Curved steel ribs for the load/unload station of the Monsters Inc. Door Vault roller coaster are now visible from the Disney’s Hollywood Studios guest parking lot. The distinctive “M” shape traces back to the concept model first shown at the 2024 D23 Expo. Multiple cranes remain active on site as steelwork continues across the show building. Here’s a closer look!
Curved Steel Construction for Monsters Inc. Door Vault Coaster’s Load Station
IN THIS ARTICLE:
- Curved “M”-shaped steel installed for the coaster’s load and unload station
- Tracing the shape back to the 2024 D23 Expo model
- Latest look at the construction site from the Hollywood Studios parking lot
The Monsters Inc. Door Vault roller coaster show building continues to grow at Hollywood Studios. Walking south through the Hollywood Studios guest parking lot gives us a good view of the construction site with each row of cars passed. Deep within the maze of steel, multiple large, curved pieces are now installed. Together they form the “M”-shaped ribs of the coaster’s load and unload station. From this distance, it’s tough to get a clear view of the work, but multiple pairs of ribs appear to be installed.
The M shape itself isn’t necessarily a new detail, although the construction is. It was visible in the concept model shown at the 2024 D23 Expo. Pairs of arched supports define the dual-platform load and unload area. Seeing that same silhouette rise in steel is a clear sign of how closely the built structure is tracking the original design. That said, there’s a lot more work to be done, including the second half of the ride structure and building.
A Load Station Built Around a Vertical Lift
The load station carries some of the most novel engineering in the entire attraction. Disney first offered a detailed look at the space during a SXSW panel in 2025. Imagineer Michael Hundgen and Pixar Chief Creative Officer Pete Docter revealed that the Door Vault coaster will use the first-ever vertical lift system at a Disney park. Guests will board on the ground floor before being hoisted into the air to dispatch into the ride. The moment mimics the door-hoist scene from the movie. In the screenshot below, you can see an arched ceiling, representing one half of the cavernous, “M”-shaped room.
That vertical lift function helps explain the load station’s distinctive shape. The arched ribs need to support machinery that lifts riders well above the boarding platform before the ride begins. That’s a very different structural demand than a standard load station. It’s sure to be a real WOW moment – and it’s just the start of the ride.
Plenty of Work Left
A total of three large cranes remain active over the show building. The steel framework has grown dense, but there is plenty more work to be done. Disney is reportedly targeting a 2028 opening timeframe for Monstropolis. We hope to learn more at the upcoming D23 Expo.
Guests will experience the first suspended roller coaster at a Disney park on the Door Vault coaster, themed to the door vault chase sequence from the Monsters, Inc. film. It’s part of the broader Monstropolis land replacing the former Muppets Courtyard at Hollywood Studios.
Story So Far
- August 2024: Walt Disney Imagineering revealed a detailed concept model of the Door Vault coaster at the D23 Expo, showing the M-shaped load station design for the first time.
- March 2025: Disney offered a sneak peek at the load station’s vertical lift system during a SXSW panel with Pixar and Walt Disney Imagineering.
- April 2026: The first roller coaster support columns were installed at the construction site, marking the start of above-ground steel work.
- June 2026: Track installation began on the coaster, with the first section connected to the support structure inside the show building.
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!