Monstropolis is already rising at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, but D23 is giving us something construction walls can’t: a look at what Disney actually wants the finished land to feel like.
Disney is showcasing new Monstropolis design materials at D23, including a design mood board, neighborhood concept sketches and painted monster maquettes.
And tucked into all of that is something that caught our attention.
A theater.
And possibly a very weird show.
Welcome to Monstropolis
The new display offers a closer look at the visual direction Disney is taking with Monstropolis.
The mood board includes design inspiration for different neighborhoods within the city, while concept sketches give fans a better idea of how those areas could eventually come together.
There are also painted maquettes showing off some of the monster characters that will inhabit the land.
Which is exactly the kind of thing Disney fans were hoping to see at D23.
Because looking at a steel framework from the Hollywood Studios parking lot is useful, but it’s not exactly inspiring.
Give us the monsters.
And Then There’s the Glob Theater
One of the more intriguing pieces of the display involves the Glob Theater.
A theater marquee appears to identify the location as the Glob Theater, with additional details pointing toward a show called Welcome to Monstropolis!
That gives us a much better idea of what Disney may have planned for the entertainment component of the land.
And yes, we’re using the word “may” here intentionally.
Because Disney hasn’t necessarily handed us a complete show description and said, “Here you go, internet.”
Although we wouldn’t complain if they did.
Monstropolis Is More Than a Roller Coaster
The biggest attraction coming to the land is the Monsters, Inc. suspended door coaster.
The attraction will take guests into the world of Monsters, Inc., with the ride concept based around the famous door vault sequence from the film.
Construction on the attraction is already well underway, with the massive steel structure now rising above the Hollywood Studios skyline.
But the new D23 materials are a reminder that the land isn’t simply going to be a ride with some scenery around it.
Disney is creating an entire neighborhood.
There’s Going to Be Food, Too
Disney has previously said guests will be able to explore the city, meet its residents and experience restaurants and other locations within Monstropolis.
One of those locations is Harryhausen’s, a restaurant inspired by the seafood restaurant from the Monsters, Inc. universe.
The D23 materials give us another glimpse into the way Disney is approaching those spaces, with the goal of making the land feel like an actual monster city rather than a collection of attractions.
And that’s important.
Because the best Disney lands aren’t just places where you go to ride something.
They’re places where you feel like you wandered into the story.
The Muppets Are Gone. The Monsters Are Moving In.
Of course, we can’t talk about Monstropolis without acknowledging what it is replacing.
The new land is taking over the former Grand Avenue and Muppet*Vision 3D area of Hollywood Studios.
Yes, we’re still allowed to miss the Muppets.
We can mourn Muppet*Vision 3D while also being curious about what Disney is building in its place.
Both things can be true.
This Is Starting to Feel Like a Real Place
The D23 display is important because it gives us something construction photos can’t quite capture.
Personality.
The concept sketches, neighborhood designs and monster maquettes begin to show us how Monstropolis will look and feel once the construction equipment disappears.
And after watching the project rise over the past year, that’s pretty exciting.
We’re getting closer to the point where you won’t have to explain what you’re looking at.
You’ll just look at it and think:
Yep. That’s Monstropolis.
The Monsters Are Definitely Moving In
Monstropolis is still under construction, so there’s plenty more to come before guests can actually explore the new land.
But the D23 materials give us a much better look at the creative direction behind the project—and the possible Glob Theater adds another interesting piece to the puzzle.
For now, we’ll keep watching.
Because between the coaster, Harryhausen’s, the Glob Theater and an entire city full of monsters, Disney may have something pretty interesting brewing behind those construction walls.
And if the monsters need someone to test the food first, I am available.
