Here's the last time you can watch one of Animal Kingdom's final Opening Day attractions!

Disney has announced the closing date for one of the last opening-day attractions at Animal Kingdom, so here’s when you can see it for the last time!

Since opening in 1998, the Animal Kingdom, like any Disney park, has changed a lot. We’ve seen scores of additions like the Asia and Pandora expansions, new rides, and a big shift being planned, transforming Dinoland USA into an Encanto/Indiana Jones land. 

Now, Disney has confirmed the final dates for one of the last Opening Day DAK attractions. Per WDW’s own site, March 17 will be the final day to catch It’s Tough to Be a Bug at the park. 

One of the last Opening Day attractions, It’s Tough to Be a Bug actually predates the Pixar hit A Bug’s Life by six months. The Imagineers always wanted some sort of show for the Tree of Life at WDW, they just struggled with the right one. 

Micahel Eisner suggested something on Bug’s Life, which was an interesting idea. It was much like Countdown to Extinction would use the designs of the animated movie Dinosaur, which wouldn’t premiere until 2000.

The show had most of the movie’s cast voicing the same characters, mixing 3-D animation within-theater audio-animatronics and other quirky effects like smells and smoke. It was a nice presentation mixing comedy with Flix educating folks on insect life. 

That tied into DAK’s original concept as a theme park/zoo that gave guests “edutainment” on the animal world. The show would be a success and grow in popularity once A Bug’s Life became a Pixar hit. 

When California Adventure opened in 2001, the film got a version there that became the centerpiece of an area based on the movie. That whole area closed down in 2018 to make way for Avengers Campus. 

Finally, the original version is following suit. Its closure means that the Kilimanjaro Safaris is the only attraction remaining from DAK's opening in 1998. At least fans don't have to wait long for Bug's replacement.

What’s replacing A Bug’s Life?

While it was fun, the movie, like many 1990s attractions, was showing its age. It’s not helped that A Bug’s Life hasn’t exactly achieved the long-standing popularity of other Pixar hits like Toy Story or Monsters Inc. 

So it was to little surprise that Disney announced in 2024 the movie would be replaced by a new production Zootopia: Better Zoogether! Based on the hit 2016 movie (which will be getting a sequel), this movie boasts a new storyline featuring the world of animals.

Ginnifer Goodwin, who voiced heroine Judy Hopps, shared a video recording her voice work, which hints at the fun to come. 

Frankly, this was a change long needed. As noted, A Bug’s Life was getting older and not as popular with guests. Zootopia fits DAK perfectly (one would think it would be getting its own section there) and a 3-D movie set in the Tree of Life is the safest bet for now. 

Disney will likely be giving this a boost, and DAK will probably see an increase in the number of guests wanting to experience this attraction one last time. As with any classic Disney attraction, it’s tough to see it go after a nearly 27-year run but at least guests have a bit of time to catch It’s Tough to Be a Bug before it joins the graveyard of past Disney attractions. 

Disney's new Zootopia attraction opens this winter at Disney's Animal Kingdom at the Walt Disney World Resort.