Avatar Experience Replaces Monsters Inc. - Monsters Inc. Closing Early 2026 - Future Expansion Plans

[OneTrackMind]

Quote: “I'm surprised there isn't more Monsters love here. I'm so sad about losing that ride. It's probably my favorite dark ride. It's kind of our "go to" when we don't have a plan.”


I’m very sad to lose Monsters! I’ve always thought it was really underrated and under appreciated, given the detail in the scenes and the humor throughout! I’m sure the new one will be great (for example, we were devastated about ToT but ended up loving Guardians), but I’ll still miss Monsters. How do you top the line: “He picked me up with his mind powers and shook me like a dog”!

 

[LAS2AMS]

Are you including the area of the current bus drop off area that is being incorporated into this area?

From the concept art, at best it’s half the area (mainly the section for the Toy Story busses / where the trams use to go). That’s not that much space.

 

[disneychrista]

Quote: “I'm surprised there isn't more Monsters love here. I'm so sad about losing that ride. It's probably my favorite dark ride. It's kind of our "go to" when we don't have a plan.”


I’m very sad to lose Monsters! I’ve always thought it was really underrated and under appreciated, given the detail in the scenes and the humor throughout! I’m sure the new one will be great (for example, we were devastated about ToT but ended up loving Guardians), but I’ll still miss Monsters. How do you top the line: “He picked me up with his mind powers and shook me like a dog”!

From the consistent 45 minute long waits for the attraction I imagine that there are many that are sad to see it go. Including me.

 

[LAS2AMS]

From the consistent 45 minute long waits for the attraction I imagine that there are many that are sad to see it go. Including me.

I’m sad to see it go but I think the wait inflated by its slow loading/ unloading process. The number of people using the handicap/ buddy pass lane has noticeably grown, and it slows the process down (one car stops there instead of two at the regular loading dock).

I’m sure many pieces of the attraction will find a home elsewhere. Like Roz.

 

[Obi-J Kenobi]

I really like both of these ride ideas at DCA and DLR over all. I guess I have two concerns.

First, and this was raised by a PP, how does the monorail work at Avatar Way of Water? Doesn't seem very consistent with storytelling. I understand wanting guests to see the attraction from the monorail vantage point, sort of like spinning through EP on the monorail is so whimsical and fun. But, a monorail seems inconsistent with Pandora and even more specifically the Avatar 2 theme of water. I've always assumed Pandora was, itself, a living, sentient creature and not actually a planet. Maybe the evil corporation put the monorail over the water? I don't know.

Second, how short will Coco be for ride length. I hope it isn't like the length of Navi River Journey. I enjoy that ride at AK very much, but it is far too short in my opinion. Once you feel so comfortable in the immersion, it feels like the ride is over. The color palatte with Coco is so remarkable and it reminds me of Apocolypto. I would totally dig a ride that is next level "Mary Blair" concept with colors and theming, but I am afraid that the budgets and space may cut that dream short, like 2 minutes or less type of ride.

A couple other notes.

I don't think that WDW has announced a replacement for the space and area of Muppet Vision with the new project, and maybe the Monsters Inc. dark ride can move to WDW at HS? I would love that to be honest. It wouldn't be the first time a DLR attraction moved to WDW. I too am going to miss the Mike and Sully to the Rescue even if that spot of land had a cursed start.

My Corn Dog Castle better not be eliminated!

 

[LAS2AMS]

I really like both of these ride ideas at DCA and DLR over all. I guess I have two concerns.

First, and this was raised by a PP, how does the monorail work at Avatar Way of Water? Doesn't seem very consistent with storytelling. I understand wanting guests to see the attraction from the monorail vantage point, sort of like spinning through EP on the monorail is so whimsical and fun. But, a monorail seems inconsistent with Pandora and even more specifically the Avatar 2 theme of water. I've always assumed Pandora was, itself, a living, sentient creature and not actually a planet. Maybe the evil corporation put the monorail over the water? I don't know.

Second, how short will Coco be for ride length. I hope it isn't like the length of Navi River Journey. I enjoy that ride at AK very much, but it is far too short in my opinion. Once you feel so comfortable in the immersion, it feels like the ride is over. The color palatte with Coco is so remarkable and it reminds me of Apocolypto. I would totally dig a ride that is next level "Mary Blair" concept with colors and theming, but I am afraid that the budgets and space may cut that dream short, like 2 minutes or less type of ride.

A couple other notes.

I don't think that WDW has announced a replacement for the space and area of Muppet Vision with the new project, and maybe the Monsters Inc. dark ride can move to WDW at HS? I would love that to be honest. It wouldn't be the first time a DLR attraction moved to WDW. I too am going to miss the Mike and Sully to the Rescue even if that spot of land had a cursed start.

My Corn Dog Castle better not be eliminated!

I’m sure they’ll find a way to disguise the monorail. I don’t know how, but look at what they’re doing at the MK with Cartland.

There isn’t enough space to build a 10-minute Coco boat ride. I’m guessing it’ll be like the Avatar boat ride, which makes sense considering they originally wanted to convert the ride at the Mexico pavilion in Epcot to Coco (and it’s pretty short).

I think Carrousel of Progress would disagree DLR has never moved an attraction to WDW . In more recent years, they’ve moved pieces of Carsland to DHS.

But they aren’t moving Monsters to DHS. It’s - 25yo attraction comprised of outdated technology. I’m guessing some elements, like Roz, will be retained and may make their way to DHS - but most will hit the dumpster. The lion’s share of the ride is a lightly overlaid SuperStsr Limo.

 

[ClaraOswald]

I'm SO happy to have it confirmed that Avatar will not be taking over space near the Grand Californian. That would have been so awful.

I'm fine with losing Monster Inc. since it was sort of just a half-assed re-theme of the failure that was Superstar Limo. I do hope they re-use the Jackie Chan figure again somewhere though because it would be funny.




I'm super excited about the Coco ride!

Sort of indifferent about Avatar.

 

[irlandaise]

Not an Avatar fan at all. I would much rather see a new land or a villain's land on this coast. Shanghai pirates is an amazing ride--maybe my favorite in all of Disney (I've been to all the parks)--but wish the theme wasn't Avatar. It kind of fits the AK ethos (conservation, etc.), but seems way out of place in Hollywood. After re-doing the entire front of the park, it seems as if they could have come up with something better.

I've never understood Disney's love for "Avatar." I mean, yeah, the movies have done well, but they aren't the kind of cultural phenomenon that "Star Wars" and the MCU are. I assume that the Avatar area of DAK has been popular, but is there really a demand for an Avatar area at DLR?

 

[BrianL]

I'm SO happy to have it confirmed that Avatar will not be taking over space near the Grand Californian. That would have been so awful.

I'm fine with losing Monster Inc. since it was sort of just a half-assed re-theme of the failure that was Superstar Limo. I do hope they re-use the Jackie Chan figure again somewhere though because it would be funny.

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I'm super excited about the Coco ride!

Sort of indifferent about Avatar.

I mean, they are building an entire Monsters Inc. Land at WDW, so maybe some of these figures will make their way over.

 

[Kit Jackson]

Didn't they show concept art of an Avatar boat ride at D23, supposedly based on Shanghai's Pirates of the Caribbean? Though of course that doesn't mean they'll actually build it

This is why I no longer trust Disney announcements about the parks. They are as bad as Lucasfilm. They show concept art and make announcements about things that never end up happening.

How much do you think will be done by the 75th?

I will be absolutely shocked if there is anything more than giant holes in the ground by the 75th. It takes Disney forever to do things. Disney built a single ride in the same time it took Universal to build an entirely new gate/park.

 

[LAS2AMS]

I mean, they are building an entire Monsters Inc. Land at WDW, so maybe some of these figures will make their way over.

IMO, it’s more likely we’ll see Disney pay homage to the ride somewhere else in the park, maybe around Pixar Pier. They could park Roz somewhere in the Midway. I’m doubtful they’d move them to WDW, as they’ll be 20yo (or 25yo for the stuff converted from SSL).

I've never understood Disney's love for "Avatar." I mean, yeah, the movies have done well, but they aren't the kind of cultural phenomenon that "Star Wars" and the MCU are. I assume that the Avatar area of DAK has been popular, but is there really a demand for an Avatar area at DLR?

They are two of the top three highest grossing films of all time .

This is why I no longer trust Disney announcements about the parks. They are as bad as Lucasfilm. They show concept art and make announcements about things that never end up happening.

I will be absolutely shocked if there is anything more than giant holes in the ground by the 75th. It takes Disney forever to do things. Disney built a single ride in the same time it took Universal to build an entirely new gate/park.

Nothing new, throughout its history Disney has announced then cancelled or downsized projects. Even small things. I remember the concept art for the convention to Jessie’s Critter Carousel… then they removed it, with rumors it was headed to Toy Story Land in WDW… then they converted it but never completely built it out.

 

[Obi-J Kenobi]

I've never understood Disney's love for "Avatar."

Well, a couple of thoughts to consider. And at the outset let me stress to you that I do not enjoy the Avatar movies. They are my least favorite James Cameron movies. I do enjoy Pandora at AK. It is a neat or cool land to walk around even if the attractions there are not among my favorites.

First, Avatar works pretty well at WDW (maybe or maybe not AK) because there are a lot of international guests. I get that DLR has less international guest presence than WDW, but it isn't devoid of foreign guests. Avatar is pretty successful from a global standpoint.

Second, James Cameron is a good person to bet on. He is, visually speaking, as good as any director in Hollywood (e.g. Spielberg, Kosinski, del Toro, Burton, Villaneuve, W. Anderson, etc.) His work, therefore, does translate to pretty neat attraction and land ideas. I am a big fan of letting WED Imagineers cook. Avatar gives them a big playground space to cook.

 

[BrianL]

IMO, it’s more likely we’ll see Disney pay homage to the ride somewhere else in the park, maybe around Pixar Pier. They could park Roz somewhere in the Midway. I’m doubtful they’d move them to WDW, as they’ll be 20yo (or 25yo for the stuff converted from SSL).

I figure they might use them as static decor somewhere - maybe even in a shop or something. I don't know - it makes sense. Although, maybe the Avatar ride will just be the same, except they will paint some of them blue and dress the others in mech-suits! It could be called Avatar: Neytiri and Sully to the Rescue. They would only have to replace part of the sign!

 

[Smugpugmug]

I've never understood Disney's love for "Avatar." I mean, yeah, the movies have done well, but they aren't the kind of cultural phenomenon that "Star Wars" and the MCU are. I assume that the Avatar area of DAK has been popular, but is there really a demand for an Avatar area at DLR?

It's mostly money IMO as you're right in that the Avatar movies have zero cultural impact. The land works incredibly well in AK but I'm skeptical at best if it could work in California Adventure.

 

[brightlined]

The main reason Avatar works in theme parks is because of its world-building and design. The stories and characters in the movies don't need to work - the movies are simply beautiful to look at and immersive - and wholly unique. FOP is an incredible ride (asterisk: when the screens are in alignment), and you don't need to know anything about the movies to enjoy it. The design alone gives Imagineering a massive amount of toys to play with. (It's the same reason that TRON keeps popping up, including the coaster at MK and SD. It's not that the movies are that popular - it's that the design is go unique and gorgeous.)

People are saying this already - but I genuinely think they're announcing minimum closures as necessary, but I would bet on there being a lot more. Monsters is coming down sooner because they need to clear out the space and start building the infrastructure, but I'd be very surprised if they don't announce further removals (ie, Hyperion, Philharmagic, etc) down the line once the project is further along.

 

[nerdboyrockstar]

I'm surprised there isn't more Monsters love here. I'm so sad about losing that ride. It's probably my favorite dark ride. It's kind of our "go to" when we don't have a plan.

Devastated at the loss of Monsters and the loss of a classic dark ride at DCA! One of my favorites and something I look forward to doing every trip to DCA. Wish there was a way to keep it.

And yes, count me in the group that Avatar does not excite me enough for this news to go over better than it does. The movies are fine, the land at DAK is fine... unless they really put together something mind-blowing for this area.

 

[DLandgirlie]

I doubt EU has any impact on DLR, since most guests are local and regional. They need new attractions to increase the resorts’ capacity, as well as to keep people coming. Hollywoodland is huge but even on a hot busy day, PhilharMagic etc. don’t draw much of a crowd.

We escaped there a couple weekends ago when it reached nearly triple digits, and there may have been a dozen people watching with us.

True, geographically, but overall Universal is making moves compared to Disney. Disney dreams up these amazing concepts that take forever to produce. Epic I believe was completed within 5 years? Disney is slow to open new attractions and experiences.

The additions overall are much needed to DCA. I'll cry when if they demolish animation academy lol

 

[irlandaise]

I've never understood Disney's love for "Avatar." I mean, yeah, the movies have done well, but they aren't the kind of cultural phenomenon that "Star Wars" and the MCU are.

They are two of the top three highest grossing films of all time .

And #4 is "Titanic," but I don't see Disney rushing to do a ride based on that.

I still maintain that "Avatar" doesn't have nearly the place in the public consciousness that SW and the MCU/DCU do. I doubt that there are many kids with cancer who say, "My dying wish is to spend the day with a Navi."

 

[irlandaise]

Well, a couple of thoughts to consider. And at the outset let me stress to you that I do not enjoy the Avatar movies. They are my least favorite James Cameron movies. I do enjoy Pandora at AK. It is a neat or cool land to walk around even if the attractions there are not among my favorites.

First, Avatar works pretty well at WDW (maybe or maybe not AK) because there are a lot of international guests. I get that DLR has less international guest presence than WDW, but it isn't devoid of foreign guests. Avatar is pretty successful from a global standpoint.

Second, James Cameron is a good person to bet on. He is, visually speaking, as good as any director in Hollywood (e.g. Spielberg, Kosinski, del Toro, Burton, Villaneuve, W. Anderson, etc.) His work, therefore, does translate to pretty neat attraction and land ideas. I am a big fan of letting WED Imagineers cook. Avatar gives them a big playground space to cook.

Good points, Obi-J. I agree that "Avatar" lends itself to beautifully designed areas. I haven't been to WDW since the Pandora area opened there, but I've seen photos, and it does look very impressive, especially at night.

 

[LKing]

I haven't been to WDW since the Pandora area opened there, but I've seen photos, and it does look very impressive, especially at night.

And the sad part is that it is in a park that usually closes before sunset.