First Look: Zootopia: Better Zoogether! at Animal Kingdom

Written by Joshua Posted October 31st, 2025

Zootopia: Better Zoogether! officially debuts in just one week. With Cast Member previews kicking off today, Disney has shared a first look inside the new Tree of Life show. The production features a Benjamin Clawhauser Audio-Animatronic and several Zootopia characters on the big screen. By all accounts, this replacement for It’s Tough to Be a Bug! is far more family-friendly. No screams were heard in the Tree of Life Theater this morning.

In addition to Disney’s photos, we’re happy to share a few pics from Evan Patel, an Animal Kingdom Cast Member and talented photographer who captured some quick shots on his phone during preview day.

First up is the new entrance marquee featuring the familiar Zootopia logo. Like its predecessor, it’s carved from wood, though with slightly fewer details than the Bug’s Life version. Still, the Imagineers nailed the humor. Flash Slothmore, clinging to the Lightning Lane sign, is perfect.

Zootopia: Better Zoogether! Lightning Lane lit up at night — Copyright Disney

Benjamin Clawhauser hugging the Zootopia: Better Zoogether! standby entrance sign — Clawhauser welcomes guests to the standby entrance. Copyright Disney.

Flash Slothmore on the Zootopia: Better Zoogether! Lightning Lane queue sign — Well played, Imagineers. Copyright Disney.

Inside the queue, guests will be treated to props, show signs, and a display case filled Zootopia flyers and newspaper clippings. I’m looking to pick up some of Duke’s “Totally Legit DVDs” on our next trip. I hear Floatzen IV is good.

A Zootopia: Better Together! show poster in the outside portion of the queue — This textured show poster is very similar to those in the old It’s Tough to be a Bug queue. Photo courtesy of Evan Patel.

Walt Disney Imagineering also shared a short video highlighting many of the items found on the queue’s Zootopia community board, the Pawdora jewelry cases, and more.

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Flyers on a board inside the Zootopia: Better Zoogether! queue — Zootopia community board. Copyright Disney.

Props and carvings in the Zootopia: Better Zoogether! queue — Copyright Disney

"Pawdora" jewelry in the Better Zoogether queue — Hello, Tom Corless. Photo courtesy of Evan Patel.

Artwork commemorating the first Zoogether Day — A poster for the first Zoogether Day. Photo courtesy of Evan Patel.

A Zootopia map in the Better Zoogether queue — Zootopia map. Photo courtesy of Evan Patel.

Evan also shared a pic of the iconic David Greybeard carving. Jane Goodall studied Greybeard in the Gombe Stream National Park in Tanzania.

David Greybeard in the Zootopia: Better Zoogether queue — David Greybeard. Photo courtesy of Evan Patel.

Guests selecting 3D glasses for Zootopia: Better Zoogether! — Copyright Disney

As guests enter the theater, their eyes are immediately drawn to Benjamin Clawhauser. The space has a similar vibe to when it was home to a bunch of bugs, but without Flik peeking down at us horrified guests from above.

Benjamin Clawhauser look out at the crowd inside the Tree of Life Theater — Benjamin Clawhauser animatronic. Copyright Disney.

Benjamin Clawhauser inside the Tree of Life Theater — Copyright Disney

Zootopia: Better Zoogether theater — Inside the reimagined Tree of Life Theater. Photo courtesy of Evan Patel.

Zootopia characters on screen in the Better Zoogether show — Copyright Disney

Photo courtesy of Evan Patel

Early Better Zoogether reviews are generally positive, although Evan would appreciate a stronger conservation message. It’s Tough to be a Bug, with all of its horrors and screaming, did a pretty good job with that. Still, it’ll be a hit with fans, especially younger ones.

Zootopia: Better Zoogether! officially debuts on November 7, 2026.