Monstropolis gets its themed walkways and Tropical Americas' temple rises as Walt Disney World turns 55

By entgrove · October 3, 2026

New aerial footage shows themed walkways going in at Monstropolis, the Monsters, Inc. land opening at Hollywood Studios in 2027, while the Casita, carousel and Indiana Jones temple take shape in Animal Kingdom's Tropical Americas. Disney has reaffirmed a 2027 opening for Tropical Americas, and the Monstropolis door coaster follows in 2028.

Walt Disney World marked its 55th anniversary this week with two of its biggest construction sites visibly moving toward opening. Aerial footage over Hollywood Studios shows themed walkways going in at Monstropolis, and at Animal Kingdom the Encanto Casita, the carousel and the Indiana Jones temple are all standing in Tropical Americas.

Paving starts on Monstropolis at Hollywood Studios

Themed walkways are a sign the heavy construction phase in that part of the Monsters, Inc. land is finished.

• Who built it. Monstropolis is a collaboration between Walt Disney Imagineering, Disney's design arm, and Pixar Animation Studios.
• What it holds. The land will have two restaurants, retail shops and a show.
• Aerial look. WESH 2's Chopper 2 footage gave the newest view of the site from above.
• Monster details. Little horns, teeth and eyes are being added to the resurfaced areas, according to theme park reporter Alicia Stella.
• The coaster. The Doors Coaster sits at the back of the land and comes a year after the rest of Monstropolis.

Drew Smith, a Disney YouTuber known as Drew the Disney Dude, read the new pavement as a milestone, since crews do not pour finished walkways in an area still full of heavy equipment.

"Seeing themed walkways take shape is a very good sign because they're not going to start to pour that pavement where you have active construction equipment unless that phase of a project is complete." (Drew Smith)

Casita, carousel and temple stand in Tropical Americas

Animal Kingdom's new land is moving fast enough that observers expect it to come together sooner than many fans think.

• Encanto Casita. The Madrigal family home is going up in front of the Encanto ride building, according to Stella.
• The carousel. The land's carousel is coming together.
• Pueblo Esperanza. The land includes Pueblo Esperanza, a village setting, alongside its attractions.
• Three attractions. The lineup is a carousel, a family Encanto dark ride and a major new Indiana Jones adventure.
• The temple. The Indiana Jones temple is taking shape quickly, and every major structure in the land is now formed, Smith said.

"The one thing with Tropical Americas that shocked me is how fast that temple is taking shape. You can really see all of the major structures in this land all formed." (Drew Smith)

Tropical Americas is still a 2027 opening

Disney recently restated the 2027 timeline for Tropical Americas, answering fans who expected a delay.

• Date confirmed. Disney recently confirmed that Tropical Americas will open in 2027.
• Same year. That puts it in the same year as Monstropolis, with the Doors Coaster following in 2028.
• Reporter's view. Stella called the confirmation significant even if the land opens late in the year.

"Them doubling down and saying Tropical Americas is opening 2027, even if it's December 31st, is kind of monumental because people thought they were dragging their feet, but they are not." (Alicia Stella)

Our take. Disney has not given exact dates for either land. If you are planning for 2027, a trip late in the year gives the best chance of seeing both Monstropolis and Tropical Americas open, and the Doors Coaster needs a 2028 visit.