Disney has a trio of projects starting construction in 2026 at Disneyland, and the resort is gearing up for this work with the filing of new permits and more. Here’s the latest on the Eastern Gateway, Pandora – World of Avatar, Coco expansion, and closing of the Monsters, Inc. dark ride. This post shares dates & details, concept art, and everything we know about the plan.
Pandora and the Coco-themed boat ride were formally announced for Disney California Adventure by Parks Chair Josh D’Amaro last year during the D23 Expo last August. Prior to that, an Avatar experience had been revealed and teased by CEO Bob Iger for over a year; the D23 Expo added concept art and a location to the Avatar destination (they’ve still refrained from calling it a land or even Pandora – World of Avatar).
Following that, Disneyland President Thomas Mazloum announced a revival of the Eastern Gateway this June. He also revealed the locations of the Avatar and Coco projects within DCA, and that Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue would permanently close to make way for DCA expansion.
That’s more or less where things have stood until late December 2025, when Disney has started filing construction permits in preparation of these projects kicking into high gear in 2026. These three projects are in addition to the major Avengers Campus expansion that began early this year, is now vertical, and will likely add 2 new attractions (and more) to DCA in 2027.
Here’s the latest on this trio of 2028 and beyond projects. Where things officially stand, along with our speculation about what’s being fast-tracked, slow-rolled, or outright delayed…
Eastern Gateway Permits Filed
Before almost anything else can happen, the first piece of the puzzle is the Eastern Gateway transportation hub.
The new Eastern Gateway transportation hub at Disneyland Resort will be built on a portion of what’s currently the Manchester Cast Member parking lot. This new area will provide approximately 6,000 parking spaces, shuttle and rideshare areas, security screening and dedicated access for traffic off of Disney Way, improving parking and traffic flow throughout the resort area.
The new Eastern Gateway parking & transportation hub will also feature a pedestrian bridge over Harbor Boulevard, leading to an all-new esplanade arrival experience. This pedestrian flyover will also provide convenient public access to and from Harbor Boulevard.
These enhanced parking, transit, and arrival offerings are the first step in Disneyland Resort’s next phase of construction, creating the infrastructure necessary to prepare for future growth and to welcome more guests as new experiences are added. The multi-year construction of the new Eastern Gateway arrival experience is slated to begin in Fall 2026.
Ahead of that, Disneyland has filed the first permits for Eastern Gateway as of late December 2025. The permits detail a project that’s 3.2 million square feet with 8 levels and 302 EV chargers.
Here’s the permit entry: “DLR – East Parking Structure – New Commercial Construction: 3,257,394 sq ft 8-level open parking structure core and shell. Install 302 EV chargers. With limited mechanical, electrical and plumbing” (h/t @themeparkiq).
It’ll be interesting to see just how many spaces end up being added by Eastern Gateway. This structure is 2 stories taller than Mickey & Friends, but with a smaller footprint. The plans announced over the summer indicated approximately 6,000 spaces, whereas previous statements during the DisneylandForward campaign suggested the structure could be as large as 17,000 spaces. My guess is that the final number is in the 6,000 to 7,000 range–that was the tally for the original Eastern Gateway proposal several years ago.
Regardless, it’s fantastic to see permitting and early prep-work already underway for Eastern Gateway, which is a necessary prerequisite to Pandora – World of Avatar. In order to have sufficient room for the show building and everything that a fully-fledged Avatar land entails, Disney needs to demolish the old bus loops and build into that space. But that can’t happen until the new Eastern Gateway transportation hub is up and running.
Unless Eastern Gateway is now being fast-tracked (which seems like a possibility since permits have been filed and it’s still 2025!), it’s unlikely that the space needed for Pandora – World of Avatar will be freed up until 2028. If work were to start earlier in 2026, that could be moved forward to 2027. This should partially explain why Disney isn’t really sharing much about the timeline for Pandora–because it’s so remote. (More on that in a minute.)
Monsters Rescued for Now?
Speaking of things about which Disneyland hasn’t shared much, we still don’t have a closing date for Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue! When announcing Eastern Gateway over the summer, Disney simply shared that the Monsters, Inc. dark ride would close in “early 2026.”
That would typically mean January or February 2026, with March and April being Spring 2026, Memorial Day to Labor Day being Summer 2026, etc. (Disney does seasons differently.) However, Disney hasn’t shared anything about the closure timeline for Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue! since then–despite revealing the “full” 2026 Disneyland Calendar earlier this month.
That calendar reveal is usually a ‘good news’ announcement, so we wouldn’t necessarily expect a closure date at that time. But it’s usually followed with ‘clean-up’ announcement revealing closing dates and other operational changes that could be construed negatively. That didn’t happen, and with only one week until “early 2026” arrives, we’re starting to wonder what the plan is for Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue!
To be sure, Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue is not a fan-favorite attraction deserving of long goodbye. We were never expecting anything on par with DINOSAUR at Walt Disney World, or even the Red Car Trolley at DCA.
Even for a mid-tier dark ride, a closing date feels overdue. Assuming, of course, that the plan is still to close Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue in early 2026. At this point, it wouldn’t surprise me if that is not the plan, and the attraction has a reprieve until after Spring Break.
Even though Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue is not a fan favorite, it serves an important role as one of the few family-friendly dark rides in DCA. Having it open through Spring Break might be savvy! That’s doubly true since there doesn’t seem to be a pressing reason to close the attraction. As noted above, it’s not like Pandora construction can start anytime soon.
Purely a guess on our part, but would expect Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue to remain open through April 6, 2026 as opposed to closing in early 2026. Unless there are other moving parts to these projects about which we’re unaware, it could conceivably stay open until early 2027. That is not what we’re predicting, though. Just a closing date in April 2026 or beyond.
Coco Construction Commences!
Disneyland Resort’s upcoming attraction themed to Pixar Animation Studios’ “Coco” will be built near Paradise Gardens Park and Pixar Pier, in areas that are predominantly backstage today. The good news is that this project is being fast-tracked, with construction now beginning this year as opposed to 2026.
As we reported a couple of months ago, construction on this Coco attraction was set to begin backstage this fall. In order to commence construction, Disney filed a confidential confidential permit with the City of Anaheim for demolition. This permit was for initial site prep work for the new Coco boat ride. So not exactly vertical construction, but the project has already started, and far ahead of the original schedule.
The plans submitted to Anaheim Public Works concern the public right of way along Disneyland Drive and Katella Avenue on sidewalks, curbs, gutters, trees, planters, landscaping, irrigation and fencing. These plans do not show the outline of the ride building, but it’s expected to be squeezed between Boardwalk Pizza & Pasta, the DCA parade storage building and the Incredicoaster track.
The latest development is that the sidewalk along Disneyland Drive that runs behind DCA is now closed and fenced off as of December 24, 2025. The sidewalk on the other side of the street in front of Pixar Place Hotel is still open, as is the crosswalk to the Grand Californian.
It’s expected that landscaping back here will be removed, and the service road to be re-routed. Disney is going to need every inch of real estate possible for this attraction. It’s going to be a really tight fit, especially if they intend upon preserving the parade route for future use.
As for the Coco boat ride, Walt Disney Imagineering will draw inspiration for the attraction from beloved classics, like Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean. “We’re bringing our skeletal cast of characters to life in a big way through the latest Audio-Animatronics technology,” D’Amaro said at D23 Expo. “These figures will appear in ways you’ll have to see to believe.”
Pandora Plans Postponed?
Then there’s Pandora – World of Avatar. Here’s what Disneyland had to share about that over the summer:
“Additionally, we’re looking forward to transforming a portion of the current Hollywood Backlot area into our Avatar destination in Disney California Adventure. This project is still in the early stages of development, and additional details will be shared later, including construction timeframes.”
In a December 2025 press release to coincide with the new film, Disney shared this: “Avatar will expand its presence across Disney Parks, with the current Hollywood Backlot area at Disney’s California Adventure becoming home to a new Avatar destination. This project is still in early development, and additional details will be revealed at a later date.” (Emphasis added to both.)
I don’t know that it’s possible to postpone something that didn’t have any real dates or details attached to it in the first place, but Pandora – World of Avatar still feels fairly nebulous. That’s doubly true given how much emphasis was placed on ‘shovels in soil’ projects at the last D23 Expo.
It’s triply-true given that Disney CEO Bob Iger first announced an Avatar “experience” coming to Disneyland back on February 8, 2023. Sure, we have new concept art, a specific park, and even a land within that park where it’ll be located. But we still don’t know a whole lot beyond that, nearly 3 years later.
Disney has now repeatedly stated that the new Avatar “destination” is still in “early development.” This suggests construction isn’t slated to start anytime soon–and never was. No changes; nothing to see here. The project will likely reach its 3rd anniversary without visible progress having been made.
From the outside looking in, the Pandora project strikes us as the one most likely of being cancelled or changed. (It’s not a high likelihood, just higher–relatively–than any other announced project.)
There are a few possibilities here, beyond the timeline of the Eastern Gateway (discussed above). The first is that Disney is waiting to see how Avatar: Fire and Ash performs at the box office, just wanting to triple-check that the franchise actually has staying power. (So far, so good on that front.)
The second is that Disney CEO Bob Iger spoke off-the-cuff about the Pandora expansion at Disneyland way back in 2023, announcing a project that was not in active development at Imagineering. Or at least, wasn’t ready for a reveal. That they’ve been scrambling since to figure out something, and that process isn’t fast.
The third is a variation of the second point, with Disney and Imagineering leadership recognizing the reality that a CEO change is right around the corner. That would provide a clean, face-saving break for Avatar to be quietly killed and replaced by a different project as the new CEO aims to make their mark. (Zootopia? Monstropolis? Something else entirely?)
The final possibility, and the one that strikes me as most likely, is that Pandora is really-for-real project that will come to fruition, but won’t open until 2030 or later. Because the second point above is probably accurate, and because work can’t begin in earnest until Eastern Gateway gets going. Equally significant, since Pandora involves outside input from known perfectionist James Cameron.
We’ve more or less been down this road before with Pandora – World of Avatar at Walt Disney World. It was announced very early in development, nothing happened for a few years, fans assumed it was cancelled, and then the full reveal happened. It was built as announced and is still a smash sensation, almost a decade later.
To that and a couple of these points, Disney recently shared during an earnings call that Pandora – World of Avatar is the #1 ranked land at Walt Disney World in terms of guest satisfaction. (Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is #1 at Disneyland.) From that perspective alone, it makes sense that Disney would want to build a lavish version of Pandora – World of Avatar in DCA.
Ultimately, our assumption is that Disney is going to bet big on Pandora West. That it’ll feature a blockbuster attraction utilizing the same ride system as Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for the Sunken Treasure at Shanghai Disneyland. For one thing, the concept art suggests as much. It looks like a land that’ll rival the Animal Kingdom version, just with different twists–and a potentially better headliner attraction.
For another thing, the approval of DisneylandForward comes with a requirement that Disney invest at least $1.9 to $2.5 billion over the course of the next decade. Beyond that, investing in Disneyland pays dividends, as the parks have been busier than ever and consistently crowded since reopening. Even more so than Walt Disney World. Part of that is obviously demographics, but Disneyland clearly has room to grow as a bona fide tourist destination.
There’s also the simple reality that you never bet against James Cameron. Everyone’s always saying that Avatar is a “forgettable” franchise, and yet, everyone also goes to see the movies and the rides have long lines, so it kinda seems like it’s also popular. Going big on Avatar at Disney California Adventure just makes sense, even if this seems to be the project about which Disneyland fans are least excited (for now…let’s revisit that enthusiasm once if/when it opens!).
Planning a Southern California vacation? For park admission deals, read Tips for Saving Money on Disneyland Tickets. Learn about on-site and off-site hotels in our Anaheim Hotel Reviews & Rankings. For where to eat, check out our Disneyland Restaurant Reviews. For unique ideas of things that’ll improve your trip, check out What to Pack for Disney. For comprehensive advice, consult our Disneyland Vacation Planning Guide. Finally, for guides beyond Disney, check out our Southern California Itineraries for day trips to Los Angeles, Laguna Beach, and many other SoCal cities!
Your Thoughts
What do you think of the Coco boat ride, Avatar destination, and Eastern Gateway? Thoughts on the timelines for these projects? Disappointed that the Monsters, Inc. dark ride is closing in early 2026…maybe? Do you agree or disagree with our assessment? Any questions? Hearing your feedback—even when you disagree with us—is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
