Fans Are Freaking Out Over This Disney World Attraction Retheme…But Will They REALLY Miss It?

Let’s face it, even the most die-hard Disney fans can have a divisive opinion but there’s one attraction that everyone seems to have a similar opinion about.

We could spend all day running around on safari with the animals, flying on the backs of Banshees, and stopping by Nomad Lounge for a relaxing bite just taking in the sounds of nature all around us. But chances are if you’re visiting Disney’s Animal Kingdom, there’s one attraction you’re not going to mind skipping — if it’s even crossed your mind at all!

There’s just not going to be an easy way to say this but we’ve got to. There’s one attraction that we know is already on borrowed time but we’re not sure that there’s going to be many tears shed over its departure. It appears that It’s Tough To Be A Bug is on its last legs.

Before you go all up in arms, let us explain. This attraction follows the characters from A Bug’s Life which is now an older film that not too many of the younger generation are very familiar with. And while your kids certainly can appreciate one of the first Disney/Pixar movies to set this partnership in motion, it’s really only most familiar to the older audiences at this point. Nostalgia is a big part of Disney, but so is adapting to the next generation of Disney fans.

Another point to this here is that characters like Flik and Atta are rarely seen and only brought out for super special events like celebrating Earth Day (and Disney’s Animal Kingdom’s 25th birthday this year) along with exclusive after-hours events like Disney Vacation Club’s Moonlight Magic.

If you’ve never ventured out to sit in the crowd of the dimly lit, 3D show found below the Tree of Life it can be a little jarring if you’re not prepared. But you may not have much time to build up your courage since this attraction usually hangs around the highest wait time of about 15 minutes, which is about how much time it takes to get people in the theater, for the show to happen, and for people to get out of the theater.

The show follows the characters of the film as they intend to teach humans about the insect world and in doing so can set off pranks of sight, sound, and touch… like the moving bugs that can be felt in your seat. Also, there’s a villain to this film, Hopper, and if you’re not already familiar with him as a kid, seeing a giant grasshopper animatronic commanding spiders to inch down from the ceiling probably isn’t quite how you imagined spending part of your day in the park.

Disney has announced that a Zootopia show is in the works for the Tree of Life Theater, so it seems we’ll be seeing some newer characters in there eventually. Disney hasn’t released many details but you can see everything we know so far here.

This revamped attraction could help draw some of the crowds away from the existing attraction lines that can get pretty lengthy on its busiest days. Don’t forget — Disney is also looking to retheme DinoLand USA.

Here is a look at the wait time data below for Animal Kingdom on December 15th, 2023. This is one of the busiest seasons of the year in Disney World, yet the wait times are low for It’s Tough to Be a Bug and those DinoLand attractions.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom

9 AM

Dinosaur: 5 minutes
Expedition Everest: 5 minutes
Na’vi River Journey: 5 minutes
TriceraTop Spin: 5 minutes
It’s Tough to Be a Bug: 10 minutes
Avatar Flight of Passage: 40 minutes
Kali River Rapids: Closed
Kilimanjaro Safaris: Closed
The Boneyard: Closed

10 AM

Dinosaur: 5 minutes
Expedition Everest: 5 minutes
It’s Tough to Be a Bug: 5 minutes
Kali River Rapids: 5 minutes
TriceraTop Spin: 5 minutes
Kilimanjaro Safaris: 15 minutes
Na’vi River Journey: 30 minutes
Avatar Flight of Passage: 65 minutes
The Boneyard: Closed

11 AM

Dinosaur: 5 minutes
It’s Tough to Be a Bug: 5 minutes
Kali River Rapids: 5 minutes
TriceraTop Spin: 5 minutes
Expedition Everest: 15 minutes
Avatar Flight of Passage: 50 minutes
Kilimanjaro Safaris: 65 minutes
Na’vi River Journey: 65 minutes

12 PM

Dinosaur: 5 minutes
TriceraTop Spin: 5 minutes
It’s Tough to Be a Bug: 10 minutes
Expedition Everest: 15 minutes
Kilimanjaro Safaris: 30 minutes
Avatar Flight of Passage: 55 minutes
Na’vi River Journey: 75 minutes
Kali River Rapids: Temporarily Closed

1 PM

Dinosaur: 5 minutes
Kali River Rapids: 5 minutes
TriceraTop Spin: 5 minutes
Expedition Everest: 10 minutes
It’s Tough to Be a Bug: 10 minutes
Na’vi River Journey: 35 minutes
Kilimanjaro Safaris: 45 minutes
Avatar Flight of Passage: 60 minutes

2 PM

Dinosaur: 10 minutes
It’s Tough to Be a Bug: 10 minutes
TriceraTop Spin: 15 minutes
Expedition Everest: 20 minutes
Kilimanjaro Safaris: 20 minutes
Avatar Flight of Passage: 50 minutes
Na’vi River Journey: 95 minutes
Kali River Rapids: Temporarily Closed

3 PM

Dinosaur: 5 minutes
Kali River Rapids: 5 minutes
TriceraTop Spin: 5 minutes
Expedition Everest: 10 minutes
It’s Tough to Be a Bug: 10 minutes
Kilimanjaro Safaris: 10 minutes
Avatar Flight of Passage: 45 minutes
Na’vi River Journey: 60 minutes

4 PM

Expedition Everest: 5 minutes
Kali River Rapids: 5 minutes
TriceraTop Spin: 5 minutes
Dinosaur: 10 minutes
It’s Tough to Be a Bug: 10 minutes
Kilimanjaro Safaris: 15 minutes
Avatar Flight of Passage: 40 minutes
Na’vi River Journey: 60 minutes

5 PM

Kali River Rapids: 5 minutes
TriceraTop Spin: 5 minutes
Dinosaur: 10 minutes
It’s Tough to Be a Bug: 10 minutes
Expedition Everest: 15 minutes
Avatar Flight of Passage: 35 minutes
Na’vi River Journey: 45 minutes
Kilimanjaro Safaris: Closed

6 PM

Kali River Rapids: 5 minutes
Dinosaur: 10 minutes
It’s Tough to Be a Bug: 10 minutes
TriceraTop Spin: 10 minutes
Na’vi River Journey: 50 minutes
Avatar Flight of Passage: 65 minutes
Expedition Everest: Temporarily Closed
Kilimanjaro Safaris: Closed

7 PM

Kali River Rapids: 5 minutes
Dinosaur: 10 minutes
It’s Tough to Be a Bug: 10 minutes
TriceraTop Spin: 10 minutes
Avatar Flight of Passage: 20 minutes
Na’vi River Journey: 40 minutes
Expedition Everest: Temporarily Closed
Kilimanjaro Safaris: Closed

So will the fans really miss this attraction when it’s gone? It has a nostalgic factor for many, but it doesn’t seem to be drawing crowds like newer IP could and does in other areas of Disney World.

Be sure to check back soon for all the latest news and updates about Disney World rides, wait times, and more!

Disney World Wait Times Can Be CONFUSING, But We’re Here to Help!

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