Work on Monstropolis — the Monsters, Inc.-themed land replacing the former Grand Avenue and Muppet Courtyard sections of Disney's Hollywood Studios — is moving faster than many guests might realize. Disney has shared a fresh behind-the-scenes look at the active construction site, and Imagineers say crews expect to begin applying detailed architectural theming to the actual buildings within just a couple of weeks. That's a meaningful turning point: once those finishes go up, the land will become far more recognizable from beyond the construction walls.
One of the bigger reveals in the update is the official name of the land's central pathway: Dark Avenue. This main street will serve as the spine of Monstropolis, guiding guests from the entrance toward the area's anchor attraction, the Monsters, Inc. Laugh Factory — a suspended roller coaster inspired by the door vault from the 2001 film. Along the way, Dark Avenue will connect the Welcome to Monstropolis live show, two dining locations, and retail spots, making the street itself part of the experience rather than just a way to get from one attraction to another.
Those dining locations have names now, too. Harryhausen's — a restaurant fans will recognize from the movie — and Archie's Scare Pig Pizza will both sit along Dark Avenue. The architecture throughout the land is being designed to feel as though monsters built it for monsters, with details like eyes, horns, teeth, and other creature-inspired elements worked directly into the buildings. Disney shared a close-up example of tooth-shaped windowsills as an early preview of that approach, which goes well beyond slapping character art on existing structures.
Imagineers are currently testing building textures and finishes on mock-ups before applying the same work to the real structures on site. Once that process begins in the coming weeks, visitors to Hollywood Studios should be able to watch Monstropolis take shape in increasingly visible ways throughout the rest of 2025 and into 2026, ahead of the land's confirmed 2027 opening.
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Monstropolis is one of several major expansions underway across Walt Disney World right now, alongside projects including Piston Peak National Park, Villains Land, Pueblo Esperanza, and Disney's Lakeshore Lodge. Details on this construction update were first reported by Inside the Magic.
