It’s the circle of life.
Walt Disney Imagineering has filed a new permit calling for “facility demolition” of the Animal Kingdom’s beloved Tree of Life landmark at Walt Disney World in Florida.
The permit, filed Monday, Dec. 22, in Orange County, taps Whiting-Turner, a contractor Disney uses for large-scale projects, Inside the Magic reported.
But the most surprising part is that the permit’s set to expire on Dec. 30, 2025 — meaning the apparent demolition could happen before the new year. As Inside the Magic noted, expiration dates on permit filings usually are at least a year out.
It’s unclear exactly what the scope of the permit is, and according to Blog Mickey, this permit is similar to one filed earlier this year that also called for demolition.
Blog Mickey said that the new permit might not be as big a deal as it seems, saying that being filed by Walt Disney Imagineering signifies that the project will be creative in nature.
The permit lists electrical work, general construction and area development, which is a description “generally seen where attraction reimaginings or new lands are expected to be built.”
Without more details, Disney fans will have to wait to see what exactly Disney plans to do with the Tree of Life, but it’s worth noting that a new attraction opened up inside of it this year.
The “It’s Tough to Be a Bug” attraction — a 3D show featuring characters from Disney Pixar’s “A Bug’s Life,” which takes place inside the tree’s base — was recently replaced by a new 4D theater show, “Zootopia: Better Zoogether,” featuring characters Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde.
The Post has reached out to Disney for comment.
Walt Disney World has been going through quite a few changes recently as it makes room for new rides and experiences.
In the Animal Kingdom, the prehistoric land of DinoLand, which has been part of the theme park since it opened in 1998, will go extinct in February 2026, as Disney plans to replace it with Tropical Americas, a new South American-inspired land expected to open in 2027. It will include a family-friendly ride based on the hit movie “Encanto,” and the Dinosaur ride — a feature there since the park opened in 1998 — will be changed to have an “Indiana Jones” theme.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios recently announced that it will be replacing the Star Wars: Launch Bay with a new experience called The Magic of Disney Animation in 2026. The family experience will allow guests to interact with and explore takes on the Disney Animation headquarters.
A new Monsters Inc. Land, also known as “Monstropolis,” is currently being built at Hollywood Studios, where the Muppet Courtyard used to be. The new land will have a roller coaster that “will put you right in the middle of the monster action,” Walt Disney Imagineering boasts.
Also at Hollywood Studios, the fan-favorite Aerosmith pre-show video that played before boarding the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster attraction has been removed so that construction can begin on the ride’s transformation into a Muppet-themed rollercoaster that will open next year.
Cinderella’s Castle at the heart of the Magic Kingdom will additionally be getting an upgrade with a new color palette “inspired by the classic and original look of the castle.”
Some Disney staples like Rivers of America, Tom Sawyer Island and the Liberty Square Riverboat are also going away to make room for a revved-up new land called Piston Peak National Park, an homage to Pixar’s “Cars” franchise.
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