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. With over 8,000 branches of very different sizes and about 102,000 artificial leaves, the sculpture debuted when the theme park opened on April 22, 1998.[1] Inspired by the mythological concept of the same name, 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. Designed and fabricated at Greens Bayou Fabrication Yard in Houston and based on the natural forms of baobab 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] The tree also has a walking path, the Tree of Life Garden, that provides a closer look at the sculpture.

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

Tree of Life Awakenings

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:

Since then the park has added:

  • First Snow (Holidays only, started 2019) [7]
  • Northern Lights (Holidays only, started 2019)[8]
  • A new Lion King only projection (October 2021).[9]
  • Beacon of Magic (50th Anniversary nighttime transformation, October 2021 - April 2023)[10]

Construction

The Tree of Life was under construction from 1997 through 1998 and took a total of 18 months to make with the help of three Disney Imagineers and ten artists. While the tree is made of concrete, an oil rig is the skeleton of the tree. Soaring nearly fourteen stories tall (145 feet) and 165 feet wide, the Tree of Life is the tallest tree sculpture to exist.

Early concepts for the tree began with Dave Minichiello, Dan Goozee, Ben Tripp, Gerry Dunn, and Joe Rohde, all of which were Disney Imagineers. Senior production designer Zsolt Hormay, Vinnie Byrne, Fabrice Kennel, Eric Kovach, Steve Humke, Joe Welborn, Gary Boundurant, Jacob Eaddy, Roger White, Parker Boyiddle, Craig Goseyun, and Arthur Rowlodge designed and sculpted the animals on the Tree of Life. During this process, primate researcher Jane Goodall insisted that a chimpanzee be added to the list of animals being carved into the tree - specifically David Graybeard, one of the chimpanzees Goodall famously worked with. The sculptors were met with many challenges including the limited time available to carve and detail each animal due to the fast drying time of the cement. Before settling on a theatre-style show inside of the tree, designers considered having a restaurant at the bottom of the tree or access to the top of the tree for park guests to climb up. [11]

Hidden Mickey

The Walt Disney theme parks have scattered "Hidden Mickeys" throughout its rides, buildings, architecture, and more. The Tree of Life is no exception: its Hidden Mickey can be found facing upside-down right above the hippopotamus's eye.[12]

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.
  7. Coffey, Kelly (2021-07-12). "Tree of Life Will Show Both Holiday and 50th Projections". Inside the Magic. Retrieved 2022-01-12.
  8. Coffey, Kelly (2021-07-12). "Tree of Life Will Show Both Holiday and 50th Projections". Inside the Magic. Retrieved 2022-01-12.
  9. "Tree of Life Awakens- Animal Kingdom". AllEars.Net. Retrieved 2022-01-12.
  10. "PHOTOS, VIDEO: The Tree of Life Becomes an EARidescent Beacon of Magic at Animal Kingdom for Walt Disney World 50th Anniversary - WDW News Today". wdwnt.com. 2021-10-01. Retrieved 2023-04-05.
  11. "Walt Disney World Chronicles: The Story of the Tree of Life". AllEars.Net. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
  12. "The Top 9 Hidden Mickeys in Disney's Animal Kingdom". DisneyLists.com. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
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