Disney’s Animal Kingdom is saying goodbye to one of its opening-day attractions, It’s Tough to Be a Bug. This 3D experience, which has been a part of the Tree of Life since the park debuted on April 22, 1998, will close permanently on March 17, 2025, with its last day being March 16, 2025. In its place, starting from a future date, you’ll find Zootopia: Better Zoogether!, an exciting new stage show featuring characters from the movie Zootopia.
This shutdown signifies another case where Disney opts to eliminate traditional rides rather than creating fresh ones, thereby diminishing the number of authentic Animal Kingdom encounters that still exist.
Amongst the changes at Animal Kingdom since its opening in 1998, only two original attractions still exist and haven’t been closed or slated for closure:
- Kilimanjaro Safaris – The only ride left from launch, originally themed around stopping poachers but later altered to remove that story.
- Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail – A walking path, not an actual ride, featuring live animals.
As updates are made, Animal Kingdom seems to stray increasingly from its initial purpose of preservation and instruction about animals, favoring instead attractions rich in intellectual property that align well with Disney’s present marketing strategies.
Originally opened on the first day, Dinoland U.S.A., a unique land, is slated for demolition to make way for Disney’s freshly unveiled Tropical Americas land, which will showcase both ‘Encanto’ and ‘Indiana Jones’. The central attraction of this area, Dinosaur, will undergo a theme change and be transformed into an Indiana Jones-themed ride. This transformation mirrors the existing Indiana Jones Adventure in Disneyland, as they share the same track design.
In the fresh section, Encanto will play a significant role, including a brand-new dark ride nestled within the movie’s “casita” location.
As a devoted enthusiast, I’d have to say that while Zootopia: Better Zoogether! maintains a connection to Animal Kingdom’s animal-themed roots, both Encanto and Indiana Jones seem somewhat out of place within the original park concept.
Last year at D23, Disney unveiled plans to update several traditional attractions and locations with fresh experiences, such as:
- Tropical Americas (Encanto and Indiana Jones replacing Dinoland U.S.A.).
- Zootopia: Better Zoogether! (It’s Tough to Be a Bug being replaced).
- Villains Land and Cars Land at Magic Kingdom (replacing Tom Sawyer Island and the Rivers of America).
- Monsters Inc. Land at Hollywood Studios (destroying MuppetVision 3D).
If Disney chose construction over destruction for their expansion plans, these five new lands and attractions could form the foundation for a completely fresh theme park, which is essential for keeping Walt Disney World competitive as Universal prepares to launch Epic Universe.
Contrarily, Disney chooses not to construct a fifth gate, even though they’ve only utilized a fraction of the expansive land that makes up Walt Disney World. Meanwhile, Universal is set to unveil its cutting-edge Epic Universe later this year, which includes entirely new lands and attractions, not replicas or replacements.
Disney, however, remains content to bulldoze history and replace it with the next cash grab.
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2025-02-04 18:55