The Tree of Life at Disney’s Animal Kingdom (Photos and Things to Do)
The Tree of Life is the heart of Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park at Walt Disney World. Similar to Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom, it’s the icon of Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The design of the massive faux tree is inspired by the real Tree of Life, a Baobab, a type of tree found in Africa.
The Tree of Life stands over 145 feet tall and is often visible in Walt Disney World’s skyline. The Animal Kingdom Tree of Life has an interesting history. When Imagineers began creating the tree, they used a Bonsai Tree as a model. A reimagined oil rig was used as the inner support element for the tree.
Given the nature of Florida, the tree was designed to withstand hurricane-force winds. A support system was developed that includes secondary branches, tertiary branches, and end branches. The tree contains more than 8,000 branches and approximately 102,000 faux leaves.
Not only does the Tree of Life have an exciting history, but it’s also home to multiple attractions, animal exhibits, and forms of entertainment. Below, we’ll go over each item so you can add them to your touring plan.
Below are a few quick reference details for the Tree of Life.
| Tree of Life | Disney’s Animal Kingdom |
|---|---|
Location: | Discovery Island |
Height Requirements: | None |
Lightning Lane: | NA |
Early Theme Park Entry: | NA |
Extended Evening Hours: | NA |
Rider Switch: | None |
Good For: | Family Photos, Exploration |
Accessibility: | May Remain in Wheelchairs or ECVs. |
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. |
Things to Do at Disney’s Tree of Life
The Tree of Life first comes into view after you pass through The Oasis. It sits in the center of Discovery Island. Africa sits behind the tree to the left, and Asia is opposite on the right. Several PhotoPass photographers are available in the area. It’s an excellent place to take a family photo sometime during your day.
You might be surprised to learn that the Tree of Life is more than a focal point. Here are a few things to do involving the tree and the immediate area surrounding it:
- Winged Encounters
- Animal Encounters
- It’s Tough to Be a Bug!*
- Tree of Life Awakenings
- Discovery Island Trails
- It’s Tough to be a Bug!
- Animal Encounters
*It’s Tough to Be a Bug! will be replaced by a new Zootopia-themed attraction.
Winged Encounters
Winged Encounters is a magnificent macaw show held in front of the Tree of Life several times per day. It features several species of macaws with up to 48″ wing spans. This performance lasts approximately five minutes. We recommend taking the time to see it at some point during your day.
Lesser Flamingos
You’ll find the Lesser Flamingos exhibit to the immediate left of the Tree of Life. These beautiful creatures get their pink coat of feathers from their diet. A cast member is often present at this exhibit to answer questions about the birds.
Otter Grotto
Otter Grotto sits immediately next to the Lesser Flamingos. If you time it right, you might see some fun otter activity.
On this visit, the otters were napping, making them difficult to see. But if you look closely in the photo below, you might see a warm and fuzzy brown pile to the right of the log.
Cotton Top Tamarins
The Cotton Top Tamarins are also along the Discovery Island Trails. You’ll run into them right before you reach the bridge to Africa. This exhibit features an entire family of the species.
Tree of Life Garden Trail
Past Otter Grotto (before the Tamarins), you might notice a wooden carving that says Tree of Life Garden Trails. This sign indicates the entrance to the path in front of the Tree of Life. Between us, it’s one of the best-kept secrets at Walt Disney World.
The first thing you’ll see is the Paroon Shark Catfish in the water to the left of the bridge. If you don’t see him, it’s because he’s hiding under the bridge. If you stand there quietly, he might come out. But I’m pretty sure he can tell if someone is present by their shadow. If he comes out, don’t worry, you will see him. He’s a big guy.
This trail loops around the front side of the tree.
Red Kangaroos
Before you get to the base of the tree, you might see the Red Kangaroos on your right. They are pretty noticeable when they’re hopping.
With a few more steps, we’ve made it directly under the Tree of Life’s canopy.
Wood Carvings
I could sit here and count the tree’s animals in the wood carvings. No matter how often I’ve visited, I always see something new.
The Tree of Life contains over 300 unique wood carvings, including a carving of David Greybeard, the famous chimp known through Jane Goodall and her work with chimpanzees. He was the first chimpanzee she studied upon her arrival in Gombe.
What do you see?
You’ll walk through a cave and underneath a waterfall as you continue on the trail.
Lemurs
We run into the Lemur exhibit near the trail’s exit. This exhibit is home to three Lemurs. One is a Brown-Collared Lemur, and the other two are Ring-Tailed Lemurs.
It’s Tough to Be a Bug
This side of the trail’s exit is near the entrance to It’s Tough to Be a Bug, where the tree’s trunk doubles as the Tree of Life Theater. Inside, you’ll find a film-based attraction based on the Disney and Pixar animated film A Bug’s Life. The film has an 8-minute duration and features characters Flik (the ant) and Hopper (the grasshopper).
It was announced that this attraction will be replaced with a Zootopia film.
Related: It’s Tough to Be a Bug!
Tree of Life Awakenings
When the park is open late enough, a projection show is held on the Tree of Life after nightfall. “Gaze upon a graceful young doe embarking upon a thrilling journey. Behold love blossoming between a pair of hummingbirds. See a spry fox spreading gifts of love among the denizens of a wintry forest. A feast for the eyes, each revelation celebrates the eternal balance and harmony that exists in all living things, big or small, and is sure to inspire and delight the entire family, big and small.” (Disney)
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 as long as you like to enjoy the projection show.
Fun Fact: The Tree of Life had a unique limited-time projection to celebrate Avatar: The Way of Water when it was released. Disney’s Animal Kingdom is home to Pandora, World of Avatar.
Disney Tree of Life Photos
We’ve added a gallery with a few more photos of the Tree of Life and its wood carvings.
The Resorts Gal Spin on the Tree of Life
Taking the time to walk around the Tree of Life is a must-do! Unfortunately, given the emptiness of the trails, we know that most guests aren’t aware that this is an actual thing. We hope you’ll remember to explore this area of the park on your next visit.
Resorts Gal Traffic Signals
Green Light
We give an attraction the green light if we consider it a must-do, regardless of the posted wait. We also give the green light for attractions we deem suitable to experience anytime. For example, some attractions have high capacities. Therefore, the lines continuously move and you shouldn’t have a long wait unless the attraction experiences downtime.
Red Light
We recommend checking the posted wait times for red light attractions. Then, make a quick judgment call on whether to wait, skip it, or return later. We also red light some attractions that we feel might not be suitable based on our experience.
We hope you enjoyed this article and can incorporate some of the attractions and trails into your day at the park. Seeing the animals and the carvings on the Tree of Life are among our favorite traditions when we visit!
For more about Disney’s Animal Kingdom, you might enjoy the following:
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom Character Meet-and-Greets
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom Quick Service Dining Guide
- Kilimanjaro Safaris at Animal Kingdom
- Where to Find Animals at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Are you planning a Walt Disney World vacation? You might enjoy browsing our list of Disney World Hotel Reviews. Here are a few 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? Did you learn anything new from reading this article? Leave us a comment below with your thoughts, questions, or experiences.
