Disneyland Files Confidential Permits to Demolish Popular Ride for Avatar Expansion

Disney's California Adventure park plans to replace the Monsters Inc. attraction with a new Avatar-themed land.

Apr. 14, 2026 at 5:53pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of a shimmering, iridescent surface in shades of blue, green, and purple, conceptually representing the bioluminescent landscapes of the Avatar films.Disney's planned Avatar expansion aims to transport visitors to the lush, otherworldly environments of Pandora, drawing inspiration from the blockbuster film franchise.Anaheim Today

Disney has quietly filed confidential demolition permits related to the future construction of an Avatar-themed attraction at Disney's California Adventure park. The permits cover the existing Monsters Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue ride building and the Hollywood Lounge quick-service location, signaling plans to make way for the new Avatar land. Disney officials confirmed the filings are part of early planning for long-term expansion work in the Hollywood Land area, though the Monsters Inc. ride is not expected to close until 2027.

Why it matters

The Avatar expansion is part of Disney's ongoing efforts to diversify its theme park offerings and capitalize on the continued popularity of the blockbuster film franchise. By filing confidential demolition permits now, Disney is laying the groundwork for a major new attraction that will likely draw large crowds once completed, though the project timeline remains fluid.

The details

The confidential demolition permits were first flagged by Theme Park IQ and cover the Monsters Inc. attraction building and the Hollywood Lounge quick-service location. Disney officials confirmed the filings are part of early planning for long-term expansion work in the Hollywood Land area, though they emphasized the permits do not mean immediate action. The Monsters Inc. ride is expected to remain open until 2027 to maintain balance in the park's attraction lineup while Disney continues development on the Avatar expansion.

  • Disney filed the confidential demolition permits on April 9, 2026.
  • The Monsters Inc. ride is not expected to close until 2027.

The players

Disney

The multinational entertainment conglomerate that owns and operates Disneyland and Disney's California Adventure theme parks.

Theme Park IQ

A website that provides real-time updates and schedules for Disney and Universal theme parks.

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What they’re saying

“Disneyland has filed 9 confidential plan check demolition building permits this afternoon. One of the permits is related to the Monsters Inc. attraction building and one is related to the Hollywood Lounge QSR building. As these are confidential, there is no specific information I…”

— Theme Park IQ

What’s next

Disney is expected to continue early development work on the Avatar expansion, though the new attraction is not expected to debut until at least 2028 or 2029.

The takeaway

Disney's planned Avatar expansion at Disney's California Adventure park represents the company's ongoing efforts to diversify its theme park offerings and capitalize on the continued popularity of the blockbuster film franchise. While the timeline remains fluid, the confidential demolition permits signal that Disney is laying the groundwork for a major new attraction that will likely draw large crowds once completed.