The Tree of Life
[Disney Vacation Planner]
At A Glance |
The center piece of the Animal
Kingdom the Tree of Life serves as a reference point which
can be seen throughout much of thepark, much in the same way
that Cinderella's Castle does within The Magic Kingdom. |
As you take the bridge off the last part
of Osceola Parkway coming into Disney's Animal Kingdom, you get
your first brief glimpse of the Tree of Life, the park's main
symbol. Disney Imagineers went through hundreds of ideas, including
something that looked like a "big spear of broccoli," until they
came up with designs for the tree, which stands 145-feet and contains
the images of more than 300 animals carved into the bark.
The Tree has more than 100,000 leaves, sewn
on to more than 8,000 branches that stretch out to a breadth of
160 feet across the sky. The trunk is 50 feet wide, with the roots
spreading out to 170 feet at the base. Like Cinderella Castle
at the Magic Kingdom, Spaceship Earth at Epcot or MGM's Earful
Tower, the Tree of Life is an unforgettable emblem of the Animal
Kingdom.
Surrounding the Tree is The Tree of Life
Gardens, a series of maze-like paths, covered in lush greenery
and wild flowers. Guests can peer into the lives of ducks, otters,
flamingos, cockatoos, lemurs, kangaroo and many other species
of animals while they stroll through the opulent gardens.
Housed within the gnarled roots at the base
of the Tree of Life is a 430-seat theater, showing "It's
Tough to Be a Bug".
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