First bricks go down at the Monstropolis entrance as door coaster track grows

By entgrove · October 20, 2026

Mid-October aerials of Monstropolis at Hollywood Studios show the first entrance bricks, an octagonal fountain forming across from the Glob Theater, and low walls rising in a new courtyard. The door coaster building, outside the park's original footprint, has more track and partial blue walls.

The first bricks are down at the entrance to Monstropolis, the Monsters, Inc. land replacing the former Muppets Courtyard at Hollywood Studios. Mid-October aerial photos also show an octagonal fountain forming in the entrance plaza, low walls rising in a new courtyard, and more track at the land's door coaster.

Bricks and a fountain at the Monstropolis entrance

The entrance plaza is moving from bare dirt to finished surfaces, starting with brick and a central fountain.

• First bricks. A fan of red and gray bricks spreads beside the entrance columns near Grand Avenue, with what appear to be more pavers stacked nearby.
• Paving design. A dark circular form beside the bricks outlines a decorative pattern in the walkway.
• Octagonal fountain. Wood forms trace an eight-sided outline on a concrete base, around a curved rebar cage and a center pipe likely feeding the centerpiece.
• Rewired columns. The entrance columns are the ones Disney reinstalled with electrical wiring after removing the first set over the summer.
• New planting. Trees and shrubs are in the ground along the Grand Avenue edge, including a young tree in a curved planter.

The fountain sits across from the Glob Theater, future home of the Welcome to Monstropolis show, where crews have laid rebar in two panels in front of the three arched entrances ahead of a concrete pour. The walkway curves toward Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, a departure from the concept art first seen in June.

A courtyard rises where the Stage 1 Company Store stood

Past the Glob Theater, low concrete walls are going up in a courtyard Imagineers planned as a park-like space.

• L-shaped walls. Two connected L-shapes of finished concrete wall stand in the courtyard, with a third section on the Harryhausen's side still in wood formwork.
• Purpose unclear. Concept art shows flower beds here, but the walls appear taller than a typical bed.
• Square pit. A pit lined with black material sits beside the walls.
• Its neighbors. The courtyard fronts Harryhausen's and Archie's Scare Pig Pizza, which recently received its themed paint.

Disney demolished the Stage 1 Company Store early in the project. During a June hard hat tour of the site, executives said they were excited about the park-like setting Imagineers planned for this corner of the land.

The door coaster building pushes past the park's old edge

A wide aerial shows how much new ground the coaster adds to Hollywood Studios.

• Former parking lot. The coaster's show building takes up part of the old Cast Member parking lot behind the land, outside the park's original footprint.
• Steel and walls. Red cranes stand over the steel framing, and blue walls now enclose part of the building.
• More track. The mid-October aerials show more coaster track installed, following new track spotted in early October photos.
• Opening order. The coaster opens after the rest of Monstropolis.

Monstropolis phase one is still on course for 2027

With paint on Archie's and scaffolding off the Glob, the land's phased 2027 opening looks within reach.

• Phased opening. Disney confirmed in August that Monstropolis opens in phases starting in 2027, ahead of the coaster.
• Glob facade. Scaffolding has come down from the Glob Theater facade.
• Shop it now. A Monsters, Inc. merchandise cart outside the construction walls already sells Mike and Sulley gear.
• No date yet. Disney has not given a specific opening date for the first phase.

Our take. Finish paving usually means heavy machinery work in that area is done. If you are planning a 2027 Hollywood Studios trip around Monstropolis, watch for a phase one date, and expect the coaster to come later.