Disney has provided us with a first look at the food and beverage offerings coming to the new Monstropolis land in Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World Resort, giving theme park fans a sneak peek into how the culinary team is bringing the world of Monsters, Inc. to life.
Set to open next year, the new land will allow guests to step into the bustling monster metropolis for the first time. Along with new attractions, Disney has revealed details for two key dining locations straight out of the Pixar films: Harryhausen’s and Archie’s Scare Pig Pizza.
Creating "Grossly Fun" Food for Humans
Designing a menu fit for monsters while remaining delicious for human guests presented a unique creative challenge for Walt Disney Imagineering and the resort’s culinary teams.
Chef Brian Piasecki, Director of Culinary and Concept Development, and Evan Rosenthal, Beverage Director, shared insights into the creative process behind developing dishes for the land. According to the team, the goal was to craft "grossly fun" offerings by taking familiar, comforting flavours and reimagining them with playful, monster-inspired twists.
"Monstropolis is full of fun, adventure, zaniness, and craziness," Piasecki explained. "We’re taking familiar dishes and adding unexpected twists that feel authentic to this world."
Rosenthal added that the team frequently tested the boundaries during development, asking how far they could push the visual concepts without losing appetite appeal. "There were so many moments where we asked, 'Is this too much?' And sometimes we’d hear back, 'No. Can we take it further? Can we make it brighter, bolder, and more interesting?'"
Harryhausen’s Table-Service Restaurant
The iconic swanky restaurant featured in Monsters, Inc. is being brought to life as a table-service venue designed for guests of all ages.
At the centre of the dining space, Imagineers are constructing an Audio-Animatronic figure of the head sushi chef, who will be seen using all eight tentacles to prepare food for diners.
While the restaurant takes inspiration from traditional Japanese cuisine, the menu extends beyond sushi. Dish concepts currently being explored include classic ramen bowls featuring rich tonkotsu broth and alkaline ramen noodles, accented with playful monster touches such as fishcakes sliced to resemble eyeballs and brightly coloured green eggs.
Archie’s Scare Pig Pizza
Located further down the street, Archie’s Scare Pig Pizza offers a completely different dining atmosphere inspired by Monsters University. Designed as a quick-service location, the restaurant is themed after the college pizza joint where generations of monster students gather after class.
The menu aims to capture nostalgic, classic pizza shop flavours while incorporating surprise elements unique to the Pixar universe.
Among the beverage offerings being developed for the location is Blort, the iconic soft drink from the films. Since the drink has never been tasted by humans, the beverage team had a blank canvas to bring it into the real world. Early concepts for the beverage include a frozen purple drink topped with a "Scream Apple" foam.
Storytelling Through Culinary Design
Disney emphasized that every menu item in Monstropolis has been designed in close collaboration with Walt Disney Imagineering to ensure the storytelling aligns with the films while offering unique experiences for resort guests.
With work continuing on the new land at Disney's Hollywood Studios, further menu reveals and opening details are expected in the lead-up to the land's official debut next year.
