A major transformation is coming to Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, and it’s time for the bugs to pack their bags. After 26 years inside the Tree of Life, the It’s Tough to Be a Bug! attraction is officially on its way out, making room for a brand-new experience inspired by Zootopia (2016).
The Tree of Life Prepares to Say Goodbye to It’s Tough to Be a Bug!
Since opening with Animal Kingdom in 1998, It’s Tough to Be a Bug! has delighted (and startled) guests with its 3D effects, animatronic insects, and surprise sensory elements. Based on Pixar’s A Bug’s Life (1998), the attraction was a family-friendly staple for the Disney park, offering a unique look at the world from a bug’s perspective.
However, after years of speculation, Disney has now filed an official permit confirming the end of the attraction. Soon, the Tree of Life theater will undergo a complete reimagining, with the resident bugs moving out to make way for Zootopia’s energetic cast of characters.
Disney Files Permit for “Zootopia: Better Zoogether!”
According to a recent Notice of Commencement, Walt Disney Imagineering has contracted Icarus Exhibits, Inc. to begin work inside the Tree of Life Theater. The permit specifically mentions plans to “install set elements,” marking a new phase in the attraction’s transformation.
Last month, a separate permit was filed for the demolition of existing structures inside the theater, signaling that the It’s Tough to Be a Bug! era is coming to a close. The original show will play its final performance on March 16, 2025.
What to Expect From the New Tree of Life Show
Disney previously announced that the attraction replacing It’s Tough to Be a Bug! will be called “Zootopia: Better Zoogether!” The show is expected to debut in late 2025, aligning with the release of Zootopia 2 (2025) in theaters.
Early concept art suggests that the new show will feature an advanced Clawhauser audio-animatronic, much like the highly detailed animatronics in Shanghai Disneyland’s Zootopia: Hot Pursuit attraction. Additionally, Ginnifer Goodwin, the original voice of Judy Hopps, is set to perform a brand-new song for the show.
Animal Kingdom Is Changing in a Big Way
The closure of It’s Tough to Be a Bug! is just one of several significant changes coming to Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park. Earlier this year, Disney permanently closed most of DinoLand U.S.A. to make way for the new Tropical Americas land, Pueblo Esperanza.
Pueblo Esperanza, which is expected to debut in 2027, will feature two attractions inspired by Encanto (2021) and a reimagined version of DINOSAUR themed to Indiana Jones. While some elements of DinoLand U.S.A. will remain open through the end of 2025, a full closure is expected by early 2026.
As Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park prepares for its next evolution, the removal of It’s Tough to Be a Bug! marks the end of an era. While some Disney Parks fans are excited about Zootopia’s arrival, others will miss the attraction that made them squirm in their seats for over two decades.
What will you miss about It’s Tough To Be A Bug! at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park? Let Disney Dining know in the comments!
