Next year, a new “Zootopia” show will open in the Tree of Life Theater at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The show is just one new experience coming to the theme park, with DinoLand becoming the new Tropical Americas land. But while we have closing dates and timeframes for DinoLand, Disney hasn’t announced when the current Tree of Life show, “It’s Tough to be a Bug,” will close forever.
It’s Tough to be a Bug
“It’s Tough to be a Bug” was an opening day attraction at Disney’s Animal Kingdom on April 22, 1998. It features “A Bug’s Life” character Flik presenting a series of bug performances that are interrupted by the film’s villain, Hopper. But it otherwise has little to do with the Pixar film, which wouldn’t be released until seven months after the attraction opened. The 3D film is accompanied by special effects like water and fog, and audio-animatronics. “It’s Tough to be a Bug” also ran at Disney California Adventure from 2001 to 2018.
The “It’s Tough to be a Bug” webpage lists hours for the show through at least February 2, 2025 — the furthest date we can currently view on the Walt Disney World calendar. It’s scheduled for continuous performances from park open to close.
Meanwhile, “Zootopia: Better Zoogether!” is scheduled to open in the winter of 2025. Disney hasn’t clarified if that means the end of the year (December 2025), but it certainly can’t be early in the year. Either way, “It’s Tough to be a Bug” should be closing any day now. Although the new “Zootopia” film can be created without closing the current show, Disney will need to change the theater’s decorations, effects, and (we hope) audio-animatronics. They’ll also need time to test and preview the show. Considering how long it’s taking them to replace a “Little Mermaid” stage show with, well, a “Little Mermaid” stage show, it’s odd there has been no indication of when “It’s Tough to be a Bug” will close.
We would guess Disney is keeping “It’s Tough to be a Bug” open through at least the holiday season when theater shows are vital for pulling crowds. Though hours are listed in February, the calendar is not always accurate, and the show could close before then.
Zootopia: Better Zoogether!
During “Zootopia: Better Zoogether!” guests will join Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde to explore the biomes of Zootopia. The show was first teased at Destination D23 in 2023. Disney announced the name and opening timeframe this summer. Originally, Zootopia was set to replace DINOSAUR and the area that surrounds it, but the “blue sky” plans changed.
Concept art indicates there will be an Officer Clawhauser audio-animatronic. Other characters pictured include Chief Bogo, Yax, Duke Weaselton, Gazelle, and Flash the sloth.
Are you looking forward to “Zootopia: Better Zoogether”? Let us know in the comments.
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