Disney’s Animal Kingdom is changing fast, and a new permit just revealed what could be a major overhaul of one of its most beloved features—the Tree of Life.
Big Changes Coming to Animal Kingdom
Over the past year, Disney has announced sweeping updates for Animal Kingdom. The park’s DinoLand U.S.A. is on its way out, making room for the new Tropical Americas expansion, which will include Encanto and Indiana Jones-themed attractions. And now, another major transformation is in the works—one that could change the Tree of Life as we know it.
For 27 years, It’s Tough to Be a Bug! has been a staple of Animal Kingdom, immersing guests in a 3D adventure inspired by A Bug’s Life. But on March 16, 2025, the attraction will officially close forever, making way for Zootopia: Better Zoogether, an all-new theater show featuring Judy Hopps, Nick Wilde, and the unique biomes of Zootopia.
But, it doesn’t stop there.
Disney Just Filed a HUGE Permit for the Tree of Life
Fans were already expecting changes inside the theater, but a newly filed permit suggests that Disney is planning to modify the infrastructure of the Tree of Life itself. The permit, filed by Walt Disney Imagineering, is listed under “Modify Infrastructure,” and the contractor involved specializes in cryogenic vaporizers and industrial gas equipment.
So what does that mean? The most likely answer is that Disney is making changes to the fog and atmospheric effects used in the current theater. However, since another permit was recently filed for demolition and construction at the Tree of Life Theater, it’s possible that these updates could go beyond the interior.
How Could This Affect Your Visit?
If you’re planning a trip to Animal Kingdom in 2025, keep in mind that construction walls could appear around the Tree of Life while Disney completes these updates. The theater entrance and surrounding pathways may be temporarily impacted, but Disney has yet to announce the full extent of the changes.
In the past, major updates like this have led to phased construction, meaning the area may still be accessible but with certain sections blocked off. Whether or not the Tree of Life itself will see visible changes remains to be seen, but given its status as a park icon, any modifications are bound to stir up strong reactions among fans.
A New Chapter for Animal Kingdom
With the Tropical Americas expansion, Zootopia: Better Zoogether, and now infrastructure changes to the Tree of Life Theater, it’s clear that Disney is fully committed to refreshing Animal Kingdom. While some longtime fans may miss It’s Tough to Be a Bug!, others are excited to see new franchises like Zootopia breathe new life into the park.
As always, construction at Disney means changes, but it also means new experiences are on the horizon. If the Tree of Life is undergoing updates, it’s likely to be a slow, carefully managed process to preserve the magic while making room for the future.
What do you think about the changes coming to Animal Kingdom? Let us know!
Wait, there was a theater inside the Tree of Life? I saw It’s a bug’s life but didn’t realize we were in the Tree 🤔 I hope they don’t demolish it, I love it. But probably won’t have season passes again until 26-27.
DO NOT MAKE THE MISTAKE THAT WILL CHANGE FANS VIEW OF DISNEY FOREVER
FIRST YOU GOT RID OF THE SORCERERS HAT AT STUDIOS WHATS NEXT
THE TREE OF LIFE THE ICON AT ANIMAL KINGDOM
WHAT ABOUT SPACESHIP EARTH AT EPCOT
THE CASTLE AT MAGIC KINGDOM
YOU KEEP UP THIS MADNESS AND YOU ARE
DESTROYING WALT DISNEY’S DREAM AS WELL AS FANS AROUND THE WORLD AND IT WILL BE THE END OF DISNEY PERIOD
It really doesn’t matter what you do, you’ve priced yourself out of the major markets anyway. I still have good for life passes that we will never use because it to expensive to add any days to them. Plus your price for food is ridiculous!
We just left Disney’s Animal Kingdom and the Tree of Life was the most beautiful and exciting attraction in the Kingdom. Don’t make a stupid mistake by taking or changing the tree. You will have hundreds of fans from all over very angry. Mr.Disney would not do this if he was still with us. What else are you going to change! The Tree of Life is the main icon. Leave it alone!!!
The Tree of Life is the symbol for Animal Kingdom! To remove it would be like removing the Castle in MK. I hope they just rework the inside.
Hope you are not having the tree 🌴 of life removed. I was an annual pas holder for years until Covid. But now so much has changed and the price has gone up up to almost unbelievable prices.
I was a many time returner to Disney world. But it gotten to expensive for the average family to even think about staying on Disney property for a week the park fees are so so expensive and the food is outrageous and you expect people to mortgage there homes to spend a week in the most expensive park in Florida. Avery dissatisfied Disney fan
I will likely never visit WDW; I detest Florida. But if you read the article, it doesn’t say they’re demolishing the Tree. They are just redoing the interior theater. It DOES vaguely mention the infrastructure, but the Tree itself is safe.
I’ve been going to WDW since it’s inception when there was only MK. Walt Disney is rolling over!!
The prices are out of control.
Taking away the Icons of the parks and turning it into something other than a Disney theme park. Charging more for less!! Total mismanagement!!!
WDW is finished, especially for long-time visitors. Not only boring, and insanely expensive, but for the next two years…it’s all construction walls. And no one is excited about ANY of the “upgrades”:
Proof enough is EPCOT, whose recent “upgrades” are a dismal flop. Absolutely HORRIBLE result after so many years of “under construction” walls and closures.
I don’t think they could do a better job of destroying these parks even if that were the goal.
Me and my family are long time Disney fans and I had my honeymoon there. However, they continue to make changes like this and many other disappointing changes that it’s pushing us and others further away. Removing a major focal point like The Tree of Life is absolutely absurd. This is one of the things that I love to see when walking into Magic Kingdom and will change the experience of many of gone. Soon Disney will be obsolete.
Given that this Zootopia attraction won’t be completed for a couple of years, and the movie is already 10 years old, I wonder who Disney thinks this will appeal to. My kids loved Zootopia for a couple years after it came ouf, but now they’re leaning more towards the IP that Universal might have. At least Encanto makes some sense, since it’s relatively recent (although not nearly as entertaining as Zootopia, IMO), and the kids who grew up loving it are still at an age where cartoons appeal to them.
I will say that the Bug-themed show had pretty much run it’s course….it’s definitely time for new material, but maybe a little newer than 2015.
Me and my family are long time Disney lover’s. It would be very sad to see the tree of life go. Animal Kingdom is my favorite park and the tree of life has always been one of my all time favorite things to see at disney. It doesnt matter how many times i see it i am still always in amazement, how all the animals are intertwined in a tree absolutely the most beautiful thing I have seen. I did hear there might be a light show performed on the tree of life and I think this would be a great idea. Not removing the tree all together. Thank you so much for your consideration.
This is SO DISRESPECTFUL to the artists and builders of this beautiful icon. SHAME on these people! There is definitely seriously wrong with these people.
This is the dumbest thing I’ve heard. That tree is the animal kingdom icon. I don’t know what Disney Imaginering idiot came up with this but it’s the wrong move