Let's talk about Monsters Inc.: Mike and Sulley to the Rescue!, the Disney California Adventure ride that we now know will be going away to clear space for Disney's new Avatar attraction.
Disney's first theme park attraction themed to Pixar's Monsters Inc. franchise opened officially on January 22, 2006. It replaced Superstar Limo, a DCA opening day attraction that lasted less than a year and is now remembered as one of the worst theme park rides in Disney history. As much as a closed building was an upgrade over Superstar Limo, after a few years, it was time for Disney to step up and offer its fans something in that Hollywood Backlot space.
With Mike and Sulley to the Rescue, Walt Disney Imagineering delivered a classic-feeling dark ride to Disney California Adventure. The ride offers an abridged retelling of the 2001 Pixar movie's story, offering iconic moments from the film while wrapping with a "Turtle Talk"-style interaction as an Audio-Animatronic Roz speaks customized reactions to guests.
While Monsters Inc.: Mike and Sulley to the Rescue has pleased California Adventure visitors for nearly two decades, the attraction was about to suffer in comparison with Disney's upcoming Monstropolis land in Disney's Hollywood Studios at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. That land will feature Disney's first indoor suspended coaster, themed to the door warehouse scene that is also recreated in Mike and Sulley to the Rescue but to much less detail than Disney is promising in Florida.
Construction will begin soon on that land, as Walt Disney World this weekend closes the Muppets Courtyard that Monstropolis will replace. Ironically, rumors were flying at Disneyland's announcement event last night that the Muppet*Vision 3D attraction that is closing in Florida would be returning to Sunset Showcase theater it once occupied at Disney California Adventure, replacing Mickey's Philharmagic and exacting a smidgen of revenge by moving next door to the now-doomed Monsters Inc. ride. But no such announcement came.
With the removal of Monsters Inc. from the Hollywood Backlot, Disney California Adventure now concentrates its Pixar-themed attractions in the adjacent Cars Land and Pixar Pier, where its new Coco-themed boat ride will go.
Monsters Inc. is going away to clear space for a new Avatar attraction, which Disney has advertised as a boat ride. Last night, Disneyland also released concept art for its new pedestrian bridge over Harbor Boulevard, which suggests that the esplanade bus lanes serving the Toy Story parking lot - lanes which are located directly behind the Monsters Inc. show building - also will be going away.
Those lanes would no longer be needed once Disneyland closes the Toy Story lot, which it is expected do at some point around when the new parking structure on the current Manchester cast member parking lot opens. Construction on that will begin in Fall 2026. The removal of the Toy Story bus lanes gives WDI more space to play with in building an Avatar ride on the Monsters Inc. site, though the biggest restriction on that development will be the resort's monorail track. Still, with the current Monsters Inc. show building, the Toy Story bus lanes and maybe the empty Soundstage 17 next door, WDI has a Pirates of the Caribbean-sized area to develop.
In the meantime, for the next six months or so, Disneyland visitors will have their final opportunity to experience Monsters Inc.: Mike and Sulley to the Rescue, a fun dark ride that will have enjoyed a solid, 20-year run by the time it closes early next year.
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The Monsters Inc ride was fine. Better than what came before it for sure, but the animatronics were pretty lacking for a 2006 Disney ride, mainly relying on mostly static figures. It also didn't help that it commanded some higher waits than what one would typically find in Fantasyland. It served its purpose in helping elevate DCA to a respectable position among Disney's ranks and the runway is now clear for something bigger and better.
I always thought that this ride would be better with an original story, maybe the guests being hunted by the yellow suit squad, but it's still a little sad to see this thing go. Even though it's not themed to California.
I always loved the room for of floating doors on this ride. A very simple but effective illusion. Glad I got to ride this but happy DCA is getting some elevated attractions.
I'm not all that sad about losing this one. It was a cute ride that was enjoyable enough to wait 20-30 minutes for, but still something I probably only rode on about a third of my visits to DCA. However, DCA really needs to be upping their attraction count rather than simply replacing what they've got, so it is a bit unfortunate Avatar couldn't have been added in a way that didn't require closing anything. At least the other new attractions coming will be without the loss of anything major.
Mentioned this in another post…Has Disney even confirmed that this Avatar stuff is going to be a ride, or is that just fan speculation? Only thing they’ve called it is an “experience”. With such a small footprint seemingly being taken / used, what’s the odds that this turns out to be a walkthrough “attraction” like they did with Moana in EPCOT?
@Sneakertinker the concept art clearly shows a boat ride, and with the style of boat and the large scale of the sets, it definitely seems it will be utilizing the same tech as the Pirates: Battle for Sunken Treasure ride in Shanghai.
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Glad I got this in on last Disneyland trip. A soft spot for this ride but always suffered having to reuse the Superstar Limo track and props so not totally surprised it's gone. Still, 20 years a good long run for it.