Walt Disney Imagineering has filed a new Notice of Commencement for work at the Tree of Life Theater in Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The permit lists “Facility Demo, General Construction, Electrical, and Area Development” as the scope of work, indicating significant changes are planned for the space. Long-time Disney partner Whiting-Turner will carry out the work.
The filing comes as Disney prepares to close It’s Tough to be a Bug! on March 17, 2025, to make way for Zootopia: Better Zoogether!, a new attraction set to debut in winter 2025. The permit suggests that work will begin soon after the closure, with demolition and construction likely focused on transforming the theater to fit the upcoming Zootopia-themed experience.
It’s Tough to be a Bug! has been a part of Animal Kingdom since the park opened in 1998, utilizing 3D effects, animatronics, and in-theater sensory elements to bring guests into the world of A Bug’s Life.
The arrival of Zootopia: Better Zoogether! will mark a major update to the Tree of Life Theater, bringing characters from the hit 2016 film into the park. Details on the new show remain limited, but Disney has teased that it will showcase the “various biomes of Zootopia” and feature familiar characters.
