Tarzan's Treehouse

This article is about the attraction at Disneyland and Hong Kong Disneyland. For the attraction at Magic Kingdom, Tokyo Disneyland and Disneyland Park in Disneyland Paris, see Swiss Family Treehouse.
Tarzan's Treehouse
Tarzan's Treehouse entrance sign as it appeared at Disneyland
Disneyland
AreaAdventureland
StatusClosed
Opening dateJune 23, 1999 (1999-06-23) (original)
April 30, 2021 (2021-04-30) (reopening)
Closing dateMarch 16, 2020 (2020-03-16) (original)
September 7, 2021 (2021-09-07) (reopening)
ReplacedSwiss Family Treehouse
Replaced byAdventureland Treehouse
Hong Kong Disneyland
AreaAdventureland
StatusOperating
Opening dateSeptember 12, 2005; 19 years ago (2005-09-12) (original)
January 18, 2024 (2024-01-18) (reopening)
Closing dateJanuary 26, 2020 (2020-01-26) (original)
Ride statistics
ThemeTarzan

Tarzan's Treehouse is a treetop walk-through attraction at Hong Kong Disneyland and formerly at Disneyland in California. It is based on Disney's 1999 film Tarzan.

Disneyland version

In March 1999, Disneyland closed its version of the Swiss Family Treehouse, and Imagineers (specifically Tony Baxter) re-themed the attraction to coincide with the soon-to-be released Tarzan film.[1] The giant artificial tree received a comprehensive makeover, including beefing up the main tree structure, 6,000 replacement vinyl leaves, a suspension bridge from a new entrance via a new neighboring tree, and a variety of hands-on interactive features. The tree was 80 feet (24 m) tall, weighed 150 short tons (140 t), and contained a total of 300,000 vinyl leaves.[2][3]

On June 23, 1999, Tarzan's Treehouse opened to park guests, just as Disney's animated Tarzan premiered in movie theaters.[4] Tributes to the Swiss Family Treehouse were featured on in the attraction including the "Mind Thy Head" sign and the "Swisskapolka", which could be heard playing on a vintage gramophone.[5]

In November 2019, a wooden plank of the bridge into Tarzan's Treehouse snapped prompting the attraction to close for a short period for repairs.[6][7]

In September 2021, the attraction closed for refurbishment, and demolition of the bridge and entrance tree began in April 2022. The treehouse reopened on November 10, 2023, as Adventureland Treehouse—Inspired by Walt Disney's Swiss Family Robinson.[8][9]

Hong Kong Disneyland version

When Hong Kong Disneyland opened on September 12, 2005, it included Tarzan's Treehouse built on Tarzan's Island. Rafts near Festival of the Lion King are used to ferry passengers to and from the island, which is encircled by the Rivers of Adventure.[10] This is a similar arrangement to Disneyland's Tom Sawyer Island.

On January 18, 2024, Hong Kong Disneyland announced that the updated version of the attraction would return, since the original version of the attraction would be temporarily closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic for over four years ago.

  • Tarzan's Treehouse at Hong Kong Disneyland
    Tarzan's Treehouse at Hong Kong Disneyland
  • The raft to Tarzan's Treehouse
    The raft to Tarzan's Treehouse

Further reading

References

  1. ^ "MousePlanet Park Guide - Disneyland Resort - Tarzan's Treehouse". Tarzan's Treehouse. Retrieved 2010-05-06.
  2. ^ Jim Fanning (2009). Disneyland Challenge. Disney Editions. p. 15. ISBN 978-1-4231-0675-3.
  3. ^ MacDonald, Brady (18 April 2022). "Disneyland to give Tarzan's Treehouse a new theme". Orange County Register. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
  4. ^ Strodder, Chris (2017). The Disneyland Encyclopedia (3rd ed.). Santa Monica Press. pp. 469–470. ISBN 978-1595800909.
  5. ^ Gennawey, Sam (2014). The Disneyland Story: The Unofficial Guide to the Evolution of Walt Disney's Dream. Keen Communications. p. 367. ISBN 978-1-62809-012-3.
  6. ^ Fry, Hannah (November 11, 2019). "Tarzan's Treehouse reopens after Disneyland visitor reportedly snaps plank on bridge". The Los Angeles Times.
  7. ^ Macdonald, Brandy (November 10, 2019). "Disneyland closes Tarzan's Treehouse after slat breaks on rope suspension bridge". The Orange County Register.
  8. ^ "Adventureland Treehouse at Disneyland Park Returns in Fresh, New Way in 2023". thekingdominsider.com. November 10, 2022. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
  9. ^ Ace, Shannen (October 25, 2023). "2023 Opening Date Announced for New Adventureland Treehouse at Disneyland Park". wdwnt.com. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
  10. ^ "The HKDL Source : Tarzan's Treehouse and Island". Archived from the original on 2010-05-27. Retrieved 2010-05-16.