Birt Family Focus

Swiss Family Robinson Tree House -- 9/17/01
Photos by Shelly White

OK- This is not a must see for us anymore. It is basically a museum/movie set. You walk through and look at stuff-no ride here. BUT- if you haven't seen this you really should go at least once. It is, in a word- cool.

I am old and fat now, and my DD is old enough to scamper through alone, so I generally get a good spot on a bench and let her go alone. The younger set, even if they haven't seen Swiss Family Robinson, will like this place. The landscaping around it is some of the most lush in the park. I believe it is the only place where there are orchids hanging from the trees and actual bananas on the banana trees. It is quite beautiful and enjoyable just for that.

However, it is a dream tree house. How many of us have ever wanted to have a neat tree house to sleep in? This is it. There is a kitchen, bedrooms, and running water, exactly like the Robinson's had in the movie. In fact, the piano in the music room plays constantly as you meander through. When WDW first opened their "treehouse" resort, I was hoping for similar digs. I was disappointed to find just little cabins in AMONG the trees. ;-)

This is not wheel chair accessible, as it is a narrow path of wooden steps that winds up and through the tree. The tree is imagineared, and has some 300,000 life-like leaves. It has been christened Disneyodendron eximus. Roughly translated, that means out-of-the- ordinary Disney Tree. It is supposed to look like a banyan tree.

With the comfy patchwork quilts, candles in abalone shells, and beautiful surroundings, it has all the comforts of any home. It is no wonder that when the Robinson's were "rescued" they decided to stay.