We still don’t believe it, but it’s really happening: A Monsters, Inc. land is coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Monsters Inc. Land Concept Art ©Disney
We’ll admit this was one announcement we totally did NOT expect from D23: The Ultimate Fan Event, but we are STOKED. That’s because Disney also announced that we were finally getting the ride we’ve been wanting since 2001, when Monsters, Inc. landed in movie theaters: a ride based on the doors scene in the movie — and y’all, IT IS HAPPENING! Seriously, just go ahead and pinch us because we think we’re dreaming. Anyway, we’ve actually been hunting down some more details about the new ride and we think we found some clues about it.
The first thing we need to tell you is that Disney has confirmed that the new Monsters, Inc. ride will be the first suspended roller coaster EVER in a Disney Park. Josh D’Amaro, Disney Experiences Chairman said, “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.” Disney also shared the ride concept art below:
©Disney
We also know something else: the company Vekoma Rides could very well be the company helping Disney construct the coaster part of the attraction. Why do we think this? Well, they’ve worked on some of Disney’s most recent coasters like Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and TRON Lightcycle / Run. The company also helped Disney construct Big Grizzly Mountain Runaway Mine Train at Hong Kong Disneyland, as well as Expedition Everest in Disney World. This is the company Disney usually goes to when it’s creating a roller coaster.
TRON Lightcycle / Run
In looking at the Vekoma Rides website, it seems the company specializes in suspended family coasters. What will the Monsters, Inc. ride be? A suspended family coaster. Here’s what Vekoma’s website says:
“Our Suspended Family Coaster line offers the excitement of a true suspended coaster in a family-friendly design that fits all age groups. These suspended coasters offer a unique open design seat and restraint system, providing optimal fit and security, and a sensational experience of freedom with your feet dangling free in mid-air. The fully unobstructed view of the ride and surroundings add to the fun.”
©Vekoma
In particular, the description of Vekoma’s “Suspended Family Coaster Mistral Dark Ride” could very well give us a lot of hints about how the Monsters, Inc. ride will work. The website reads:
“The train departs into the darkness. Feet dangle in mid-air. The riders climb and without warning plummet down the first drop. They fly through the underground tunnel into a high-speed turnaround pulling 3-G. A twisted drop. A final U-turn. A surprise bunny hop back into the station. The Mistral is a true storytelling coaster, combining a unique dark ride with the roaring winds of a thrilling gravity layout.”
Here’s the concept art:
©Vekoma
Well, that sounds a lot like that scene in Monsters, Inc., right? Also, the bit about storytelling is very on-brand for a Disney coaster. It also makes us think this could fit the Monsters, Inc. ride model we saw at D23:
Monsters, Inc. roller coaster
So we think Vekoma’s description of its family suspended coasters could give us an idea of just how thrilling this ride might end up being. Of course, we won’t know anything until Disney shares more about the new ride. We’ll be keeping an eye out for more clues, though, and we’ll share them when we can, so stay tuned to DFB for more.
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PLEASE, DISNEY, have a stand by line. Stop with the virtual and Lightening Lane process. I’m older and can’t afford the extra costs and I don’t have the technology.