Disney's Hollywood Studios: Will Monsters, Inc. Land Replace Muppets Courtyard or Animation Courtyard?

Aug 13, 2024 in "Monsters Inc. Land"

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Monsters Inc. Land Concept Art

Posted: Tuesday August 13, 2024 9:00am ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

When Disney Parks Chairman Josh D'Amaro announced that Disney's Hollywood Studios would be home to the very first Monsters, Inc. land, one crucial detail was left unanswered: where exactly will it be built?

Disney Parks Chairman Announces Monsters, Inc. Land

While Walt Disney World is known for its vast expanses of available land, Disney's Hollywood Studios faces a unique challenge due to its limited size, constrained by surrounding roadways. As a result, the new Monsters, Inc. land will almost certainly need to replace an existing attraction, with two likely candidates emerging.

Disney even presented two different pieces of concept art that show the Monsters, Inc. Land in what appears to be the two courtyards in question - Animation Courtyard and Muppets Courtyard.

MuppetVision 3D and Grand Avenue

Monsters Inc. Land Concept Art

MuppetVision 3D and its surrounding area has emerged as the most likely location for Disney to build its new Monsters, Inc. land and the long-awaited indoor suspended door coaster.

In this scenario, the new land would occupy everything in the former Muppets Courtyard, including the MuppetVision 3D show, Mama Melrose's, Studio 1 Shop, Days of Christmas, and PizzeRizzo.

Building in Muppets Courtyard would be a significant loss for the park, given that MuppetVision 3D is home to the Muppets at Walt Disney World and one of the only attractions in Disney's Hollywood Studios that does not rely on Lighting Lane, a Virtual Queue, a height requirement, or a lengthy standby wait. It is arguably the best 3D movie experience that Disney has ever created for a theme park. It also occupies a place in Disney history as one of the last projects that Muppet creator Jim Henson was involved in before his passing in 1990.

MuppetVision 3D

Animation Courtyard

Monsters Inc. Land Concept Art

The Animation Courtyard has been a neglected space since the opening of Star Wars Galaxy's Edge, when all interest in Star Wars Launch Bay fell by the wayside, leading many to believe that this area is ripe for redevelopment and a likely candidate for the new Monsters, Inc land.

The area appears to have enough space for the land but faces some challenges in relocating the office space utilization behind Launch Bay in the former Animation building and integrating the adjacent Little Mermaid theater, which will soon host a new version of the show.

Animation Courtyard also appears to be earmarked for another upcoming and so far unannounced project.

While Animation Courtyard seemed to be the early front-runner, our latest information suggests that Disney has selected Muppet's Courtyard as the site for the new Monsters Inc. Land. Unless there are any last-minute changes, an official announcement from Disney is expected in the coming months.

Monsters Inc. Land Concept Art

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celluloid2 days ago

It does make sense. I agree. I hope for good surprises. With the layout presuming elevator lift and no stopping show scenes. We can figure a ride time of a minute and 30 seconds to 2 minutes.

Mr. Sullivan2 days ago

Right, I meant more the conversations about length and effects and theming etc. We have a layout and a ride vehicle which is more to go off than a lot of other projects but to me, not quite enough for such specific discussion if that makes sense.

celluloid2 days ago

Mirrors for depth.

celluloid2 days ago

How effects play for sure we don't know exactly. However we know.tjemlayoit and that it will feature an elevator lift. With this one we actually know more than others what it will be in that regard.

Mr. Sullivan2 days ago

That’s very fair, but some of this conversation is starting to veer into reactions to an attraction that doesn’t actually exist yet. It’s fair to temper expectation, but a little much to simply theorize and then get angry at theories. We don’t know how exactly this is going to look and be so at the moment I can’t help but see any discussion of ride elements or ride time as simply assumptions that aren’t worth being mad at. We have nothing defintive, even location. By all means speak on what is desired and not desired from it all, but this is giving the same energy as that HoP thread: getting mad at ideas that we ourselves have come up with.

ᗩLᘿᑕ ✨ ᗩζᗩᗰ2 days ago

Screenz? I agree it's a lofty notion. It's likely not going to be anything more than a large warehouse bldg (themed to a warehouse) void of visuals with the exception of moving doors. Hope not.

lazyboy97o2 days ago

The model very clearly shows most of the ride being in one space. Having boxed out sets within the main show box would ruin the illusion and the whole concept of being transported.

ᗩLᘿᑕ ✨ ᗩζᗩᗰ2 days ago

🤞 Honestly, I can't imagine the attraction being very compelling without popping through different doors and experiencing the unique surroundings within. Hopefully this aligns with Disney's vision for the project. Could even incorporate practical effects like fog and cold bursts for a "Welcome to the Himilayas!" scene.

celluloid2 days ago

Horizons was sort of but also 20k at Disney Sea. also I think Uni perfected the benefits snd rs ge with Kongfrontation, and the still operating ET Adventure and Kuka arm ride vehicles that can give the same or enhanced experience. Hoping Monsters at EPIC really utilizes it too.

NelsonRD2 days ago

Was another.

Tha Realest2 days ago

Marc Davis Fan2 days ago

No, but there’s a disgruntled Marc Davis fan on this forum 👋

MR.Dis2 days ago

Does everyone realize that the Peter Pan ride is the only ride with the ceiling system. It would seem like a perfect fit for a door ride, but I am only a big Disney fan so what do I know.