Fun Facts About It’s Tough to Be a Bug
It’s Tough to be a Bug is an incredibly entertaining attraction. Although it is all about bugs, of which I am not a fan, I always enjoy every moment of it! The attraction suggests that it is ‘tough’ to be a bug…and after experiencing it, I would have to agree. Bugs make up about 80 percent of the animal population and since they out number us so vastly, Disney thought it would be a good idea to educate us a little…while also having a bit of fun!
Photo Credit: Disney.Wikia.com
It’s Tough to be a Bug is located at Disney’s Animal Kingdom park in Discovery Island. The attraction takes place in the Tree of Life Repertory Theater which is nestled between the roots of the Tree of Life. It is open from 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM every day. Fast Pass+ is available and the ride is wheelchair accessible.
Background
It’s Tough to be a Bug opened on April 22, 1998 with the opening of Disney’s Animal Kingdom park. The attraction is a 3-D show that also uses 4-D elements. The show is put on with the help from the bugs from A Bug’s Life, a film that wasn’t even set to be released until after the park had opened.
The Disney-Pixar film was in the late stages of production when Michael Eisner came up with the idea for the show. When they were building the Tree of Life Disney Imagineers knew they wanted an attraction located in the roots of the tree, but it was Eisner who came up with the idea for it to be about bugs. Once they had the concept down they decided using the characters from the upcoming film would be a perfect fit.
It’s Tough to Be a Bug opened two months before the film was released so guests got to experience these characters and got to know them early! How fun is that! The ride has been there ever since, and it ended up being so popular that they added it to Disney’s California Adventure in 2001, however, that recently closed in September, 2018.
Tough to Be a Bug Queue Line
Because It’s Tough to Be a Bug is located at the base of the Tree of Life the queue line is rather long, but in normal Disney fashion there are always things to look at while you walk or wait, depending on the crowd level, in a queue line. In one section of the queue line there are fun posters on the walls depicting past shows that the bugs have performed.
Some of these shows are “A Stinkbug named Desire”, “My Fair Ladybug”, “A Cockroach Line”, and “Beauty and the Bees.” If you stand close enough to the “Beauty and the Bees” poster you can hear a chorus of bees buzzing to the iconic song (I’ve never done this, but I will definitely be checking it out!).
Another cool part of the queue line is the up-close look you get at some of the Tree of Life’s animal carvings. You will pass multiple carvings and they are great places to stop and take pictures!
The Show
When you arrive at the doors to the theater you will be given ‘bug glasses’. These are you 3-D glasses and they are what make you an honorary bug during the show. It’s Tough to Be a Bug is hosted by Flik, with a rather unscheduled appearance from Hopper as well, from A Bug’s Life.
Flik welcomes everyone and then goes through some of the cool ways that bugs protect themselves. You learn about a spider, a termite (who calls himself the Termitnator…so cute!), a stinkbug, and many others. The show is only 8 minutes long, but it is super fun and the 4-D effects make it unique compared to other Disney shows. (I won’t tell you what the 4-D effects entail, because I don’t want to ruin the experience, but you’ll enjoy it I promise!)
Tips
The show is enclosed so it is a good place to sit down and cool off while enjoying a funny and entertaining show.
There are some intense parts during It’s Tough to Be a Bug that could scare younger children. If your child is afraid of darkness and bugs it might not be the best option. However, if you think they can handle it than try sitting towards the back of the theater…it’s less intense there.
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Hello Disney Fans! Janie here. I was a Disney kid growing up and now that I am an adult I love it even more. Whether its movies, music, parks, or games I just can’t get enough of it. I visit Disney World at least twice a year and even when I’m not there it’s all I can think about!
