Tree of Life at Disney World’s Animal Kingdom

Disney’s Tree of Life is the heart of Animal Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World. It also stands as the iconic centered element of the park.

This massive faux tree is designed to imitate a real Tree of Life, the Baobab, found in Africa. The Tree of Life stands over 145 feet tall and is highly visible across many viewpoints of the Walt Disney World skyline.

Additionally, you’ll find that the tree is home to over 300 different wood carvings. Trails immediately surround either side of the tree. You can use the trails to get an up-close view of the tree and its carving.

The Tree of Life has become a unique attraction in recent years, offering calming projection shows after nightfall. Below we’ll look at the Tree of Life in detail and discuss some things that you won’t want to miss.

Below are a few quick reference details for the Tree of Life.

Tree of Life	Animal Kingdom
Location:	Discovery Island
Disney Height Requirements:	None
Genie +	NA
Ride Type:	N/A
Seats Per Vehicle:	N/A
Rider Switch at Disney World:	None
Good For:	Family Time
Scary Factor:	None
Must-Do List:	High
Perfect For:	All Ages
Special Mention:	Make sure to get a family photo in front of the tree to commemorate your visit.

Tree of Life at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

The Tree of Life sits in the center of Discovery Island in the Animal Kingdom. When you enter the park, there’s a special moment when the Tree of Life comes into view.

Usually, there are several PhotoPass photographers in the area taking photos for families. It’s an excellent place to take a family photo at some point during your day.

With that being said, I would like to make you aware that there are several things to do at, around, and even under the Tree of Life. Those items are:

• Tree of Life Awakenings
• Discovery Island Trails
• It’s Tough to be a Bug!
• Animal Encounters

Most guests touring the parks are unaware that the Discovery Island Trails even exist. These trails wrap around each side of the Tree of Life. You can find the entrance to the trails near the Asia or Africa bridges.

Each trail is astonishing and offers the opportunity to walk directly underneath the tree. When you get this close, you can pick out the wood carvings one by one on the tree.

Fortunately, this area is rarely crowded, no matter when I visit. Sometimes, when I’m at the Animal Kingdom on a busy day or holiday, I’ll walk the trails to escape.

Underneath the Tree of Life, there’s a 3D attraction called It’s Tough to be a Bug! This is a cute show and a nice place to take a break during the heat of the day.

Additionally, several animal encounters surround the Tree of Life. Some of these are located on the outskirts of the trails, like Otter Grotto, the Greater Flamingos, and Cotton-top Tamarins.

From the trails, you can see exhibits with turtles, porcupines, kangaroos, and vultures.

Lastly, a nightly projection show is offered on the Tree of Life, The Tree of Life Awakenings. Each evening, when it gets dark before the park closes, the Tree of Life comes alive in a new way.

Musical notes enhance the experience as fireflies light up the area around the tree. Before long, you’ll see animals of the forest in various displays projected on the tree.

Tree of Life Awakenings happen at night, approximately every 10 minutes, after dark until the park closes. You are welcome to stay for as little or long as you like to enjoy the projection show.

As you can probably tell, the Tree of Life is a lot more than just the centerpiece element of the park. So make sure to enjoy some of these activities while you are touring.

For other attractions at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, you might enjoy the following:

• Kali River Rapids
• Dinosaur Ride Review
• Feathered Friends in Flight
• The Boneyard Playground

Disney Tree of Life Photos:

Are you planning a Walt Disney World vacation? You might enjoy browsing our list of Disney World Hotel Reviews.

Here are some of our favorites:

• Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge Review
• Disney’s Boardwalk Inn Review
• Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort Review
• Disney’s Pop Century Resort Review

In the Comments

Have you ever taken the time to explore the area around the Tree of Life? Will you do so on your next vacation?