it may take that long as it's keeping a lot of what's there and just demoing one building and adding a big white show building. As for what we're getting the honestly answer is people eating coaster on the left side of the park which will help as any new expansion will likely be right side of the park. We can debate on the why, but that's the bet.

It absolutely can be done sooner but the bigger question is will Disney want it to be. Tropical Americas is announced as 2027 so I don’t think they will want it to overlap too much. If TA opens in March 2027 it’s possible Monsters opens 6 months later or something but my guess is they will be closer to a year apart. I think the plan for MK could also impact timing. My assumption is TA 2027, Monsters 2028, Cars 2029 and Villians 2030. If Cars moved up into 2028 then it’s possible they move Monsters up into 2027 since they won’t want those to overlap too much but the MK projects are so much more extensive I would assume if the time changes it will be to slip back not move forward. This is all my opinion. Nothing but TA in 2027 was formally announced with the rest just “breaking ground“ in 2025.

So if they plan on demolishing it around maybe the middle of the year, or after summer. I have about... 212 days to go experience Muppet Vision

Actually it may be longer. In theory the Door Coaster will take the longest to build and that can be built without anything closing down. The re-theme of MV3D to a Monsters show shouldn’t take more than a year so if the whole land opens in 2028 then in theory MV3D could stay until some time in 2027. The only issue would be rerouting the exit since it goes out through the walkway between the MV3D building and the Muppets store which is going to be demolished. One other potential issue is the timing of the Rockin Muppets Coaster if they intend to reuse anything from MV3D over there. It’s possible they won’t reuse anything.

 

[GoofGoof]

So if they plan on demolishing it around maybe the middle of the year, or after summer. I have about... 212 days to go experience Muppet Vision

Unrelated to Monsters Land but I am still holding out hope that they move Mv3D to the Magic Eye theater next to Imagination in EPCOT. Just my wish, no evidence it’s actually being considered.

 

[mattpeto]

I can see them starting on the coaster in 2025 as that doesn't require any in-park demo and they'll want to keep the Muppet Vision capacity as long as possible, especially if RNRC closes in 2025. Then, the can open Muppets RNRC and close Muppetvision in the same timeframe

I do wonder if adding the Mermaid and Villains show (+capacity) will fast forward a step of the timeline (losing capacity for MV3D or RnR).

I could see 2 or 3 timelines here. We don't know if MV3D or RnR is closing first.

I lean towards RnR closing in early in 2026 and reopening for Spring Break 2027. MV3D is spared until as late as possible.

 

[mattpeto]

Unrelated to Monsters Land but I am still holding out hope that they move Mv3D to the Magic Eye theater next to Imagination in EPCOT. Just my wish, no evidence it’s actually being considered.

I think MV3D surviving in it's format is such a low percentage, but I'm with you.

The best place to go is Sunset Showcase but it's going to have Villains there for a while. It's hard to think they are going to run the Villains show until MK Villains Land open and then put MV3D back in 2030 or whatever.

Maybe it ends up in DCA again.

 

[GoofGoof]

I think MV3D surviving in it's format is such a low percentage, but I'm with you.

I agree it’s a long shot…..but your telling me there’s still a chance

The best place to go is Sunset Showcase but it's going to have Villains there for a while. It's hard to think they are going to run the Villains show until MK Villains Land open and then put MV3D back in 2030 or whatever.

Maybe it ends up in DCA again.

They are redoing that theater for the Villians show now so if the Muppets eventually end up there (which would make a ton of sense) I think it may be some other Muppets show that fits the theater. I don’t see them spending money to recreate the MV3D theater.

The reason I picked EPCOT is the show could be moved there without a ton of work. To save money they could even replace some of the physical effects with screens. The true fans would revolt if Statler and Waldorf were on a screen (less outrage over the bunny) or the cannon in the finale is lost but the rest of the show could be duplicated mostly in the existing theater. They could even move some of the props into the pre-show waiting area.

 

[Nickm2022]

My theory is the following:
Monsters Inc land will open late 2026 early 2027, without the coaster which will open later in 2027 or 2028
Carsrides will actually get done rather quickly like 2026 or 2027 but will be a phased opening too
The only things that will be done and open all at once will be TA and Villains since those are mainly from scratch builds

I say that about Cars and Monsters because even though I want Disney to wait and open something once it's completely finished, I think they'll feel the pressure of Epic Universe push these projects to open whatever they have as soon as possible

 

[James Alucobond]

I don’t think they’ll do phased openings. Phased closures make more sense with both Tropical Americas and Monsters given the way the areas are designed. It’s not difficult to keep Dinosaur and MuppetVision open while bigger parts of the project get underway. Cars also doesn’t really make sense to phase since the junior attraction appears to be encircled by the main one and acts as additional scenery. It’ll obviously be phased with Villains, which will itself likely be phased. In those cases, it makes more sense.