Monstropolis to Open in Phases Starting 2027, Here’s What’s Opening First

Monstropolis will begin welcoming guests with a phased opening, starting in 2027. The Glob Theater, two dining locations, and a merchandise shop will open ahead of the land’s signature roller coaster. Disney shared the news during the “Horizons: A Carousel of Progress” presentation at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event. Imagineers Michael Hundgen and Chris Beatty detailed what guests can expect at each stop.

Phased Opening for Monstropolis: What’s Opening First

The Monsters Inc. Door Vault coaster was first announced at the 2024 D23 Expo, and construction will continue beyond the 2027 openings below. It’s notable that the coaster isn’t delayed; the other stuff is ahead of schedule. It was expected that everything would open in 2028. Here’s a closer look at everything confirmed for Monstropolis so far.

Glob Theater Debuts “Welcome to Monstropolis”

The Glob Theater, housed inside the former MuppetVision 3D building, will present a new show called “Welcome to Monstropolis.” Mike Wazowski and Sulley write, produce, and direct the show together. Beatty said the pair bring different approaches to the job. “Sulley has been working on a small, homespun show, but Mike, ever the showman, has a few surprises up his sleeve that he thinks will bring down the house,” Beatty said. “Hopefully not literally.”

Disney is framing the show’s creation as an in-world labor of love between the two hosts. The worldbuilding backstory is being released through the Monstropolis Horn, a fictional newspaper Disney is using to build out the land’s narrative ahead of its opening. In an unsolicited statement to the paper, Wazowski promised to add “pizzazz” that will turn the presentation into a show “humans will remember forever.” He stayed tight-lipped about specific surprises, joking that he isn’t trying to steal the spotlight because he’s “spotlight shaped.”

The show takes its title from a new Randy Newman song, the first that Newman has done specifically for a theme park. It introduces human guests to the city of Monstropolis and highlights similarities between monsters and humans. Beatty said the show features plenty of familiar faces beyond the two hosts, though Disney has not detailed the full cast. Imagineering has spent months working on the Glob’s transformation. That includes a March 2026 permit for set installation and an electrical permit filed in July.

Next door, the Monsters University Alumni Club welcomes human visitors dining at Archie’s. Beatty described the space as a showcase for the school’s student clubs, fraternities, and sororities. “Inside the Alumni Club is the elite Scarer’s Club, honoring the school’s legendary scarers from years past,” Beatty said. Disney has named specific fraternities and sororities represented in the space through the Monstropolis Horn. They include Roar Omega Roar, Python Nu Kappa, and Oozma Kappa.

Harryhausen’s Brings an Animatronic Sushi Chef to Table Service

Harryhausen’s, the table-service restaurant from the original “Monsters, Inc.” film, will debut a new menu alongside a new Audio-Animatronics figure. That figure is a sushi chef, and it will be seen preparing monster-worthy dishes. Hundgen described the new offerings as “a menu unlike anything else we offer at Walt Disney World” and said “it will be a great place to bring your Schmoopsie-poo for a romantic meal.” He confirmed the menu extends beyond sushi.

Disney has previewed specific menu items through the Monstropolis Horn, including the Caterpillar Roll and the Terrible Teriyucki. The paper also teases a Not-So-Slimi Sashimi item, though it notes that dish may not stay on the menu for human diners. According to the paper, the Department of Human Relations has appointed special Culinary Ambassadors tasked with adapting monster flavors for human visitors.

Disney confirmed Harryhausen’s by name in official H.U.M.A.N. Day backstory materials released in June. By early June, construction crews had already installed steel framing for the restaurant’s facade. The restaurant occupies the former Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano building.

This weekend’s D23 Expo announcement moves up the timeline for Monstropolis considerably. As recently as May, we projected the land could open by Summer 2028 based on the construction pace visible at the site. Confirming that four locations will open in 2027 splits the land’s debut into stages, rather than a single opening day.

The announcement leaves the coaster’s specific timeline unaddressed, although that likely remains targeted for 2028.

Monstropolis is under construction on the site of the former Muppets Courtyard at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The Monsters Inc. Door Vault coaster is set to become Disney’s first suspended roller coaster once complete.

Disney has not confirmed specific 2027 opening dates for any of the four locations. We’ll continue tracking permits, construction progress, and any additional details Disney shares as Monstropolis moves toward its phased debut.

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!