Disney Schedules Animal Kingdom Theme Park Demolition, Gives Fans Time To Say Goodbye

in Walt Disney World

The Tree of Life at Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park in front of a clear blue sky.

Credit: Brittany DiCologero, Inside the Magic

Walt Disney World Resort just filed a construction project that will change Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park as we know it. The filing comes weeks after D23 Fan Expo 2024, where Chairman of Disney Experiences Josh D’Amaro detailed updates coming to Magic Kingdom Park, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park saw some of the most significant announcements at the Southern California fan event. D’Amaro revealed that DinoLand U.S.A. would officially close to make way for Pueblo Esperanza, a previously announced “Tropical Americas” expansion including Indiana Jones and Encanto (2021) rides. The new land will sit between Asia and Discovery Island.

But that’s not all. D’Amaro also revealed that a previously announced Zootopia (2016) 3D movie would premiere inside the Disney park’s icon, the Tree of Life, in the winter of 2025. The show, “Zootopia Better Zoogether,” will replace “It’s Tough To Be A Bug,” which has operated since 1998.

Official concept art for “Zootopia Better Zoogether” features Judy Hopps, Nick Wilde, Gazelle, Chief Bogo, Flash, and more. An animatronic Officer Clawhauser, similar in appearance to one at Shanghai Disney Resort, appears to take the stage.

Official poster for "Zootopia Better Zoogether." It features Judy Hopps, Nick Wilde, and Officer Clawhauser wearing 3D glasses in front of the Tree of Life.
Credit: Disney

D’Amaro said “Zootopia Better Zoogether” will feature biomes familiar to Zootopia fans and never-before-seen animated areas. He didn’t reveal any details about the 3D film’s story.

On September 5, 2024, Buena Vista Construction Company filed a permit with the Orange County Comptroller on behalf of Walt Disney World Resort. The permit states intent to “provide labor, material and/or electrical for construction.”

Concept art for “Zootopia Better Zoogether” at Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park.
Credit: Disney

The address on the filing suggests that Buena Vista Construction Company will work on the Tree of Life. Though Walt Disney World Resort hasn’t announced an official closing date for “It’s Tough To Be A Bug,” they previously stated the Discovery Island attraction would close sometime in 2024.

Disney Parks fans were excited to see that construction would soon begin on Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park’s iconic Tree of Life.

“I can’t wait for this,” said Redditor u/East-Teacher1755. “I hope it uses at least some animatronics, or maybe like 1-2 like in Bugs Life.”

The Hopper animatronic in It's Tough to Be a Bug
Credit: Disney

“I hope they get rid of the seating and find some other way to add the 4d element to spice things up,” u/Terrible-River-3245 replied.

Follow Inside the Magic for updates on the final performance of “It’s Tough To Be A Bug” and the grand opening of “Zootopia Better Zoogether” in Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park at Walt Disney World Resort.

Are you looking forward to this Zootopia retheme at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park? Share your thoughts with Inside the Magic in the comments.  

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