Disney World files permit to change legendary attraction that has stood in the Orlando theme park for 27 years
Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida, has officially filed a new construction permit for the Tree of Life, the massive centerpiece of Animal Kingdom that has towered over the park since it opened in 1998.
The permit was filed on Wednesday, and it is unclear if it is related to the Zootopia: Better Zoogether! show that Disney plans to open at the theater located inside the tree, per Inside the Magic.
The towering 145-foot artificial tree, which stands on Discovery Island in Animal Kingdom, isn't just a photo op; it also houses the Tree of Life Theater, which was home to the now-retired It's Tough to Be a Bug! show.
The 3D experience, which had been enjoyed by park goers for 27 years before it closed in March, allowed guests to shrink to the size of an insect and learn about human-insect coexistence.
Walt Disney Imagineering previously announced that a Zootopia show would be replacing the beloved attraction.
The new 3D show will feature a song by the original voice of police officer rabbit, Judy Hopps, Ginnifer Goodwin, per the outlet.
There are also rumors that an advanced Officer Clawhauser audio-animatronic will be featured in the new space, like the one in the Zootopia: Hot Pursuit ride at Shanghai Disneyland.
After It's Tough To Be A Bug! closed in March, Disney put up a construction wall around the Tree of Life.
The new field permits do not have any mention of Zootopia.
Walt Disney World Resort has not yet announced the grand opening date for the new Tree of Life, and Disney has yet to comment on the permit.
The Daily Mail has reached out to Walt Disney World for comment.
Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom is also undergoing a major transformation.
This week, guests witnessed the visible draining of Rivers of America - marking the beginning of a permanent change to a section of the park that has been largely untouched for decades.
What was once a pretty quiet corner of Liberty Square and Frontierland is now becoming a construction zone - and some fans are not happy about it.
The Rivers of America, along with the Liberty Square Riverboat ride and Tom Sawyer Island, are being retired to make room for a new Cars-themed land.
This immersive area will introduce two new attractions: a high-speed off-road rally ride designed and a family-friendly indoor adventure set in a rustic lodge.
The company previously revealed that the new area will be called Piston Peak National Park and described it as an 'awe-inspiring wilderness filled with towering trees, snowcapped mountains, breathtaking waterfalls, roaring rivers, and impressive geysers.'
But the exciting addition also means the loss of some of Magic Kingdom's most iconic and tranquil experiences.
The Liberty Belle Riverboat was one of the park's original opening-day attractions, and Tom Sawyer Island offered families a quiet escape from the crowds and screen-based attractions.
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