Tree of Life (Disney)

The Tree of Life is a 145-foot (44 m) sculpture of a baobab tree at Disney's Animal Kingdom, Walt Disney World Resort. It has over 8,000 branches of very different sizes and about 102,000 artificial leaves. It debuted when the attraction opened on April 22, 1998.[1] Inspired by the mythological concept, the Tree of Life features 325 carvings of existing and extinct animal species on its trunk and surrounding roots; after Jane Goodall's visit, her famous subject David Graybeard was carved into the tree. The sculpture took 18 months to create. Animal Kingdom has millions of trees and greens; The Tree of Life is one of the park's few artificial trees.

Tree of Life
Disney's Animal Kingdom
AreaDiscovery Island
Opening dateApril 22, 1998
General statistics
DesignerWalt Disney Imagineering
Height145 ft (44.2 m)
Base width50 ft (15.2 m)
Wheelchair accessible

Engineered from a refitted oil platform and based on the natural forms of baobob trees, the Tree of Life is located on Discovery Island, roughly in the center of the park. The tree features over 100,000 thermoplastic kynar leaves.[2][3] At the structure's interior base is a 428-seat theater that hosts It's Tough to Be a Bug!, a 3-D film attraction based on the 1998 Disney/Pixar film A Bug's Life.[1][4] There is also a secret path that park goers can walk up to take a close look at the sculpture. Animals that can be found on the tree of life include: Sable Antelope, Impala, moose, deer, Bighorn sheep, Bison, Goat, Horse, Wildebeest, camel, African elephant, Indian elephant, Rhino (java & white), hippo, Tiger, Lion, Cougar, Lynx, Rabbits, Porcupine, hedgehog, racoon, fox, wild dog, prairie dog, Ant eater, pangolin, Giraffe, Kangaroo, Tapir, Sea otter, Sloth, Koala, Baboon, chimp, Gibbon, Spider monkey, Squirrel, Flying squirrel, Bat, Alligator, crocodile, Komodo dragon, chameleon, Iguana, Frilled lizard, Gecko, Gila monster, Rattle snake, Python, frog, Tortoise, Turtle, Box turtle, Snapping turtle, Hermit crab, Crab, Lobster, Shrimp, Killer whale, Walrus, seal, Manatee, Shark, Hammerhead, Salmon, Bass, Catfish, Marlin, Goldfish, Gulper eel, Jelly fish, Octopus, Squid, Prehistoric squid, Sea horse, Ant, Beetle, Lady bird, Stag beetle, Butterfly, Moth, Bee, Wasp, Dragonfly, Grasshopper, Spider, Tarantula, Scorpion, centipede, road runner, songbird, egret, heron, hammerkop, Macaw, Cockatoo, Pelican, Vulture, Hawk, Golden eagle, Bald eagle, Peacock, Ostrich, Flamingo, Great horned owl, Allosaurus, Ankylosaurus and Trilobite.


Tree of Life Awakenings
Animal carvings found on trunk

The Tree of Life Awakenings is a series of projection mapping shows that debuted on May 27, 2016, as part of the park's new nighttime operating hours.[5] A media preview of the show was presented on April 19, 2016.[6] Four presentations are featured throughout the evening, which have been given names on the Rivers of Light soundtrack release:

References
  1. Wright, Alex (2007). The Imagineering Field Guide to Disney's Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World. New York: Disney Editions. pp. 35–39. ISBN 978-14231-0320-2.
  2. Malmberg, Melody (1998). The Making of Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park. New York: Hyperion Books. pp. 38–40. ISBN 0-7868-6402-8.
  3. Pecho, Bruce (April 17, 2018). "20 things you may not know about Disney's Animal Kingdom, which turns 20 on Earth". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved September 26, 2018.
  4. Niles, Robert. "Theme Park History: A short history of Disney's Animal Kingdom". Theme Park Insider. Retrieved 23 April 2016.
  5. Bevil, Dewayne (April 20, 2016). "Disney previews 'Rivers of Light,' announces 'Jungle Book' show". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved April 23, 2016.
  6. "This Summer Magical New Experiences Will Debut Across All Four Walt Disney World Theme Parks" (Press release). PR Newswire. Lake Buena Vista, Florida: Walt Disney World Resort. April 20, 2016. Retrieved April 23, 2016.


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