New aerial photos from friend of the site Bioreconstruct show concrete and brickwork spreading across Monstropolis at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Crews are building an octagonal fountain in the land’s entrance plaza, across from the Glob Theater, and the first bricks are now in place at the entrance to the Monsters Inc. land. Low concrete walls are also rising in a new courtyard in front of Archie’s Scare Pig Pizza and Harryhausen’s. Here’s the latest.
Monstropolis Entrance Plaza | October 2026 Aerial Construction Photos
IN THIS ARTICLE:
- An octagonal fountain and the first entrance bricks take shape near the Glob Theater
- Low concrete walls rise in a new courtyard where the Stage 1 Company Store once stood
- A wide aerial shows how far the Door Vault coaster extends the park’s footprint
Monstropolis is taking over the former Muppets Courtyard at Hollywood Studios, and the newest work is happening at ground level. After months of facade and theming work, crews are now pouring concrete, laying brick, and planting trees across the plaza guests will walk through when they enter the new land. Disney says Monstropolis will open in phases starting in 2027, and the walkways are starting to catch up with the buildings around them.
A wide aerial of the park shows the full scale of the project. The Door Vault coaster show building sits outside the park’s original footprint. It takes up part of the former Cast Member parking lot behind the land. Red cranes stand over the steel framing, and blue walls now cover part of the building, as we saw in aerial photos earlier this month. The coaster will open after the rest of the land, and this photo shows just how much new ground Monstropolis adds to Hollywood Studios.
Octagonal Fountain and First Bricks Take Shape at Monstropolis Entrance
Just inside the entrance, crews are building a feature fountain in the middle of the plaza. It sits across from the Glob Theater, future home of the “Welcome to Monstropolis” show. Wood forms trace an eight-sided outline around a finished concrete base. Inside it, a smaller octagonal ring holds a curved rebar cage, braced on every side. A pipe rises from the middle, which appears to be plumbing for the fountain’s centerpiece. This fountain should be one of the first things guests see when they step into the land.
Closer to Grand Avenue, the first bricks are now in place. A fan of red and gray bricks spreads out beside the entrance columns, and what appear to be more pavers sit stacked nearby. Next to the bricks, a dark circular form outlines a decorative pavement design. Bricks are a finish material guests will walk on every day, so this is a big step toward opening. It signals that heavy machinery work in this area is likely complete.
These entrance columns are the same columns Disney reinstalled with electrical wiring after removing the first set over the summer. The walkway around them follows the curve toward Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge that we first spotted in June. Along the edge of the site closest to Grand Avenue, new trees and shrubs are in the ground. A young tree also sits inside what appears to be a curved planter near the columns.
Back at the Glob Theater, crews have laid rebar in two large panels in front of the building’s three arched entrances, ahead of a concrete pour. Outside the construction walls, the blue umbrella of the Monsters Inc. merchandise cart is visible from above too. Fans can already shop for Mike and Sulley gear steps from the land.
Low Walls Rise in New Courtyard Near Archie’s and Harryhausen’s
Past the Glob Theater, a new courtyard is taking shape where the Stage 1 Company Store once stood. Disney demolished that building early in the project. The open space now sits in front of Harryhausen’s and Archie’s Scare Pig Pizza, which recently received its themed paint. During our hard hat tour in June, executives said they were excited about the park-like setting Imagineers planned for this area.
Finished concrete low walls now form two connected L-shapes in the courtyard. Wood formwork wraps a third section on the Harryhausen’s side, which crews have yet to pour. Concept art shows flower beds in this space, but these walls appear to stand taller than a typical bed. Their final purpose is still unclear. A square pit lined with black material sits beside the walls as well.
Taken together, the fountain, bricks, and courtyard walls show the land’s walkways moving from bare dirt toward finished surfaces. With paint on Archie’s and scaffolding gone from the Glob’s facade, a 2027 opening looks well within reach. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if phase one of Monstropolis is Disney World’s big Summer launch next year.
Story So Far
- June 2026: Aerial photos showed the Monstropolis entrance curving toward Galaxy’s Edge, a departure from concept art.
- June 2026: Executives described a park-like setting for the former Stage 1 Company Store area during a hard hat tour of the site.
- August 2026: Disney confirmed that Monstropolis will open in phases starting in 2027, ahead of the coaster.
- October 2026: Archie’s Scare Pig Pizza received most of its themed paint.
- October 2026: Aerial photos showed more track and blue walls at the Door Vault coaster 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!