Imagineering Files a Construction Permit for Harryhausen's, the Monstropolis Restaurant Replacing Mama Melrose's

Two days after Disney filed paperwork for a Monstropolis playground, Imagineering filed another one, this time for the land's sit-down restaurant.

Walt Disney Imagineering filed a Notice of Commencement on Thursday, October 15, according to WDW News Today and WDWMagic. WDW News Today lists the address as 359 Cypress Drive at Hollywood Studios, which belongs to Harryhausen's, the table-service restaurant from Monsters, Inc. that is taking over the old Mama Melrose's Ristorante Italiano building. The contractor is Artistic Entertainment Services, and the listed scope is "general construction." WDW News Today reports the permit expires in one year.

The Monstropolis entrance, with Harryhausen's and its giant eyeball behind the fountain. Artist concept only. Image: Disney/Pixar

Who got the job

The contractor is the interesting part. WDW News Today describes Artistic Entertainment Services as a scenic fabrication specialist that has worked with Disney and other theme parks, and notes the same company was already permitted on Project Fedora, the build going up near the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular. WDWMagic says the firm specializes in themed entertainment environments and reads its involvement as a sign that the restaurant's themed elements are moving forward.

Our read: the permit itself only says "general construction," but bringing in a scenic shop suggests this round of work covers the themed finishes guests will see, not just the structure.

Concept art of the Harryhausen's exterior, with its crossed chopsticks and eyeball over the door. Disney concept art as printed on the construction walls. Photo: WDW News Today

What is planned for Harryhausen's

WDW News Today reports that an X-beam went in back in July to hold the facade's giant chopsticks. Inside, Disney has promised an octopus sushi chef Audio-Animatronics figure in the middle of the dining room, and earlier this month the culinary team previewed ramen with eyeball fishcake as one of the dishes in development.

The Harryhausen's dining room, with the tentacled sushi chef at center. Artist concept only. Image: Disney/Pixar

There is still no opening date, no menu prices and no word on reservations. Disney has said only that Monstropolis opens in phases starting in 2027. The Monsters, Inc. door coaster, which WDW News Today says will be Disney's first suspended coaster, has no opening timeframe yet.

Meanwhile, the paint is catching up to the teeth

WDW News Today's latest look over the walls, published Sunday, shows the monster details piling up on the facades of the former Muppets Courtyard. Right now the painters are mostly working on the restroom building joined to the future Archie's Scare Pig Pizza, the land's quick-service spot replacing PizzeRizzo.

Cream trim cut into pointed, tooth-like shapes runs along the top of the red brick. Photo: WDW News Today

• Teeth: the tooth-shaped trim and the horn-like points on the window surrounds are not new (WDW News Today first spotted them on this building, the former Gonzo's Royal Flush restrooms, in July). What is new is the paint: the pale window surrounds are getting beige and gray shading so they read as weathered stone.
• Hand-painted brick: painters are adding the pale mortar lines between the bricks by hand, and some sections are finished while the ones beside them still show dark, unpainted joints.
• Scales: facing Grand Avenue, the upper facade is covered in round-ended shakes laid to look like monster scales. They went up gray, picked up teal, gold and bronze coloring, and now show a mix of blue, orange-brown and muted gray.

The scale-like shakes on the upper facade, with more tooth trim below. Photo: WDW News Today

Much of the rest is still out of sight. Scaffolding wraps the neighboring facades, sheeting covers some unfinished sections, and the construction walls keep the lower levels hidden.

So which are you more excited for: a ramen dinner in front of the octopus sushi chef at Harryhausen's, or a slice at Archie's?

Sources

• WDW News Today, Imagineering Files Permit for Harryhausen's Restaurant in Monstropolis at Disney's Hollywood Studios (October 16, 2026)
• WDWMagic, WDI Files New Permit for Harryhausen's Restaurant in Monstropolis at Disney's Hollywood Studios (October 15, 2026)
• WDW News Today, Teeth, Scales, and Weathered Paintwork Add Monstrous Details to Monstropolis at Disney's Hollywood Studios (October 18, 2026)
• WDW News Today, Close-Up Look at the First Monster-Themed Details as Monstropolis Construction Continues (July 26, 2026)
• Parks Magic, Disney Hires a Playground Maker for Monstropolis, as a New Imagineering Permit Hints at a Play Area Nobody Has Announced (October 13, 2026)
• Parks Magic, Disney Is Exploring Tonkotsu Ramen With Eyeball Fishcake for Harryhausen's, and Blort Is Coming to Archie's in Monstropolis (October 7, 2026)

Image credits: Disney/Pixar (Monstropolis entrance and Harryhausen's dining room concept art, via Disney Parks Blog); Disney concept art photographed on the construction walls by WDW News Today (Harryhausen's exterior); WDW News Today (construction photos).