In an updated statement about the closures and construction set to take place to transform the Muppets Courtyard area into Monsters Inc. land, Walt Disney World has offered new guidance about the installation of construction walls. In this article, we’ll talk more about the timing of the closure and just how soon we’ll see construction progress walls in Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Construction Walls Arrive Soon for Monsters Inc. Land
We’ll start with the new statement from Disney, which says that the first construction walls can be expected to be installed by the end of March. Yes, March. Here’s the statement:
Construction on the land is ready to begin and progress walls begin installation in the area before the end of March
The statement offers some insight into just how quickly Disney is ready to move on this transformation. While we don’t think that the new Monsters Inc. land will be open until at least 2028 (Disney hasn’t confirmed an opening year), it’s clear that this project is ready to put some shovels in the ground.

Before we jump into speculation, let’s be clear about the announced timeframe from Disney:
- May 10th | Final day of operation for Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano
- June 7th | Final day of operation for MuppetVision 3D
- June 7th | Final day of operation for PizzeRizzo
- June 8th | Entire area behind construction walls as work begins
In terms of what could be behind construction walls starting at the end of March, that’s unclear. My gut says that Disney will want to somehow get access to the Studio 1 Store so they can begin gutting the venue ahead of a full-scale demolition.
We recently documented some changes at the exit to the MuppetVision 3D attraction, but with MuppetVision 3D staying open until early June, Disney will probably need to retain the exit path seen below.

Access to Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano and PizzeRizzo will need to remain in place into May and June, so the construction walls can’t completely block off access to those dining locations. Here’s what I think we could see happen as the phased closure of the Muppets Courtyard area begins in late March with the first construction walls. This is a guess based on observation of how Walt Disney World operates, so I’ll either be proven right in two months or proven wrong. Either way, it’s fun to speculate, so let’s begin.
Phase One Construction Walls | Late March

The goal of the March construction walls will be to connect a backstage gate (seen below) to the highly themed, never-used Studio 1 Store gift shop. This venue has been used sparingly over the past few years, and it will be completely demolished for Monsters Inc. land, based on concept art released by Disney.
By putting up limited construction walls in March, crews can work around the clock to empty the location of props that will likely be saved (and some thrown away) as they prepare the location for a full-scale demolition. I don’t think demolition will begin until the entire area is behind walls, but taking some time to empty a venue that guests don’t use while keeping operational locations open would be a good use of time.
In the image above, I’m trying to convey that the exit to MuppetVision 3D will remain, as will the entrance to Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano and PizzeRizzo. It’ll be a narrow, dead-end walkway, but this isn’t a high-traffic area anyway (which is probably why the entire thing is being rethemed).

Phase Two Construction Walls | Mid-May

With Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano closed starting May 11th, Disney has the opportunity to expand construction walls and begin gutting the theming of the restaurant. If concept art is to be believed, Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano won’t be demolished entirely but rather rethemed to Harryhausen’s from the Monsters Inc. franchise. In the Monsters Inc. movie, Harryhausen’s is a very popular Japanese-style restaurant where it is almost impossible to get a reservation – essentially the exact opposite of the Italian-style Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano.
By expanding the construction walls in to the area shaded in blue in the screenshot above, Disney can expand work as it gives guests an extra month to enjoy MuppetVision 3D and PizzeRizzo.
Phase Three Construction Walls | June 8th

With the final day of operation for MuppetVision 3D and PizzeRizzo scheduled for June 7th, it is believed that the entire area will be closed off to guests starting June 8th with the installation of construction walls at the entrance to Muppets Courtyard (officially, Grand Park). This will give Disney full access to the land, which will allow for the removal of props and other important items from MuppetVision 3D and the full-scale demolition of the Studio 1 Company Store ahead of a retheme of the land, and the construction of an all-new indoor roller coaster themed to the door vault from Monsters Inc.

In terms of the why of a phased closure, the simple answer might be: the clock is ticking. It will take Disney two years or so to build the indoor roller coaster, so they have to start moving now if they want to open in 2028. I’m sure if it was up to Disney, they’d just as easily close the entire area tomorrow, but MuppetVision 3D deserves a farewell tour, and fans have five months to enjoy it.
In the meantime, work can begin on gutting under-performing or unused areas in Muppets Courtyard so that when the curtains close on MuppetVision 3D, the work can really begin.
As always, keep checking back with us here at BlogMickey.com as we continue to bring you the latest news, photos, and info from around the Disney Parks!