It’s always a little sad when Disney closes a ride, even if it means something bigger and better is coming in its place. We’ll admit we were a little sad when Disney revealed it would close Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue in Disney California Adventure to make way for a new Avatar land.

Mike in Disney California Adventure (he doesn’t move)

Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue was supposed to close early this year, but it seems like Disney has changed its mind. The ride will STILL close, but it’s now not set to close until 2027. So Mike and Sulley have just received a temporary reprieve.

According to The Orange County Register, Disney has confirmed that the early 2026 closing date for the Monsters, Inc. ride will be extended until 2027, so you’ll have a whole more year to ride the attraction in Hollywood Land.  The ride was set to close to make way for Disneyland’s Avatar expansion, but, apparently, the ride doesn’t need to close so early for the work that’s already underway in Hollywood Land to create the new land.

Monsters, Inc. Mike and Sulley to the Rescue!

The dark ride basically retells the story of the first Monsters, Inc. film, where two monsters, Mike & Sulley, encounter a precocious child while doing their scare work because scaring children creates energy to power the city of Monstropolis. By the end of the movie, though, the duo discovers that laugh energy is even more powerful.

Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue!

Disneyland’s project management team is juggling construction of the Avengers Campus expansion (which will bring two more rides to the land), a new Coco ride, and the Avatar land without having to close the Monsters, Inc. ride as soon as initially thought. However, construction still seems to be on track for all three projects. The new Avatar land is not expected to open until 2028 or 2029, so it looks like we’ve got some more waiting to do before we see it.

©Disney

Unlike Pandora in Disney’s Animal Kingdom, which is based on the first Avatar movie, the Avatar land in Disneyland will take inspiration from the second and third Avatar films, as well as other upcoming movies in the franchise. The land will contain at least one ride, which seems to be a boat ride, based on concept art.

©Disney

We’ll keep an eye out for more construction updates in Disneyland, so stay tuned to DFB for more.

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