Published April 17, 2026 — Disney has filed demolition permits for Monsters Inc. Mike and Sulley to the Rescue at Disney California Adventure. Here’s what we know, what’s coming next, and what it means if you’re planning a visit.
Monsters Inc. Mike and Sulley to the Rescue is on its way out at Disney California Adventure. Disney filed nine confidential demolition permits with the City of Anaheim on April 9, 2026, covering the Monsters Inc. show building and the nearby Hollywood Lounge quick-service location in Hollywood Land. The permits confirm what Disney fans have expected for years — the beloved dark ride is being cleared to make way for a new Avatar-themed land.
What Disney Has Confirmed
Disneyland Resort officials confirmed the permit filings to the Orange County Register, describing them as “long-term work to enable expansion projects” under the DisneylandForward initiative — the massive expansion plan approved by the City of Anaheim that will reshape both parks over the coming decade.
The most important thing for guests to know right now: Monsters Inc. is not closing yet. Disney has confirmed the ride will stay open through 2027. The demolition permits cover site preparation and utility work that happens in the background before a ride actually closes. You still have at least a year to ride it.
Disney CEO Bob Iger first announced an Avatar experience was coming to Disneyland back in February 2023. In February 2026, Disneyland Resort President Thomas Mazloum confirmed the Monsters Inc. closure had been pushed back from 2026 to 2027, citing the goal of giving “families with young children more options” during what is already a heavy construction period at the resort.
What the Avatar Land Will Look Like
The new land will be heavily inspired by Avatar: The Way of Water — the 2022 sequel that brought Pandora’s bioluminescent ocean environments to the screen. Based on what Disney has shared so far, guests can expect:
- A water-based boat ride through luminescent Pandoran environments
- Immersive theming inspired by the ocean ecosystems of Pandora from The Way of Water
- A West Coast counterpart to Pandora: The World of Avatar at Disney’s Animal Kingdom in Florida
Disney has not announced an official name for the land, a specific opening date, or details about additional attractions beyond the boat ride. More announcements are expected at future Disney fan events.
What This Means for Hollywood Land
Hollywood Land is one of the original sections of Disney California Adventure and has been due for a refresh for years. The Monsters Inc. building — which originally housed the ill-fated Superstar Limo attraction before the current ride opened in January 2006 — sits at the center of the demolition footprint.
The Hollywood Lounge quick-service location next to it is also included in the permits. That area of DCA has already seen significant change with the Avengers Campus expansion eating into the former Hollywood Backlot area. The Avatar land will continue that transformation, essentially replacing the remaining Hollywood-themed section of the park with the new land.
A Brief History of Monsters Inc. at DCA
Monsters Inc. Mike and Sulley to the Rescue opened at Disney California Adventure on January 23, 2006. It replaced Superstar Limo, one of the most poorly received attractions in Disney history, which lasted less than a year after DCA’s opening in 2001.
The Monsters Inc. ride has been a staple of the park for 20 years. It’s a slow-moving dark ride that follows Mike and Sulley as they try to return Boo to her home. It’s one of the more family-friendly rides at DCA and a consistent favorite for guests with young children who aren’t ready for the bigger thrills at Pixar Pier or Avengers Campus.
Losing it in 2027 will leave a gap in the family-friendly ride lineup at DCA — though the Avatar boat ride, if it follows the model of Florida’s Na’vi River Journey, should fill that space reasonably well.
What to Do If Monsters Inc. Is on Your List
If you’ve been meaning to ride Monsters Inc. one last time — or if your kids have never been on it — you have time. Disney says the ride stays open through 2027 and no specific closing date has been announced beyond that window.
That said, Disney has a history of closing rides without much advance notice once the decision is made. Don’t assume “through 2027” means December 31, 2027. If it matters to you, plan your visit sooner rather than later.
The ride typically has moderate wait times and is available via Lightning Lane Multi Pass. It’s a good choice for mid-afternoon when bigger rides are at peak waits — slow, air-conditioned, and consistently enjoyable for families with kids ages 3 and up.
The Bigger Picture — DisneylandForward
The Avatar land is one piece of a much larger expansion. DisneylandForward is a multi-decade plan to add new lands, attractions, and infrastructure to both Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure on land currently used for parking and back-of-house operations.
Other confirmed or expected elements of the expansion include the Avengers Campus expansion currently under construction, a new 6,000-space parking structure, and eventually the Avengers Infinity Defense attraction. The full buildout is expected to take until the late 2030s at minimum.
For visitors, this means the next several years at DCA will involve ongoing construction walls and some disruption to the park layout. It also means the park guests visit in 2030 will look significantly different from today’s version.
Planning a Disneyland trip and want to know what’s open, what’s closed, and how to make the most of both parks right now? Download the Enchanted Insider Disneyland Itinerary Guide — updated for 2026 with current ride status and day-by-day plans.