According to a permit document filed this month, changes are coming to the beloved Tree of Life in Walt Disney World’s Animal Kingdom, including possible demolition.
Walt Disney World’s Imagineering team filed the paperwork December 22 with Florida’s Orange County Comptroller. It’s unclear exactly what will change about the Tree of Life, as details haven’t been shared. However, the project seems like it could consist of updates as opposed to a complete teardown of the iconic site. In the permit document, Disney workers requested permission to make improvements. The work was described as including “facility demo (demolition), general construction, electrical, and area development.”
The contracting company for the project is Whiting-Turner, which has previously worked on Disney projects, including Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Hollywood Studios and The Boathouse at Disney Springs.
A related document regarding the Tree of Life’s improvement was filed in February with nearly identical information. The December version noted the “Notice of Commencement (NOC)” filing as “amended,” which the original did not. In both filings, the expiration date for the permits is listed as December 30, 2025.
The Orange County Comptroller shares information about NOCs on its website. The source detailed that under Florida law, the notice is required “for real property improvements greater than $5,000.”
What Else Is There To Know Disney’s Tree Of Life?
The Tree of Life stands at 145 feet tall. The Animal Kingdom centerpiece is a work of art modeled after a real baobab tree. The latter can live up to 5,000 years and is actually nicknamed the “Tree of Life.” The Disney version was unveiled in 1998, and it includes over 8,000 branches and 300 animals carved into it. A celebration of life and biodiversity, Disney highlights that surrounding the family-friendly attraction “is a serene landscape of pools, meadows, and trees — home to a variety of live animals, including lemurs, flamingos, kangaroos, and tortoises.”
In November, Animal Kingdom debuted the 4D show “Zootopia: Better Zoogether!” inside the Tree of Life. The new show replaced the longstanding “It’s Tough to Be a Bug!,” which was a 3D show with characters from the 1998 animated film “A Bug’s Life.”
