On September 13, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park quietly transformed the landscape near the Tree of Life, blocking off the area with new barricades and scaffolding.
The story started to unfold on September 8, when WDWNT reported that Disney had officially installed a sign for the upcoming “Zootopia: Better Zoogether!” show in the Tree of Life Theater on Discovery Island. This follows the permanent closure of It’s Tough to Be a Bug! on March 16, 2025, after nearly 27 years.
As with most theme park projects, Disney kept the sign under wraps—literally. Crews covered it with a black tarp that towered over the surrounding construction walls and barricades. The only hint of the sign’s design came from a few black poles sticking out, suggesting that more decorative elements were still to be added.
Then, just days later, things took an unexpected turn. On September 13, X (formerly Twitter) user @evanpatel11 shared a photo showing that the previously modest barricade around the Tree of Life area had grown significantly. The scaffolding, now covered with tan scrim, completely surrounded the entrance to the “Zootopia: Better Zoogether!”.
The scrim up around the new Zootopia marquee is insane… somehow it like tripled in size and is absolutely huge now. What does this mean? No idea
The scrim up around the new Zootopia marquee is insane… somehow it like tripled in size and is absolutely huge now. What does this mean? No idea pic.twitter.com/Fb7EdCD9xi
— Evan Patel (@EvanPatel11) September 13, 2025
The reasoning behind this dramatic expansion of barricades remains unclear. It’s possible that Disney needed to make room for additional construction or to create a more secure area around the entrance for the new show. Alternatively, the company may be taking extra precautions to keep any details about the new attraction hidden from guests, ensuring a surprise when the sign is officially revealed.
Scheduled to open on November 7, 2025, “Zootopia: Better Zoogether!” is set to coincide with the theatrical release of Zootopia 2 on November 26, 2025. Guests will join their favorite characters in celebrating Zootopia Day with several animal performances, including one from the iconic Gazelle. Ginnifer Goodwin will reprise her role as Judy Hopps, bringing a brand-new song to the show. Concept art has hinted that the attraction could feature an advanced Clawhauser audio-animatronic, much like the one in Zootopia: Hot Pursuit at Shanghai Disneyland.
Have you noticed other construction at Magic Kingdom Park, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, or Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park? Share your story with Disney Dining in the comments!
