Animal Kingdom’s It’s Tough to be a Bug! Gets Refurbishment

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Tree of Life Animal Kingdom

Credit: Disney

Disney is constantly updating their attractions and overall theme parks to keep them running smoothly and looking great. This sort of change is one that Walt Disney himself knew would be important when his original theme park, Disneyland Resort, opened. All those years ago, he noted that the park would never be complete. Most of the time, the updates done by Disney are fantastic and allow Guests to experience even more magic! Now, it looks like a popular area of Animal Kingdom is going through some updates.

It's Tough to Be a Bug!
Credit: Disney

On April 22, 1998, Animal Kingdom opened as Disney World’s fourth official Disney theme park gate. The new park would bring immersive sights, sounds, and thrills to Guests. One of the most stunning spectacles at Disney’s Animal Kingdom is the Tree of Life. Serving as the main center of the theme park, the Tree of Life is a massive structure that is carved with animals throughout. One of the best parts about the Tree of Life is that you can enter it!

Tree of Life Animal Kingdom
Credit: Disney

The Pixar film A Bug’s Life is the IP that was used to create It’s Tough to be a Bug!, which is the attraction that is housed within the Tree of Life. When experiencing the 3D show, Guests become a bug as they enter through the base of the tree, shrinking down beneath the larger-than-life roots. Although a classic, the attraction rarely boasts a wait and can use a little TLC from time to time. 

Now, It’s Tough to be a Bug! is currently closed for refurbishment from March 8 – 11. Considering the short time span of this refurbishment, it does not seem likely that many changes will come to the attraction. Therefore, it is likely that some maintenance is being done within the theater. That being said, Disney has not confirmed specifically what is being refurbished, so we will need to wait until March 12 to figure out if there were any noticeable changes made.

A Bug's Life
Credit: Disney

According to the Disney World website, It’s Tough to be a Bug! is described as:

Watch an “Off-Bugway” Show
Become an honorary insect as you take your seat in the theater hidden at the base of the Tree of Life and don a pair of “bug eye” glasses. Enjoy a delightful 3D movie and live show hosted by Flik, the loveable ant from A Bug’s Life, and learn how insects survive in the wild.

Bug Out!

During the show, dodge flying quills from a tarantula, feel a harmless spray from a soldier termite and sniff the putrid “defense stench” from a stink bug.

When Hopper—the grasshopper villain from A Bug’s Life—unexpectedly shows up, the theater goes bug-wild!

The moral of the story? It really is tough to be a bug. With dazzling 3D movie effects, Audio-Animatronics figures and in-theater 4D surprises, this is one show you’ll be buzzing about for a long time.

If you want to check out all of the Walt Disney World Resort attractions that are under refurbishment for March, click here to take a look! 

Do you think that more work should be done to spruce up It’s Tough to be a Bug!?

So you want to ride Expedition Everest and Explore Pandora: World of Avatar while riding Flight of Passage? How about hop on a safari and see a plethora of animals up close and personal. Click here to get your Animal Kingdom vacation planned out today!

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