Five Things to Know About Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor

Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor is an interactive comedy presentation featuring Mike Wazowski from the animated feature “Monsters, Inc.” films. Imagineering technology allows cast members to interact with audience members and improvise – so no two shows are exactly alike! To learn more, read on; but if you want to laugh on over to the nuts and bolts, here’s your shortcut.

1. Queueing up is part of the fun.

As you wait, your monster host Mike Wazowksi gives a little background on the overhead monitors for anyone who hasn’t seen the movies. In case that’s you, here it is: energy for the Monster World was provided by screams in our world, until Mike discovered that laughter was ten times more efficient. His proposal? Allow people in the Monster World to a comedy club where the laughs could be captured and converted to energy.

If you have seen the movies, you might be more interested in what comes next: while you wait in the Laugh Floor queue, you can become part of the show. After Mike finishes his somewhat-too-long explanation, you can text a joke to the voice actors, and it may be included in the performance.

The number to text appears on the overhead screens and your message needs to start with a keyword, then your first name and hometown, then your joke. Usually, three or four submitted jokes are used in the last part of the show. Our own Erin Foster has some tips for getting your joke selected.

2. Energy is a laughing matter!

When the doors from the waiting area open, you’ll enter the theater. Part of the fun is knowing that you’re not really in Tomorrowland anymore: when you walk through the special portal the Monsters placed here, you’ve entered the Monster World!

On the screens around the room, you’ll see some of your fellow guests pictured with goofy captions like, “Will treat everyone to churros,” or “Hiding their third eye.” One guest will be selected for special teasing: known as “that guy,” they’re often used as the punchline to a joke. The monster comedian on stage may say, “I know how I’m going to dress up for Halloween … I’m going as ‘that guy’.” To thank the guest for being a good sport, at the end of the show, they get a sticker reading, “I Was ‘That Guy’.” More fun: the audience is instructed to yell and wave their arms overhead every time a monster says, “Welcome, humans!”

Only two characters from the original movie, Mike Wazowski and Roz, appear in the show. Mike is the “monster of ceremonies” and introduces the show’s comedians. He presents three acts, each with a monster who interacts with audience members while telling jokes. After the final act, Mike tells the audience that the “laugh energy canister” has been filled. Roz makes a final joke about promoting the person responsible for this success … which turns out to be “That Guy”! The show’s over and guests are directed out of the theater.

Fun fact: During Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, the attraction receives a special holiday overlay where some of the jokes are seasonally themed.

3. How it really works.

The technology to create the show is a tribute to Imagineering. The animated characters in the show appear on a large rear projection screen. Behind the scenes are live actors who voice the different monster comedians. The mouths of the monsters on the screen move in perfect synch with the actors’ quips thanks to voice-activated lip-synch technology, translated by computer and instantly projected on the screen. And since different actors take on the roles of the various monster comedians, the audience interactions will vary from show to show!

A series of cameras placed around the theater let the actors see who they’re talking with. This allows them to know where the audience member is seated and lets them react to the person on an individual basis. A cast member moves through the audience with a microphone to allow selected guests to be part of the show. This, coupled with the improvisational element of the show, is what makes the performance fun, especially for the littles.

4. Some Monstrous history.

Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor opened on April 2, 2007, but it was the fifth attraction to occupy this space. America the Beautiful was a Circle-Vision 360 film that ran from 1971-1979. It was replaced by Magic Carpet ‘Round the World which ran until 1984. American Journeys opened that year and ran until January 1994. Then the Timekeeper Circle-Vision 360 film opened and ran until February 26, 2006. Who says things never change in the Magic Kingdom?

While it was being developed, the working title for the attraction was “Laugh Floor Comedy Club.” This was changed to “Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor Comedy Club” to give a clearer indication of what the attraction would be about. Two weeks before it opened, the name was again changed, this time to Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor. (Shorter, but harder to punctuate.)

When the feature film Monsters University was released in 2013, characters from that film were added to the pre-show. And since the 2013 release of Monsters University, references to that film have been added as well. (Bonus history fact: Monster’s Inc. Laugh Floor was nominated for the Outstanding Visual Effects in a Special Venue Project award in 2008 by the Visual Effects Society.)

5. The Nuts and Bolts.

Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor is located next to Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin in Tomorrowland at the Magic Kingdom. As an indoor attraction, bad weather doesn’t affect Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor. The show lasts about 15 minutes; the preshow lasts less than 5 minutes.

The theater holds several hundred people, and guests sit on long, hard plastic benches with a back. Wheelchair and ECV users may ride directly into the theater; wheelchair seating is near the center of the room. There is no height requirement and no rider switch. In order for everyone to be able to enjoy the show, Video Captioning, Assistive Listening, and Sign Language are available.

Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor is open for Extended Evening Theme Park Hours, but not for Early Theme Park Entry. You could use Lightning Lane Multi Pass to secure entry, but, as is true for most shows at Walt Disney World, there are more useful reservations to make. You’ll almost always get into the next show, no matter when you show up.

The Bottom Line.

We think Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor is a lot of fun, especially for youngsters. Adults will enjoy it too and will probably get a few of the jokes that go over the heads of the littles. While not at the top of must-see attractions in the Magic Kingdom, it’s a great way to take a break, sit, and get out of the heat. And if you’re a fan of puns and dad jokes, you’ll walk away with some new material. I know I did.

Have you been to Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor? What made you laugh? Let us know in the comments.