Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse: A Tropical Paradise in the Magic Kingdom
Who can ever forget their first time watching Swiss Family Robinson?
The tale of the shipwrecked Robinson family opened up a world of action and adventure brimming with delightfully wild animals and tender-hearted characters. Above all, this is the movie that made every kid ever ask for a treehouse for Christmas.
(Still waiting on that Mom and Dad, LOL!)
If you’re still waiting like me, don’t fret. Your treehouse dream can still come true! After all, wish-granting is kind of Disney’s thing.
Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse: Construction
The wild and overgrown Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse was first constructed in Disneyland in 1962, just two years after the premiere of the hit live-action Disney film. It was so popular with both children and adults, a copy of the attraction was installed in Disney World and was present on opening day in 1971.
While Disneyland’s treehouse has since undergone a transformation, becoming a Tarzan-themed attraction, the deed to the makeshift home in the Magic Kingdom is still safely in the hands of the Robinson family.
In the story, the Robinsons built their new island home using bits and bobs from a shipwreck. While Disney Imagineers might have had an advantage with available material, they still had to be just as innovative as the Robinsons!
For one thing, the Imagineers were missing the most imperative part of a giant treehouse: a giant tree! So, starting from the ground up, they “grew” a 90-foot-tall banyan tree from concrete roots until it flourished with cement-coated steel branches and 300,000 hand-attached artificial leaves.1 This new species of banyan was playfully dubbed Disneyodendron eximus, or “out of the ordinary Disney tree.”2
(I sure wish they sold seeds in a gift shop so I could grow one in my backyard. . .)
Once the tree was fully grown, rooms were built and furnished with period-piece décor that would transport intrepid climbers back to the summer of 1805, when the Napoleonic Wars were still waging (albeit a world away), and running water was an utterly amazing innovation.
While the Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse has decreased in its popularity since that sunny opening day, we think it’s certainly still worth a climb!
Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse: The Climb
This Adventureland attraction is definitely a must for any avid Wilderness Explorer with a sense of adventure. We will warn you though, you need to be ready to climb 116 stairs – this walkthrough attraction can be a bit of a workout even for experienced explorers!
As you ascended, you’ll see a working waterwheel and intricate pulley system that’s so much cooler than your regular kitchen sink. Various signs written by Franz Robinson divulge bits of the Swiss Family story, further immersing you into their world. Leaves rustle in the wind, harmonizing with the cheerful “Swisskapolka.”
Once you climb a few more steps, you’ll find the song isn’t emanating from thin air – it’s coming from a small organ in the first room of this treetop bungalow! Talk about fancy! As you peek into this living space, note the ship’s wheel (or “galver” for you sailors out there). It appears to be steering the treehouse toward new horizons, but movie buffs will remember it actually pulls up the treehouse ladder to keep strangers out at night. Of course, here at Disney World, that feature is no longer necessary, for the Robinsons kindly welcome us all into their tropical abode! However, the wheel was just too cool to discard.
Continue your climb to the top (about five stories up) and you’ll find the Crow’s Nest, where the Robinson boys would drift to sleep in gently swaying hammocks. (Personally, this is where I would want to hang out if I lived here!)
The views from this tier are absolutely amazing. You’ll find yourself graced with a sweeping panorama of Adventureland and an especially good view of the Jungle Cruise river. You’re so high up that these breathtaking views even extend to other areas of the park! Can you spot Cinderella’s castle?
While it’s tempting to stay in the sky, there’s so much more to see! The path through the Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse is one-way, so you’ll have even more unique views on the way down, passing through the family’s makeshift kitchen and dining area, largely constructed with leftovers from their wrecked ship, the Swallow.
Back on the ground, you’ll find your treehouse dreams have finally been fulfilled. Or maybe now you just want a treehouse more than ever. . .
If that’s the case, you can always walk through again, and in fact, we’d recommend it! Climbing the treehouse is a completely different experience when night falls. The pathway is suddenly awash in the glow of swinging lanterns, and all of the Magic Kingdom sparkles beneath your feet. While the attraction is an homage to the Swiss Family Robinson movie, if you venture there at dusk, you might find yourself feeling more like Aladdin and Jasmine on Carpet, ready to sing “It’s a Whole New World!”
Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse: Continuing On
Some Disney-goers opt to skip this adventuresome treehouse, seeing the attraction as outdated or simply not flashy enough. However, we think its simple charm helps it stand out from all the rest! Like Tom Sawyer Island, it’s great for kiddos, and can offer a much-needed change of pace during your day at the Magic Kingdom!
Meant to be enjoyed at a leisurely pace, the Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse is a shady escape that offers entertainment and delight away from the noisy crowds.
It’s also an awesome way to indulge your childhood nostalgia or introduce the kiddos to the classic you grew up with. Watching Swiss Family Robinson together before or after your treehouse adventure makes for even more wonderful memories!
And ultimately, that’s what this treehouse is all about. While the Robinsons’ perilous tale is certainly one of action and adventure, it’s also about a family banding together against all odds. When you explore this Adventureland gem with family or friends, you might find it strengthens your bond, too.
Do you think the “Swisskapolka” is still a groovy tune? Tell us about your own Swiss Family Adventures in the comments below!
Cover Image
Photo: Unsplash
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