“It’s Tough to Be a Bug” is now closed permanently. At Disney’s Animal Kingdom, guests gathered in celebration of the show’s final moments.
The final showing of “It’s Tough to Be a Bug!” was today, March 16, 2025. Prior to the last showtime, guests surrounded the attraction before a Cast Member collected them into the queue.
The show will soon be replaced with a new show called “Zootopia: Better Zoogether!” arriving sometime in the winter of 2025. While no exact date has been announced, the premiere of the Zootopia show takes place in the same time frame as the release of “Zootopia 2.” “Zootopia: Better Zoogether!” has been announced to feature at least one original song with singing by Ginnifer Goodwin, the voice of Judy Hopps from the films.
“It’s Tough to Be a Bug!” debuted as an opening-day attraction in Disney’s Animal Kingdom on April 22, 1998. Taking place in the Tree of Life Theater, the “A Bug’s Life”-inspired show premiered seven months before the release of its associated film. The show ran approximately 9 minutes in length.
The mostly 3D show included special appearances by animatronics of Flik and Hopper from “A Bug’s Life.” The show was particularly known for its sometimes uncomfortable special effects, which included air puffs aimed at audience members, the odor of a stink bug, and the effect of a ‘bee sting’ poking guests in the back.
If you want to see more of the queue and theater of the show, we have a full photo tour.
Watch the final show of It’s Tough to Be a Bug below.
The show’s final day of operation also brought back the ‘bug eyes,’ a.k.a. 3D glasses which had previously been replaced with generic pink glasses used for MuppetVision 3D. After the last show, Cast Members allowed guests to take the glasses with them rather than returning them in the bin.
Will you miss “It’s Tough to Be a Bug!” or are you looking forward to “Zootopia: Better Zoogether!”? Let us know in the comments.
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