The Tree of Life is the beautiful park icon for Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
Tree of Life
The tree is impressive for many reasons. It stands at 145 feet tall and features the likenesses of over 300 animals carved into it. You’ve probably walked past, under, or right up next to the tree many times during your visits, but there’s an AWESOME detail about this icon that you probably never noticed!
Did you know there’s a reason why some of the animals are carved in particular spots? Like most (if not all) things in Disney World, things are done with a purpose and meaning behind them, and the Tree of Life’s carvings are no exception.
Tree of Life
At the recent Destination D23, we learned about some of the design secrets and easter eggs at the Tree of Life. One really cool detail about Animal Kingdom’s icon is that while you will find extinct animals on the Tree of Life, they’re only carved into the deadwood roots of the tree, as a sort-of symbol of their extinction.
Some of the extinct animals you’ll find in the “deadwood” of the Tree of Life
So if you’re looking for a dinosaur or two (like a pterodactyl or tyrannosaurus rex or even a triceratops), you’ll have to look in the deadwood roots near the bottom of the tree!
What a cool Easter egg!
Just goes to show, you might have walked past a park icon or other area in Disney World hundreds of times and still not know all of its secrets. We’re on the lookout for all the latest Disney news and hidden details, so stay tuned for more!
Click Here to Read All About Destination D23!
Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe!
WE KNOW DISNEY.
YOU CAN, TOO.
Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation.
Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever!
What do you think about this hidden detail? Let us know in the comments!
Disclosure: In nearly all circumstances, Disney Food Blog writers and photographers pay full price for their own travel, hotel, food, beverage, and event tickets. We do this because it’s important to us as journalists to ensure not only that we give you unbiased opinions, but also that you can trust us to do so since we’re paying our own way. On rare occasions, when we are invited by a company to attend a preview as media, and when we choose to accept that invitation, we will always make you, our readers, aware of that situation. Recently, we were invited by Disney to attend Destination D23. Note that when we attend events as media we are 1) Not required to review that event on any of our channels, and 2) Not required to review that event favorably. You can always count on DFB to give you a 100% unbiased and honest review of any event that we attend, food that we eat, or beverage that we drink. You can see more in our Disclosure Policy. Thank you for reading. — AJ
Our handy (and portable!) ebook guides make sure you get the best deals and can plan a vacation of a lifetime.
TRENDING NOW
Disney and Starbucks have once again joined forces to launch new mugs to their Discovery...
Check out this brand-new Bluey collection at H&M!
A favorite Disney World perk is returning to Disney's Animal Kingdom soon and we're bringing...
A NEW entertainment offering is coming to Disney Springs soon!
If you break this rule, you could be temporarily BANNED from Disneyland.
How to join Indy on stage!
Disney revealed the name and story details of the new pirates-themed lounge coming to Adventureland...
A new Disney Loungefly collection inspired by Sleeping Beauty just debuted online, and you're NOT gonna...
Disney adults -- you have to see these items on sale on Amazon!
Looking for a great spot to eat in Magic Kingdom? These are the three restaurants...
A recent project was just completed on Interstate 4 in Orlando that could make getting...
Fans of the Disney Dining Plan will want to sit down for this EPCOT news...
We tried TWO new items at Everything POP at Disney's Pop Century Resort, and while...
If you've been eying a new Loungefly bag, this sale is perfect for you!
Watch out, these Minnie ears may disappear faster than the speed of light!
Mother's Day is quickly approaching! Need a last-minute gift? We've got you covered!
Make sure you follow these rules if you ever visit Disneyland's Club 33!
These perks make staying at a Disney Hotel extra worth it.
Some of the popular styles of up to 1/2 OFF!
New Aldi stores are coming to the Central Florida area this year!