Credit: Brittany DiCologero, Inside the MagicA classic Disney World attraction is closing soon.
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The Walt Disney Company made several announcements regarding its theme parks in December, one of which confirmed It’s Tough to Be a Bug will be closing to make way for a new Zootopia-themed experience. Disney states that the new show will debut in the winter of 2025, a year that is already full of shakeups at both Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resorts.
It’s Tough to Be a Bug opened alongside the rest of Disney’s Animal Kingdom in 1998, making it one of the park’s oldest attractions. The 3D show features a wide cast of characters, some of which would go on to appear in Pixar’s A Bug’s Life when the animated film released later that same year. This means It’s Tough to Be a Bug actually marks the debut of now-iconic Disney characters like Flick and Hopper.
However, this history-making attraction now finds itself on the chopping block, with Disney recently confirming just how long guests have left to enjoy the popular yet controversial It’s Tough to Be a Bug.
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In a new announcement, Disney has confirmed that its new Zootopia show, officially titled Zootopia: Better Together!, will open in the winter of 2025. The exact dates are still unknown, but guests should manage their expectations accordingly and prepare to say their final goodbyes to It’s Tough to Be a Bug starting next year.
It’s important to note that winter begins at the end of 2025, meaning guests may have multiple months left to enjoy It’s Tough to Be a Bug.
Next year is a big year for Disney’s Animal Kingdom as a whole, with DinoLand U.S.A. also set to close permanently to make way for new expansions. The first phase of this project begins in January, with DINOSAUR, the land’s big “E-Ticket” ride, set to remain open for the entirety of 2025.
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Disney first announced it would be closing It’s Tough to Be a Bug during its Destination D23 event in 2023, revealing a new show based on Zootopia would take over. This makes sense, considering Disney plans to release the highly anticipated sequel to its original Zotoopia film next year.
Another reason Disney might have decided to finally pull the plug on It’s Tough to Be a Bug is how terrifying it can be for younger guests. While 3D shows typically try to immerse guests with a variety of senses like smell and sound, It’s Tough to Be a Bug takes things to the next level, placing viewers in the middle of a literal bug-filled warzone.
As the show progresses, guests are eventually attacked by Hopper and his army of insects. These attacks range from small pokes in the back from “hornets” and aerial attacks by black widow spiders to sprays of “poisonous” gas. These moments are incredibly fun and full of laughter but are also usually filled with cries of terror from children.
It’s Tough to Be a Bug is quite mean, harkening back to a time when Disney felt a little more free to take risks and “alienate” its guests. This same approach was found in the now-defunct Alien Encounter, a highly immersive “4D” show that was located in the Magic Kingdom from 1995 to 2003.
Will you miss It’s Tough to Be a Bug?