First Track Raised for the Monsters, Inc. Coaster (And What It Means for Your Hollywood Studios Day)

Published June 21, 2026 · Updated September 9, 2026

The first piece of track for the highly anticipated Monsters, Inc. door coaster has officially been raised at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. This marks a major milestone for the upcoming Monstropolis land, bringing the concept of zooming through the factory’s door vault one step closer to reality.

While it will be a while before you can actually strap into a suspended door, the ongoing construction is already changing the landscape of Hollywood Studios. Here is what this development means for your next park day and how to navigate the current ride lineup while we wait for the new land to open.

The Footprint of Monstropolis

To make way for Mike, Sulley, and this massive new coaster, Hollywood Studios is undergoing a significant shakeup. Monstropolis is taking over the space formerly known as Muppets Courtyard, meaning the closure of Muppet*Vision 3D, PizzeRizzo, and Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano.

If you are visiting soon, be prepared for visible construction walls and shifting crowd patterns in the back of the park. With these closures, there are fewer indoor, air-conditioned places to escape the afternoon heat or grab a quick bite, making your ride and dining strategy even more important.

How to Handle Rope Drop Right Now

When the Monsters, Inc. coaster eventually opens, it will instantly become the top priority for early morning crowds. But until then, you need a solid rope drop strategy for the current heavy hitters.

Most guests instinctively sprint straight to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge or Toy Story Land to ride Slinky Dog Dash. If you want to zig when everyone else zags, head down Sunset Boulevard first thing in the morning to knock out The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. Because the vast majority of the early entry crowd rushes to the newer attractions, you can often walk right onto Tower of Terror, saving yourself a massive standby wait later in the day.

The Smartest Lightning Lane Move

With construction walls up and a few attractions closed to make way for Monstropolis, securing the right Lightning Lane Multi Pass selections is critical to avoid spending your whole day in line.

A common mistake guests make is burning an early Lightning Lane selection on Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster. While it is popular, Slinky Dog Dash consistently pulls wait times that are a half-hour or more longer. Always prioritize Slinky Dog Dash for your first Lightning Lane Multi Pass booking. If you miss it, you will be stuck in a long, mostly uncovered standby line in the blazing sun. Grab Slinky early, and if you still want to ride Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, use the single rider line to bypass the main standby queue.

The Takeaway

The arrival of coaster track is an exciting visual sign that Monstropolis is making real progress. While we wait for opening day, focus your Hollywood Studios strategy on smart rope dropping and prioritizing the right Lightning Lanes to maximize your time. To ensure you aren’t waiting longer than you have to, use the SupaPark forecaster to predict exactly when lines will drop across the park so you can make the smartest next move.

Go deeper — the full guides: Ultimate Guide to Character Meet-Ups, Shows & Entertainment at Walt Disney World · Hollywood Studios Deep Dive: Master Galaxy’s Edge, Rise of the Resistance, Toy Story Land & Shows · Disney World Secrets, Hidden Mickeys & Pro Hacks

SupaPark tracks live wait times and crowd forecasts, and pings you the second a hard-to-get reservation opens or a ride goes walk-on — free to start at supapark.com.

Keep planning: today’s crowd forecast · is Lightning Lane worth it