The layout of the new “Monsters, Inc.” door coaster coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios has been revealed thanks to a model at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event.
Monsters, Inc. Coaster Model
The ride will be part of the first-ever “Monsters, Inc.” land and will be Disney’s first suspended roller-coaster. The façade of the coaster will be the Monsters, Inc. factory. In the story of the land, humans have been invited to experience Monstropolis and tour the factory after the events of Pixar’s 2001 “Monsters, Inc.” film.
The model depicts a track running around tall supports through what appears to be the scare/laugh floor and the door storage area of Monsters, Inc. The model hasn’t been painted so is just white and gray.
“The first time I saw ‘Monsters, Inc.’, all I wanted to do was ride on one of those doors like Mike and Sulley,” Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D’Amaro said at the showcase. “You’ll go into the factory and experience the first suspended coaster ever in a Disney park. Remember in the movie how those claws grab the doors and hoist them up into the air to take them away? We’re doing that, too. And you’re going along for the ride.”
Above, you can see the sections where the train full of guests will be raised and lowered to and from and door track above.
As we get closer to the maiden voyage of the Disney Treasure later this year, D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event proved there is still a bit more to surprise everyone with, showcasing new art from the new Moana-based stage show for the ship. What’s Happening: Disney Cruise Line had a whole portion of the Horizons […]
At D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, Disney announced their first-ever Monsters, Inc. land including their first-ever suspended roller-coaster. The land will be somewhere in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, leading to speculation about where exactly. Many are worried about the future of Muppet*Vision 3D but multiple sources report that the land will actually replace the Animation building, which currently houses Star Wars Launch Bay.
Monsters, Inc. Land Location
Source: Google Maps
The Animation building and surrounding backstage areas offer plenty of space for the Monsters, Inc. land. The building is at the back of Animation Courtyard, which also houses Disney Junior Play and Dance and the new, upcoming “The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure.” Assuming Animation Courtyard remained, it would act as a reasonable gateway into Monstropolis — more reasonable than a gateway into Star Wars Launch Bay.
The white building in the Google Maps screenshot above shows the top of the Animation building in white. The surrounding buildings and parking lots are all backstage utilities that could potentially be moved. Cast that use the parking garage in that area have already been told that it will be inaccessible soon, indicating that work may begin sooner rather than later.
Source: Google Maps
The Muppet*Vision 3D area is a much smaller piece of real estate. In addition to the show, Grand Avenue includes two shuttered gift shops, PizzeRizzo, and Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano. But there’s not as much wiggle room as there is in Animation Courtyard. The above Google Maps image was taken during construction of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, but shows how the “Star Wars” land, Star Tours, and parking lots run right up to Grand Avenue.
There have been rumors that Muppet*Vision 3D would close pretty much since the announcement of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. Recent concerns about the aging attraction have led to calls for it to be named a national heritage site.
Where do you think the Monsters, Inc. land and Monsters, Inc. coaster will be located? Let us know your thoughts in the comments and on social media.
D23: The Ultimate Fan Event played host to a myriad of announcements for what’s in store for Disney Parks around the globe, and one announcement seems to TOWER over anything else for Hong Kong Disneyland. What’s Happening: During the Horizons presentation last night at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, Disney Experiences chairman Josh D’Amaro was […]
For nearly 40 years, The Walt Disney Company has honored artists, creative leaders, executives and visionaries who have made significant contributions to the Disney legacy with the Disney Legends Award. This year, 14 exemplary individuals have been selected from across the company’s history and among those, one cast member has made a lasting impact on Disneyland Resort for more than half a century: Martha Blanding. In many ways, Martha was and remains a staple of Disneyland Resort. From becoming the first full-time Black tour guide at Disneyland park in the early 1970s to most recently retiring as a senior manager of merchandise special events, her 50-year career has been one of dedication, poise and excellence. It’s no wonder she’s joining the elite Disney Legends Class of 2024.
Read on to learn about Martha’s story and her work at Disneyland Resort as we look forward to honoring her at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event at the Disney Legends Award Ceremony on Aug. 11!
Born in Los Angeles, California Martha grew up in the city of Watts, and attended Los Angeles City College before transferring to California State University, Fullerton. In May of 1971, while in her early 20s, she was recruited for a role at Disneyland and was eventually hired as a part-time tour guide. Within her first year, she was made a full-time cast member becoming the first ever Black tour guide at Disneyland with that status.
As a tour guide and eventually a VIP hostess, Martha demonstrated the high level of hospitality and courtesy that Walt Disney envisioned for Disneyland cast members, and she went on to host a variety of prominent guests such as Diana Ross, Elton John and Cher. Martha said, “It was very important to me that every guest experience was special. As cast members, our job is to create happiness and that’s what I strove for every day.” Her welcoming personality was at the core of every tour she led, and she credited her upbringing for giving her the tools she needed to interact with people from all walks of life.
As time went on, Martha was promoted to a position in merchandise management and became the first-ever Black woman in this role at Disneyland and one of the first Black cast members in management across the company as a whole. Here, she was able to secure high-quality merchandise to delight guests and continued paving the way for other Black cast members to aspire to management positions.
Her hardworking spirit allowed her to move up and become a Senior Manager of Disneyland Resort merchandise special events. She had the opportunity to work with celebrities, world-renowned artisans and assorted Disney Legends. Carmen Smith, SVP Creative Development – Content and Inclusive Strategies for Disney Experiences, said, “It was a pleasure working with Martha for many years on a variety of projects. She is fantastic and has set a stellar example of collaboration and leadership. Her Disney Legends Award is so well-deserved.”
Of Martha’s many achievements, she had the opportunity to be among the founding producers of the Official Disneyana Convention which featured sales of Disney memorabilia, convention logo merchandise and special limited-edition collectibles, along with speakers and gala entertainment events. This event served as a predecessor to what we now know as D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event.
She also cared deeply about her fellow cast members, leading her to co-found PULSE (which stands for “People United to Lead, Serve and Excel”), a business employee resource group for cast members of African and Caribbean descent and backgrounds, as well as allies, where she served as a mentor and resource to her colleagues.
Despite her retirement in 2022, Martha continues to inspire. She is now the first Black Disney Parks employee to be honored as a Disney Legend, and on Oct. 1, her memoir, “Groundbreaking Magic: A Black Woman’s Journey Through The Happiest Place on Earth,” is set to release from Disney Editions, commemorating her incredible story.
We’re so proud of everything Martha has accomplished and are looking forward to honoring her at this year’s Disney Legends Ceremony on Aug. 11 as part of D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event.
Check out the Disney Parks Blog and @disneyparks on social for all updates from the weekend including can’t-miss details about all-new and highly anticipated projects coming to Disney Experiences coming out of “Horizons: Disney Experiences Live” on Aug. 10.
If you love The Lion King, you are going to LOVE this. Disney Parks has announced that a new Lion King ride is in development! Lion King Ride The Lion …
At D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, Disney announced two new “Cars” attractions and a Disney Villains land coming to Magic Kingdom in the near future. Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D’Amaro did not state exactly where the new areas would be, only that the “Cars” rides would be in Frontierland. The announcements seem to be the final iteration of the “Beyond Big Thunder” concept introduced two years ago but reports suggest they won’t be “Beyond Big Thunder” so much as “On the Rivers of America” — meaning the permanent closure of the rivers, Liberty Square Riverboat, and Tom Sawyer Island.
Tom Sawyer Island & Liberty Square Riverboat Closing Permanently
The “Cars” attractions will be part of a reimagined area in Frontierland, with one ride sending guests on a race through the mountains, indicating it will need a substantial footprint. The Disney Villains land will require even more space, with two major attractions, shopping, and dining.
Source: Google Maps
The most “free” space available in Magic Kingdom is where Rivers of America, Liberty Square Riverboat, and Tom Sawyer Island are currently located between Frontierland and Liberty Square. We don’t know yet exactly how the “Cars” rides and Villains land will fit into this space but construction on the former is scheduled to begin next year.
The first Liberty Square Riverboat, the Admiral Joe Fowler, entered service on the Rivers of America the day after Magic Kingdom opened, on October 2, 1971. The current riverboat, the Liberty Belle, entered service as the Richard F. Irvine on May 20, 1973, the same day Tom Sawyer Island opened to the public. The Admiral Joe Fowler was destroyed in a dry dock accident in 1980 but the Richard F. Irvine has continued running. It was renamed the Liberty Belle in 1996.
Announced last night at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, Disney Parks fans looking forward to a new Zootopia attraction (announced at a previous D23 event) is on its way sooner than you think. What’s Happening: The Zootopia-based 3D experience promised at last year’s Destination D23 event is on its way to Disney’s Animal Kingdom at […]
It was a wild and exciting night at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event — but now it’s time for Day 3. Be sure to follow along with all of our coverage below as we’ll be here until the bitter(sweet) end.
Disneyland Park at Disneyland Paris will get a brand new nighttime spectacular in January 2025.
New Disneyland Paris Nighttime Spectacular
The new show will incorporate projections on Sleeping Beauty Castle and, for the first time, the Main Street, U.S.A. façades. Disney Animation and Pixar stories will be brought to life on the street, including the settings of “Pinocchio,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “Encanto,” and Buzz Lightyear’s galaxy. Disney did not announce a name for the show.
In addition to projections, the nighttime spectacular will include fountains, lighting effects, and an original soundtrack. It promises to push the technical boundaries set by previous shows like “Disney Dreams!” and “Disney Illuminations” (which is currently running).
Disneyland Paris said it will “bring guests on a journey filled with emotion and nostalgia to help them discover that true magic lies within every moment of life!”
Dana Harrel, Executive Entertainment Director of Disneyland Paris, said, “For this new show, we reimagined the way of telling stories with our Castle as the main attraction. This exclusive experience at Disneyland Paris is a testament to our creative expertise – skill which has been honed over the years. We are looking forward to dazzling and touching the hearts of our guests by immersing them into breathtaking sequences inspired by their favorite Disney and Pixar movies like never before. This can’t-miss experience will make it possible for guests to end their day in the parks all together in the most unforgettable way.”
