It's Tough to Be a Bug at Animal Kingdom

 It’s Tough to Be a Bug is a 3D, okay, almost 4D, attraction located under the Tree of Life in the middle of Disney Animal Kingdom.




It’s Tough to Be a Bug used to be a Fastpass attraction, but over the last two years or so, the Fastpass kiosks at this attraction have either been covered or used for other things—like experimenting with a central Fastpass distribution, etc.


 Anyway, we have experienced It’s Tough to Be a Bug on two occasions and have enjoyed it both times. Guests first traverse the trails that lead down to the official entrance. On the way, you get to see some of the animal carvings of the Tree of Life up close.




 It’s Tough to Be a Bug is like the other 3D attractions in that the pre-show queue is filled up prior to the automatic doors opening and everyone finding their seats while the other guests exit out of the other side. Knowing this, the automatic doors further into the “roots” are going to be closest to the screen/stage. And, like many 3D attractions, sometimes the better view is bit further back. So, try to hang out at one of the automatic doors closest to the entrance and then when they open, have people go in front of you, so you get to sit towards the middle—for a better view. Note: If you are traveling with a small children who may become frightened, going in first and sitting all the way to the other side may be a good plan in case you need to exit during the show.





The show’s premise is that bugs get the raw deal; that they are misunderstood. Flik, from A Bug’s Life, is your host or narrator and he is joined by many of his friends and enemies.




Check out the ceiling for characters to join in the show and Hopper makes a bang of an entrance.



The 4D effects come from the sprays—stink bug—and the stinging—wasps. And, you won’t be the only one to lift your legs when. . . well, I let you experience that for yourself.



It’s Tough to Be a Bug is worth the 30 or so minutes it takes to traverse the entrance, watch the show, and traverse the exit. Again, on the way out, check out the carvings on the Tree of Life.

 

Originally, the Tree of Life was going to be hollow.  Michael Eisner, Disney CEO at the time Animal Kingdom was being imagined and built, challenged imagineers to create an attraction for inside the tree.  It’s Tough to Be a Bug is the product of that challenge!  And, the 3D glasses that make you look like a bug are pretty cool, too!