The iconic symbol of Disney's Animal Kingdom at the Walt Disney World Resort is called the Tree of Life.  This mammoth man-made tree not only makes a great photo backdrop for those that enter the park, but it is worthwhile to study the incredible detail that went into all of the animals that are hidden within it's trunk and branches.


Disney World fans can appreciate the level of detail that went into transforming this former oil rig into an animal adorned tree that serves as the centerpiece of Disney World's best themed Theme Park.

If you have the time time to look closely you can discover the over 300 animal carvings that exist within the trunk, roots, and branches of the massive 145 foot tall structure.

Today, as we pay homage to this incredible structure we show many of the animal carvings that you may not have seen in such detail previously.


The owl, the whale, and the iguana are highlighted here in this view.  The material that the Disney Imagineers used was concrete to create these incredible animal images.

The bear and the wildebeest stampede are the visuals that you can notice from this view.  This enlarged close-up is rarely noticed by the casual Disney's Animal Kingdom Guest.


The meercat and the beetle are prominently shown here amongst the others.


Can you make out the rabbit, moose, and praying mantis carved into the Tree Of Life in this picture?


The stately peacock is shown in this image. It is cleverly carved into the trunk of the tree.


This stunning picture shows the carving of the owl, monkey, scorpion, and hippo all intertwined in this carving image.  Few Disney World guests ever notice this level of detail that exists in the Tree Of Life.



A Lion makes his way into this carving peering along the edge of the tree.




Can you believe that an octopus is actually included among the Tree Of Life Carvings?  This menacing form makes its appearance felt.

Summary

The Tree of Life at Disney's Animal Kingdom presents an amazing array of over 300 different carving included within its boundaries.  By looking closely you can see the wide variety of mammals, birds, sea creatures, crustaceans, and even insects that are represented. The next time that you visit the Walt Disney World Resort make a point of taking some extra time to see how many of the 300 carvings you can identify. 

The entrance to Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park is one of the most interesting of any theme park you will ever visit due to the fact that it does not reveal any of the secrets contained within.  Each of the Walt Disney World Resort Theme Parks are intended to play out like a movie with the entrance setting the stage for what you are about to encounter.


At Disney's Animal Kingdom you are kept in the dark as it pertains to what adventures you will encounter within.  You get a strong sense of the natural setting, but no other details are revealed.


This entrance is so different from the other Disney World Parks that you really do not know what to expect.  Disney Imagineers have done a great job of not revealing what you will find inside the Animal Kingdom.


The lush vegetation dominates the surroundings.  Even the towering Tree Of Life, which is the iconic symbol for the park cannot be seen at the entrance.


One of the strong elements of the "story" of Disney's Animal Kingdom of the power of Mother Nature and that it needs to be respected.  The message that humans need to live in harmony with Nature is intertwined throughout the theming of the park.


Ultimately you proceed inside the park and venture towards the center still without knowing what awaits you.  Finally you reach a clearing where the iconic Tree Of Life becomes visible.  From here you start to get a sense of what is what and the "story" of the park quickly unfolds.

Great Park Entrance
The entrance to Disney's Animal Kingdom is considered amazing by its ability to prevent the Disney World Guest from guessing what might be contained within this park.  This approach to the entrance makes the park unique and adds to the intrigue of visiting.

You are immediately forced to put your focus on Nature and taken away from the man-made materials that dominate the construction of the other parks.  At a park where live animals are the star of the show, Nature deserves to be in the spotlight!

The Walt Disney World Resort is a photographer's dream.  Even an amateur can come home with amazing photographs taken at Disney World.

Today we want to take a look at the most photographed features of each of the 4 Disney World theme parks.  In each park, one structure is deemed the iconic figure.  These icons receive the lion's share of attention and always garner photographic attention.

For each of the four icons we will chose a pose that you may not have in your collection, but still shows off the icon's good side.

Magic Kingdom - Cinderella's Castle
Cinderella's Castle not only is the icon for the Magic Kingdom, but it is also representative of all of Disney World.  The castle has gone through numerous transformations throughout the years in an attempt to "dress it up" for one celebration or another.  Despite the external changes, the iconic shape and silhouette that we all know and love remain.

The recent addition of over 200,000 LED lights to prepare it for the Christmas holidays creates a striking image.


















Disney's Hollywood Studios - Sorceror Mickey's Hat
At Disney's Hollywood Studios resides probably the most controversial of the 4 park icons.  Sorceror Mickey's Hat was not there at the beginning.  The initial icon was actually the Earful Tower.  The Mickey shaped water tower still resides in the park today, yet it was supplanted as the icon for the park in 2001.

The 122 foot high Sorceror Mickey's Hat dominates the view as you enter Hollywood Studios.  Love it or hate it, Sorceror Mickey's Hat shows off its best side at night, which is when this particular picture was taken.

















Epcot - Spaceship Earth
As you approach Epcot you can't help but notice Spaceship Earth.  This imposing architectural feat soars 180 feet into the sky.  This geodesic sphere serves as an iconic landmark and as home to an attraction.

Because of its enormous size, Spaceship Earth can be photographed from many different angles and locations.  Whether you are entering the park or looking back from the World Showcase, the image of Spaceship earth can be found.

The picture chosen for today is an up close shot that dwarfs the moon in the sky.