Walt Disney World’s Animal Kingdom recently unveiled a new chapter in the Tree of Life Theater with the debut of Zootopia: Better Zoogether! on November 7, 2025. Replacing the long-running It’s Tough to Be a Bug!, which entertained guests for over two decades, the theater now immerses visitors in the bustling city of Zootopia during the annual Zoogether Day celebration.
The show presents a “watch party” led by a new character, Heidi Howler, a wolf who guides audiences through three acts across Zootopia’s distinct biomes. Guests wear “CarrotVision” 3D glasses, while air blasts, water effects, scent cues, smoke, bubbles, and moving seats create a multi-sensory experience. The finale features a recreation of Gazelle’s hit “Try Everything,” offering fans a nostalgic moment from the original film.
A notable addition is the animatronic Officer Clawhauser, who brings a physical presence to the performance. However, less than a month after opening, the figure experienced a malfunction during a performance on November 23. Clawhauser appeared instead via a satellite drone presentation, suggesting a backup system was triggered. While the show continued without interruption, guests noticed the absence, prompting questions about the attraction’s early reliability.
According to Kenny the Pirate, the attraction was temporarily closed, and guests were evacuated from the line for about 30 minutes. Some visitors were able to return later using a Multiple Experience pass. The My Disney Experience app listed the show as temporarily unavailable during the interruption.
Outside the theater, Disney has expanded the Zootopia presence with meet-and-greets featuring Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde in outfits inspired by the upcoming Zootopia 2 (2025), reinforcing the connection between the park experience and the franchise’s next chapter.
Fans have responded positively to the energy and recognizable characters, particularly younger guests, though some have expressed that the story feels more like a series of moments than a cohesive narrative and that the show diverges from Animal Kingdom’s conservation-focused themes.
Zootopia: Better Zoogether! signals a new direction for the Tree of Life Theater, highlighting celebration, spectacle, and the growing Zootopia universe. How it continues to resonate with longtime guests remains to be seen.
