In a move that has sent shockwaves through longtime Disneyland fans,
For many, this quiet little dark ride tucked into the Hollywood Backlot of
Let’s be clear: we’re thrilled that new stories are coming to life. But it’s hard not to feel like a bit of the park’s soul is being chipped away, one original experience at a time. And the closure of Monsters, Inc.—just days before MuppetVision 3D* is set to close over at Walt
The End of Monstropolis
Originally opening in January 2006, Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue! was itself a resurrection—built atop the spectacular failure that was Superstar Limo.
The transformation into Monstropolis was both clever and charming, with impressive physical sets, Roz’s iconic sarcasm, and a storyline that actually made use of the characters we love. It was one of the rare dark rides in California Adventure with a rich narrative and a little bit of heart—and it was often one of the few kid-friendly attractions with a consistently low wait time.
Its location in Hollywood Land made it feel like a secret corner of the park—a liminal space between the glitz of Avengers Campus and the hubbub of the Animation Academy. And now, as part of the expansion plans for DisneylandForward, that entire section of the park is being eyed for transformation.
The Monsters are moving out. Pandora is moving in.
And here’s the twist: just as Monsters, Inc. is being removed from California Adventure, it’s reportedly being added to Hollywood Studios in Walt
On one coast, Monstropolis fades into memory. On the other, it’s coming to life in what could be one of
It’s a rare (and slightly heartbreaking) moment of thematic whiplash—one that fans of both coasts are sure to notice. Whether the timing was intentional or just coincidental, the irony isn’t lost on anyone.
Avatar Is Coming to California
The Avatar-themed land coming to
While the Orlando version takes guests through the lush rainforests of Pandora, early concept art and reporting suggest this version may explore the coastal regions and oceans of the alien world.
At its heart will be a technologically advanced boat ride. Not a gentle float through a tunnel with singing animatronics—think something on the scale of Shanghai Disneyland’s Pirates of the Caribbean. Cutting-edge projection mapping, animatronics, motion platforms, and synchronized ride vehicles could be in play here, designed to fully immerse riders in Pandora’s glowing bioluminescence and underwater terrain. In other words, this isn’t just another boat ride. It’s a new generation of themed storytelling, and it’s the crown jewel of this particular phase of DisneylandForward.
The Hollywood Backlot as we know it will be reimagined entirely. The fate of nearby attractions like Disney Junior Dance Party, Animation Academy, and even Stage 17 remains uncertain—but change is coming fast, and it’s likely to reach every corner of that land.
A Coco Ride at Pixar Pier… or Just Beyond It?
Over near Paradise Gardens Park, a long-rumored Coco attraction is finally confirmed. Slated to break ground this fall, it will be the first ride based on the Oscar-winning film and, according to
Here’s the interesting part: early Pixar Pier concept art from 2018 showed a boat ride in nearly the exact location the Coco ride is now expected to occupy. So while it may feel like a new addition, this idea has actually been simmering on the back burner for years. Whether this attraction uses water-based vehicles or a trackless dark ride format remains to be seen.
The bigger challenge? Space. Pixar Pier is already a high-traffic, high-frustration zone. The bottlenecks around Midway Mania, Inside Out Emotional Whirlwind, and the Incredicoaster launch make this part of the park one of the hardest to navigate—especially on busy days. Unless major infrastructure changes are made, this new attraction may add to the congestion before it relieves any of it.
The Parking Puzzle: A New Structure and a Changed Arrival Experience
With new lands come new logistics—and the east side of the Disneyland Resort is about to change dramatically.
For guests who’ve parked in Toy Story in recent years, this is massive. No more waiting in a hot, slow-moving queue for buses. No more dodging traffic across busy streets. And—if it works as intended—a streamlined flow from car to park in under 10 minutes.
But it also means the esplanade will change. The entire arrival process may be restructured, not just to accommodate crowds, but to better connect the parks with new expansion zones under the DisneylandForward blueprint. Think more modernized security zones, digital ticketing options, and crowd-flow control baked into the infrastructure itself.
Meanwhile, Over in Avengers Campus…
While fans process the loss of Monstropolis, there’s a whole lot of construction noise coming from the Avengers Campus side of the park.
Walkways between Avengers Campus and Cars Land are already being closed off to make room for expansion—and once the Avatar project breaks ground on the other side of the park, you can expect
DisneylandForward Is About to Change Everything
These changes aren’t just isolated additions—they’re signals of a much bigger, longer game. DisneylandForward is
The future includes everything from hotels to shopping districts to nighttime entertainment—and while not all of it has been officially confirmed, the writing is on the wall: Disneyland Resort will never look the same again.
And while that’s exciting, it’s also a little overwhelming. For every bold new vision, something beloved must step aside. And sometimes that “something” is a ride you didn’t think you’d miss—until it’s gone.
So we say goodbye to Roz and her clipboard, to Boo in a monster costume, to doors swinging across conveyor belts. Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue! may never have been the flashiest ride in the park, but it was a constant. A comfort. And it deserves more than to simply vanish into the construction dust.
We’re excited for what’s next. But we’ll miss what’s being left behind.
