Animal Kingdom’s ‘Zootopia’ Retheme Receives Harsh Early Reviews

A new show inside Disney’s Animal Kingdom was expected to deliver fresh charm and renewed energy. Instead, Zootopia: Better Zoogether has prompted a wave of frustration, particularly among longtime park fans who feel the update departs from the core values that once defined the park’s identity.

The Tree of Life Theater previously housed It’s Tough to Be a Bug, a 3D attraction rooted in playful education and environmental messaging. Its quiet closure earlier this year signaled a shift away from some of Animal Kingdom’s earliest thematic foundations. Many feared what would come next.

Disney positioned the replacement as a celebration of unity. Zootopia: Better Zoogether invites guests to join Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde for Zoogether Day, presenting animals from different biomes coming together in a festive, upbeat 4D experience. Marketing emphasized warmth, music, and togetherness.

The reception has been far more complicated.

Fan Criticism of Zootopia: Better Zoogether

Guests who attended early showings voiced concerns across social platforms. One viewer wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, that the attraction is “straight garbage” and their “least favorite attraction on property,” calling it “a horrible clip montage with no overarching theme” and “zero attempt to fit DAK.” That sentiment spread quickly among Disney fans.

Zootopia: Better Zoogether is straight garbage. This is my least favorite attraction on property. It’s a horrible clip montage with no overarching theme, pacing too fast to keep up with on the dim screen & 3D. An absurdly awful song, corny writing, and zero attempt to fit DAK.

Zootopia: Better Zoogether is straight garbage. This is my least favorite attraction on property. It's a horrible clip montage with no overarching theme, pacing too fast to keep up with on the dim screen & 3D. An absurdly awful song, corny writing, and zero attempt to fit DAK. pic.twitter.com/apX36d5S9J

— BeastCoasters 🦃 (@BeastCoasters) November 8, 2025

Another self-described fan of the original film expressed disappointment, saying, “Big Zootopia fan myself, this is an embarrassment.” Many argued the show felt rushed or visually muddled, including one guest who said the screen graphics “look like communist slop propaganda,” referring to the stylized transitions and color effects used throughout.

Beyond visuals, many critiques centered on how the show aligns with Animal Kingdom’s identity. A number of guests argued the attraction lacks ecological context and meaningful ties to conservation, a message historically embedded in attractions throughout the park.

Animatronic Generates Applause, But Larger Concerns Remain

One element did earn consistent praise: the full-scale Clawhauser audio-animatronic. Several guests highlighted it as the standout, though one noted that “besides the AA, the show is a cheap, poorly put together Disney+ clip show” that relies heavily on standard 3D tricks. They added, “Will the kids like it…sure. Could they have done better…absolutely!”

The same commenter questioned missing thematic depth, asking why the show didn’t address endangered species or broader ecosystem awareness. They ultimately concluded that the experience “didn’t pay tribute to the park it’s in” and described the execution as “lazy” and “elementary.”

Even a former Disney Imagineer, Jim Shull, expressed dissatisfaction in a now-deleted post, describing the attraction as having a “woke” tone, before removing related commentary from his channel.

This animatronic is the only good part of the new Zootopia Better Zoogether show at Animal Kingdom. Besides the AA, the show is a cheap, poorly put together Disney+ clip show reusing the typical 3D tricks. Will the kids like it…sure. Could they have done better…absolutely! 🐯🦊

•Where is the show taking place and why are we in the tree?
•Where is the message of conservation?
•Why are the 3D effects coming through a live drone feed miles away?
•Why didn’t each animal explain their part in the animal world and how it’s important to the ecosystem?
•Why couldn’t the antagonist be hurting the natural environment so then the hero’s could push the message of saving our natural world
•Why didn’t they talk about endangered species?

Just a few thoughts after seeing a few videos. 🤷‍♂️

Hey I understand things cost money, time and everything has a budget. But this was lazy, elementary and didn’t pay tribute to the park it’s in. The Zootopia movie has nothing to do with animal problems or about Animal Kingdoms message, but you can make a good show with the Zootopia characters that reflects the parks message and core. This is just slapped together and anyone could have produced it.

This animatronic is the only good part of the new Zootopia Better Zoogether show at Animal Kingdom. Besides the AA, the show is a cheap, poorly put together Disney+ clip show reusing the typical 3D tricks. Will the kids like it…sure. Could they have done better…absolutely! 🐯🦊… pic.twitter.com/rMoIk5yLT4

— Theme Park Obsession (@ParkObsession) November 1, 2025

Another flashpoint has been the recontextualization of the Tree of Life. In this version, the carvings are described as creations of Zootopia residents, shifting the structure into a symbol of inspirational unity. Critics argue this reframing reduces the tree’s original purpose as a tribute to real global biodiversity.

As one guest summarized, the show feels like “the perfect example of how this company is run by bean counters with total disregard for thematic integrity,” adding that while Zootopia could work in the park, this version “has nothing to do with conservation, nor the park’s overall message.”

What’s your reaction to Zootopia: Better Zoogether?