I’ve seen a lot of online chatter lately about Bluey coming to Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and more specifically, whether or not it belongs there. And look, I get the sentiment. Animal Kingdom has historically maintained a lower level of IP integration compared to Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, and even EPCOT to a degree. In the eyes of Disney purists, Animal Kingdom was never supposed to get too cartoony. It was built on a different promise…conservation, nature, immersion in the wild. I respect that perspective.
But here’s what I think those folks are missing: Bluey coming to the parks is a genuinely big deal.
For young families right now, Bluey isn’t just a cartoon. It’s a cultural phenomenon. It’s the show parents actually want to watch with their kids. It has emotional depth, incredible writing, and a level of relatability that cuts across generations. For Disney to bring Bluey into Animal Kingdom, a park that some in the community still dismissively call a “half-day park,” is a smart, meaningful move. It gives young families with little ones a legitimate anchor moment in a park.
Do I think the location, all the way back at Conservation Station, is the perfect placement? Not necessarily. Logistically, getting all the young families back there is going to be tough, which is why the virtual queue system was set up. But in the grand scheme of things, that’s all semantics. What matters is that Bluey is in the parks, and the kids who care about this are going to absolutely lose their minds over it. For many of the little ones visiting, this is going to be one of the single most memorable moments of their entire Disney vacation.
And I’m just going to say it: I’m tired of seeing people grumble about how Bluey “ruined” Conservation Station. I hear you, Conservation Station was a gem, an underappreciated corner of the park with real educational value. But let’s be honest with ourselves. How many people were listing it as their favorite Disney experience? How many families were making it their must-do? The reality is that this change breathes new life into a corner of the park that needed it. It’s a little like Tom Sawyer’s Island. I am sad it is gone, but I recognize that what is replacing it will be a much bigger attraction.
And before anyone comes for me, this is not an attack on guests without kids, or guests whose kids have long outgrown “little kid shows.” I will defend Disney adults with my chest out every single time someone tries to make them feel weird for loving these parks without a child in tow. I was a childless Disney adult. I know firsthand that these parks are for guests of every age, and that’s something worth protecting.
But that’s exactly my point. Every age includes the little ones, too. Some of these anti-Bluey comments are starting to feel like people have slowly, quietly forgotten that. No, the parks aren’t just for kids anymore, but they are still for kids. Deeply, fundamentally, joyfully for kids. And right now? The kids absolutely love Bluey.
Let them have this one.
