It’s Tough to Be a Bug will close permanently on March 17, 2025.
The Tree of Life is home to It’s Tough to be a Bug, the stinkiest show in all of Disney World. Yes, I said stinky. During the show a stink bug does his stinky thing for everyone to enjoy. (Disney’s got the aroma thing down.)
In 2008, Disney-Pixar released a movie called “A Bugs Life”. This attraction is based on that movie. The show is hosted by a cute little (he’s not very little, he’s actually about 8 feet tall) ant named Flik, and his buddy Hopper who is, strangely enough, a grasshopper.
It’s Tough to Be a Bug Fast Facts
- Location: Discovery Island In Disney’s Animal Kingdom
- Height Requirement: None
- Attraction Length: 8 minutes
- Ride Type: 3-D show about living as a bug
- Lightning Lane Multi Pass: Yes
- Lightning Lane Single Pass: No
- Early Theme Park Entry Eligible: Yes
- Extended Evening Theme Park Hours Eligible: No
- Ride Switch Available: No
The Preshow
Disney has great preshows, in this one you descend to a big room under the Tree of Life where posters line the wall for some great bug musicals. Before the show starts, there’s the requisite movie that tells you all the rules.
Grab some bug-eyes, so you can be an honorary bug, and take a seat. (That’s what they call the 3-D glasses.)
The Attraction
Find out what it’s like to be a bug. Yuck. This attraction takes you underground to a dark world full of creepy crawling things. Flik and Hopper show you several different types of insects and show you how man is the enemy of the bug community. (Watch out for the stink bug.)
During the show, you will experience crawly things on your legs, smelly things, and even a little tingle. Disney has taken this attraction and made it more than just a 3-D movie. It’s truly interactive and makes use of all the senses.
The Postshow
Climb back out into the light.
Fun Facts
Here are some interesting tidbits –
- The posters in the preshow area are for insect musicals like My Fair Ladybug, Web Side Story, Little Shop of Hoppers.
- The songs in the show are also parodies of famous Broadway musical songs.
- The attraction actually opened 7 months before the movie A Bugs Life premiered.
- You will join 429 other victims, I mean, guests.
History
It’s Tough to be a Bug first opened at Walt Disney World on April of 1998.
Dad’s Ride Information Table
It’s Tough to be a Bug |
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| Description: 3-D show about living as a bug | ||||||||||||
| Height Requirement – none | FASTPASS: YES | Length of Ride: 8 minutes | ||||||||||
| Type of ride: Sit down show in a nice cool air-conditioned room | ||||||||||||
Dad’s Ratings
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| Other Information: The bugs are pretty harmless, but can cause discomfort in small children | ||||||||||||
The Fine Print
Here’s some small print information
- Reflective Captioning, Assistive Listening and translation devices are available. Contact Guest Relations for more information.
- Due to the nature of the experience, Guests with service animals should check with a host or hostess for attraction and boarding information at this attraction.
- Guests may remain in their wheelchair, motorized scooter or ECV to experience the attraction.
- This attraction may be frightening for children.
Dad’s Bottom Line
It’s Tough to be a Bug may be Disney’s Best 3D show. (OK, maybe Muppet Vision is better.) The only bad thing is the stink bug. I hate that smell.
