[UPDATE 4/26/13, 3:00 p.m. EST] All of these events have been confirmed! Plus some surprises, too! Scroll down for concept art.
MU is headed to WDW with an array of fun as part of what’s being billed as a “Monstrous Summer” for Disney’s Florida property.
Though a press event this Thursday is expected to officially confirm many of the following events, Stitch Kingdom brings us the news a few days early. Here’s what’s in store:
- A repeat of 2012’s successful “Disney 24” event, in which the Magic Kingdom was open for 24 hours straight. May 24 is the big day this year, and it will include special appearances by college-aged Mike and Sulley in MU attire (!). This will likely tie in with Disney’s current Limited Time Magic promotion.
- An update to Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor at the Magic Kingdom: This Tomorrowland attraction, which opened in 2007, involves Mike hosting a comedy club to collect energy-filled laughs for Monstropolis. New jokes will be added that reflect Mike’s MU pride.
- Visit the MU Student Union: Mike and Sulley normally greet guests at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in some Monsters, Inc. office space. This same location will be transformed into the Monsters University Student Union, where guests can meet Mike and Sulley in their MU garb.
- The Monsterail: Disney will wrap one of its world-famous monorails in its MU finest, similar to other movie tie-in wraps that promoted the likes of The Avengers and Iron Man 3.
Also expected to arrive within the next few weeks is a behind-the-scenes exhibit inside The Magic of Disney Animation at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. An area of the building is continually updated to reflect Disney’s latest animated release with concept art, models, and other goodies to gaze upon. It should transition from Wreck-It Ralph to Monsters University any day now.
Already appearing around the Internet are Disney ads bearing Mike and Sulley’s faces, urging web-surfers to enjoy a Monstrous Summer with their families. It wouldn’t be surprising if a few Orlando-area billboards followed.
These (and more?) are likely to be officially confirmed by Disney during its Monstrous Summer press event being held for the media later this week. The event is not open to the public, though Orlando social media is all about sharing the love, meaning there should be plenty of outlets to tune in live via Ustream or Twitter. Though nothing has been announced, a few Pixar creatives are likely to be in attendance if tradition of past similar events is kept. Stay tuned!
[UPDATE] The Monsterail has commenced operation. It’s more a collection of stickers than an actual wrap like past monorail promotions, but definitely still neat.
Here’s the concept art for the MU Student Union coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. It opens May 24.
The fun extends out west, where Mike and Sulley will greet guests in an area near their attraction at Disney California Adventure designed to look like MU dorms.
Also at DCA, the opening float of the Pixar Play Parade will get a makeover to coincide with the new film.
Lastly, Disneyland and Disney California Adventure will both join the Magic Kingdom in the now-official 24-hour party taking place on May 24. To break the news, Mike Wazowski himself spoke to the press via a giant projection onto Spaceship Earth, the “golf ball” icon of Walt Disney World’s Epcot. Here’s a sneak peek with Imagineers of how the projection technology works:
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EblHDit6pJ4&w=560&h=315]
