Walt Disney World recently invited media to a hard hat tour of a portion of the Monstropolis construction site in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The tour was brief, but it offered a close look at the current state of work. Disney also shared additional details, including the backstory of Monstropolis, which was officially announced this morning. Here’s what we saw, what we think we saw, and what we still have questions about.
Behind the Construction Walls: A Sneak Peek at Monstropolis
With some new details on the backstory of Monstropolis, I wanted to focus this article on what we saw while behind the construction walls. Our tour started in a backstage area between the Star Tours attraction building and the former PizzeRizzo building complex. After suiting up with boots, gloves, a high-vis vest, and a hard hat, we entered the former PizzeRizzo dining area. The backstage door led us right into the former ordering area (pictured below). Disney did not allow photos on the hard hat tour, so I’ll do my best to describe what I saw during the 20-30 minute experience.
FORMER PIZZERIZZO TO REMAIN A QUICK SERVICE VENUE
Disney did not confirm or discuss theming for the former PizzeRizzo venue. Imagineers described it as a quick-service restaurant, though that detail was not really in doubt. Most of our conversation with Imagineers and park leadership took place in the former ordering area. Construction boards formed a makeshift wall displaying concept art and elevation plans. Other artwork included screenshots from the Monsters, Inc. movies. We also spotted previously seen concept art, some of which currently hangs on guest-facing construction walls along Grand Avenue.
Looking around the former PizzeRizzo building, the walls and floors were stripped of all theming. Contractors were hard at work during our tour of the active site. New drywall had been installed, and crews worked on either new theming or repairs. Everything on the walls was either bare drywall or putty. The first-floor flooring was concrete.
From the former ordering area, we headed upstairs for a view of the Monstropolis construction site. The main staircase (pictured below from the PizzeRizzo days) was still in place and will likely remain. On the way up, we navigated past a tower of scaffolding blocking half the staircase.
The flooring upstairs appeared to still be in place but was covered. Faux wood, looking a lot like the old PizzeRizzo floors, was visible under a protective layer. The space was cleared of all tables and theming. The low walls that once held the booths were still standing but stripped bare. Based on the layout, the venue will feel very familiar to guests who knew PizzeRizzo. Even the disco room was still there, with the theming removed. More on this venue in a bit.
LOOKING INTO THE CONSTRUCTION SITE
From the second-floor balcony, we looked out over the Monstropolis construction site. The view was not dramatically different from the aerial coverage Bioreconstruct has provided. It was much lower to the ground, of course. The still-bare theater wall was clearly visible. Concrete forms for the base of Harryhausen’s restaurant were in place. In the distance, we could see early work on the massive and the Monsters, Inc. roller coaster. We did not walk further into the site, but the coaster looks massive.
Disney executives focused on the facades and theming guests can expect when Monstropolis opens. The chat was mostly focused on the vast side wall of the former MuppetVision 3D theater (pictured below). Facades of city buildings will take shape in that area. Execs talked about a train station in the upper half or upper third of the blank wall. Other buildings fill the middle and lower layers, including Mike and Sulley’s apartment. These facades will sit on the eastern side of the former MuppetVision 3D building. Executives described these buildings as just a short walk from the Monsters, Inc. building: an easy commute for Mike and Sulley.
REAL CITY FEEL
One tidbit that I found interesting is that execs described the look and feel of Monstropolis as that of a real city, with monstrous details, of course. They said we aren’t visiting some animated version of the land, but rather the actual Monstropolis location. I kind of envision the feeling of stepping through a screen where the soft, animated details fade away, and the textures come to life for a real city feel. One example executives gave was of a storefront where doors and canisters were made – probably a bustling business in Monstropolis!
We’ve included an aerial photo from friend of the site Bioreconstruct below, showing the theater wall that will soon receive new facade theming.
A RELAXING PARK
The demolition of the former Stage 1 Company Store left a noticeable open space from this vantage point. Executives were excited about the park-like setting Imagineers plan to create in that area. After seeing what Imagineers did with the recently opened Walt Disney Studios Lot, I’m very hopeful for what they can bring to this space.
After five minutes or so looking out over the construction site, our brief tour came to a close.
QUESTIONS REMAIN ABOUT MONSTROPOLIS
Unlike the hard hat tour that we took at The Magic of Disney Animation, Monstropolis is still in the thick of construction. Some areas, like the roller coaster, are just rising, while other areas are starting to see some facelifts. This hard hat tour was more of a quick taste of things to come than a detailed walkthrough of the space. As such, we still have a number of unanswered questions about the new land. Before we close out, we’ll list some of the remaining big-picture questions we are yet to receive answers to, and some speculation based on what we saw while on the site.
The Glob Theater Show
Perhaps the biggest question that remains is what the theater show experience will look like at The Glob. Rumors once suggested Disney had abandoned the show element entirely, replacing the former MuppetVision 3D space with a simple meet and greet. Disney says that plans haven’t changed, and that there will be a theater show here. Disney hasn’t confirmed any details for the new show yet, but they did mention that it would be packed with technology.
We’ll have to wait and see what Imagineers have in store, but there are some big shoes to fill in MuppetVision 3D, ahem, The Glob.
Monsters University-themed Quick Service?
One of the new pieces of artwork that we saw during the tour was an elevation plan for the left side of the Monstropolis park building complex. The elevation plans appeared to start at the entrance to the former PizzeRizzo restaurant. The art had just enough detail for us to see that the facades will be vibrant and Monsters-themed, but you can’t really pinch-to-zoom on printed elevation plans. That’s why you should take what I’m going to say with a large pinch of salt. While unconfirmed, I was pretty sure that I spotted what appeared to be the Monsters University logo. If that’s true, it could be our first hint at theming for the quick-service venue.
Audio-Animatronics
Not included in our chat with executives was any talk about Audio-Animatronics figures. That’s not to say that the land won’t have any (I’d bet it will), but that wasn’t part of the scope of our chat. With technology rapidly advancing, and a very underrated Audio-Animatronics figure debuting at Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets, I think it’s possible that Disney has something up their sleeves here, perhaps at The Glob theater show.
Character Meet and Greets
Concept art shows both Mike Wazowski and Sulley walking around the land, but that’s typically not the practical reality at Walt Disney World. With rumors pointing to the former MuppetVision 3D theater becoming solely a dedicated meet and greet space at one point, is it possible that a part of the building will have a meet and greet venue, with the rest of it reserved for the confirmed theater show?
ALL EYES ON D23 EXPO 2026
With the D23 Expo on the horizon at the end of Summer, we imagine that plenty more details will be shared about Monstropolis and other Walt Disney World projects. We hope to learn more about the theater show and plans for the former PizzeRizzo venue, along with some more details about the land itself. Imagineers positioned the land as being interactive and engaging, so we’re excited to see how they’ll bring it to life.
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!