Guests Evacuated From Disney World's Tree of Life Attraction Two Weeks After Retheme

An unexpected turn of events at the latest Walt Disney World Resort attraction.

Disney’s latest transformation at Animal Kingdom comes to life inside the Tree of Life Theater, where Zootopia: Better Zoogether! officially debuted on November 7, 2025. The new 4D show replaces the former attraction, It’s Tough to Be a Bug!, which ran for more than two decades.

Instead of taking guests through an insect-focused adventure, the theater now launches them straight into the heart of Zootopia during the citywide celebration known as Zoogether Day.

The show is structured as a lively “watch party” hosted by a new character, Heidi Howler–a spirited wolf who guides the audience through three unique acts unfolding across various biomes of Zootopia. Guests wear “CarrotVision” 3D glasses as they watch the festivities unfold, all leading to a finale inspired by Gazelle’s hit song “Try Everything,” bringing back a fan-favorite moment from the original film.

To heighten immersion, the theater utilizes air blasts, water effects, scent cues, smoke, bubbles, and physical seat movements to engage all the senses during the performance.

One of the most talked-about additions is the presence of a physical animatronic: Officer Clawhauser, who plays a central role in the show and is designed to give the performance a more tangible, lifelike presence. However, on November 23–less than a month after opening–the animatronic failed during a performance.

In place of the character’s lifelike figure, Clawhauser appeared via a “satellite drone” presentation, suggesting that a B-mode backup system was triggered when the animatronic malfunctioned. While the performance continued as planned, the absence of the key figure drew immediate attention from guests and raised concerns about the attraction’s reliability this early in its lifespan.

More information has come to light regarding the Clawhauser animatronic malfunction. According to Kenny the Pirate, guests were evacuated from the line of the Zootopia: Better Zoogether! attraction and the ride was shut down for 30 minutes.

“…our very own KatieP was hoping to enjoy Zootopia Better Zoogether,” the outlet wrote, “she was held in line for about 30 minutes and was later evacuated from the queue for this attraction.”

“Zootopia Better Zoogether was listed as temporarily unavailable on the My Disney Experience app,” the report continues. “Thankfully, guests [who] were evacuated were given a Multiple Experience pass to enjoy select other attractions.”

Zootopia Takes Over the Animal Kingdom

Outside the theater, Disney has enhanced the experience further with meet-and-greets featuring Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde in new outfits inspired by 2025’s Zootopia 2. The refresh arrives just ahead of the sequel’s release, signaling that Walt Disney World is tying the attraction closely to the franchise’s future.

That approach has excited many Zootopia fans, particularly younger visitors who respond well to the high-energy presentation and recognizable characters.

Reactions, however, remain mixed. Some praise the show for its visual flair and upbeat pacing, while others argue that it doesn’t feel as thematically connected to Animal Kingdom’s conservation roots as the previous attraction. A few have noted that the narrative feels like a compilation of moments rather than a unified story, and the recent animatronic malfunction has left some questioning its long-term reliability.

Still, Zootopia: Better Zoogether! marks a bold new chapter for the Tree of Life. Whether it ultimately wins over longtime Animal Kingdom guests remains to be seen–but it’s clear Disney is steering this space toward a new era, one filled with spectacle, celebration, and a strong push toward Zootopia’s expanding universe.

Let us know all of your thoughts on this new addition to the Animal Kingdom theme park. Let Inside the Magic know in the comments down below!