In 1895, Dracula builds a resort in Transylvania, hidden from humans, to raise his beloved daughter Mavis in a safe environment. In the present, the place is the Hotel Transylvania, where monsters bring their families to vacation far from the frightening humans. Dracula invites his friends—Frankenstein and his wife Eunice; Wayne and Wanda, the werewolves; Griffin, the invisible man; Murray, the mummy; Bigfoot, among others—to celebrate Mavis's 118th birthday. As the party is about to begin, a 21-year-old human named Jonathan wanders through the forest and stumbles upon the hotel. Dracula spots Jonathan and disguises him as a monster to hide him from the guests. But Mavis also sees Jonathan, and Dracula forces him to pose as a monster. Soon, Mavis believes Jonathan is the "zing" of her life, despite her father's warnings about humans.