After almost 30 years, one of Disney World's beloved shows will close, marking the end of an era—but there is some good news
This Classic Disney World Attraction Is Set to Close for Good in March
Published on Feb. 06, 2025
First, Disney World expanded EPCOT to include Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, which opened in 2021 and 2022, respectively. Then, they introduced Tiana’s Bayou Adventure to the Magic Kingdom in 2024. And they’re not stopping there.
But as Disney makes room for new attractions, we do sometimes need to say goodbye to old favorites—and spring 2025 will bring big changes at the most magical place on Earth. Keep reading to learn about the most recent closure announcement and when your last day to experience the attraction is.
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Which Disney World attraction is closing?
It’s Tough to Be a Bug, located within Disney World’s iconic Tree of Life in Animal Kingdom, will close for good on March 17. But the last day for visitors to experience the 4D show, inspired by the animated Pixar film A Bug’s Life, is the day before that—March 16. The much-loved attraction debuted on April 22, 1998, the very same day Animal Kingdom opened its gates to the public and seven months before the film hit theaters.
During the Off Bugway show—emceed by the movie’s main character, Flik, a friendly ant—guests are invited to don bug-eye glasses to become “honorary bugs” and experience the special effects of the 3D movie. It starts off pleasantly enough with adorable 3D butterflies flying around but then takes a turn when tarantulas shoot virtual flying quills at audience members and a stink bug emits its not-so-pleasant stench. And that’s all before Hopper, the film’s grasshopper villain, appears and blasts the audience with bug spray. (Don’t worry, it’s just air—no toxic chemicals involved!)
Why is Disney closing It’s Tough to Be a Bug?
Proving that when one door closes, another one opens, Disney World is shuttering It’s Tough to Be a Bug to make room for a new attraction inspired by the 2016 film Zootopia. The new 3D show, called Zootopia: Better Zoogether!, will be located in the space currently occupied by It’s Tough to Be a Bug inside the Tree of Life. Disney reportedly filed construction permits that suggest the theater will be completely gutted as it’s transformed into the mammalian metropolis.
Zootopia: Better Zoogether! will feature Judy Hopps, Nick Wilde and other favorite characters from the movie, including an audio-animatronic Officer Clawhauser (the lovable chubby cheetah), similar to one that was recently added at Shanghai Disneyland as part of its 2023 Zootopia expansion. Early concept art also shows other Zootopia characters, including Gazelle, Chief Bogo, Flash and Priscilla, who we hope will all make an appearance in the new attraction.
What other Disney World attractions are closing?
It’s not just Animal Kingdom that’s getting a shake-up in 2025. Over in Disney World’s Hollywood Studios, MuppetVision 3D, one of the last projects Muppets creator Jim Henson worked on before he died in 1990, will close for good on June 7. The park’s Rock ‘n’ Rollercoaster is also expected shutter this year, though no official closing date has been announced yet. And at the Magic Kingdom, Thunder Mountain is closed all year for refurbishment.
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Sources:
- Walt Disney World: “It’s Tough to Be a Bug Animal Kingdom Attractions”
- Disney Parks Blog: “New Details About What’s Coming to Walt Disney World in 2025”
- WDW Magic: “Walt Disney Imagineering Files Permit for Tree of Life Theater Demolition and Development”
