For over two years now, the attraction formerly known as Tarzan’s Treehouse has been closed at Disneyland. The closure started off as an innocuous refurbishment before morphing into a full blown reimagined attraction. Now, the attraction, that will return as the Adventureland Treehouse, will open on November 10th! In this post, we’ll cover the opening date and new details before offering our own commentary on the subject. Let’s get to the news!

The Adventureland Treehouse inspired by Walt Disney’s Swiss Family Robinson will open on Nov. 10, 2023, at Disneyland Resort. As previously announced, Adventureland Treehouse will pay tribute to the original treehouse Walt Disney and his Imagineers built in 1962 in honor of the movie “Swiss Family Robinson.” With the new Adventureland Treehouse, there will be a fresh story for the next generation of park goers to experience and enjoy. 

Among the tree’s massive boughs, you’ll find the mother’s music den, the sons’ nature room and the daughter’s astronomer’s loft. Firm on the ground will be a kitchen and dining room, plus the father’s art studio that will display hand-drawn sketches and paintings of each room. 

As the story goes, the family fashioned an oasis among the trees inspired by nature and using objects found around them. Here, they can collaborate together while also pursuing their own individual skills, talents, passions and interests. 

Proud of what they’ve accomplished and eager to share their way of life with visitors from around the world, the family has rolled out the metaphorical welcome mat, inviting guests to climb up the stone stairway and explore their treetop abode.

Adjacent to the stairwell is the home’s iconic waterwheel, which is powered by a small brook that babbles nearby. The family created a pulley system to deliver water from the stream high up into the tree, generating the energy needed to activate many of their gadgets and inventions.

Nestled in the highest part of the home, you will find the daughter’s room, as she has illustrated it here in her own abstract style. An admirer of celestial bodies and their magnitudes, motions and magic, her room provides a clear view of the beautiful night sky. It is here where she spends her time tracking stars, planets and comets with her many telescopes, no doubt making new discoveries which she logs in her notebooks, sketches and artistic recreations.

In the mother’s room, you’ll find musical instruments including a harp, lute, guitar and organ, which she plays to fill the home with cheerful melodies. The twin brothers have packed their room with an impossibly large collection of plants and animals, all living in harmony with one another. Filled with gadgets, appliances and devices of his own invention, the father’s studio reflects the whole family’s affinity for exploring the unknown and designing the unimaginable. 

Commentary

This whole project had a strange aura to it and I’m not sure that the new details revealed clear everything up. I’m very supportive of Disney taking attractions down to refurbish and/or spruce up. Maintenance has been a struggle for different theme parks over the years, so taking the time to make sure attractions look like they’re supposed to is important.

I also don’t mind changing the theme to something when necessary. Tarzan’s Treehouse was never overly successful, both in terms of popularity or in theme. It was fine, similar to the overlay on Disneyland’s Tom Sawyer Island, but I don’t think adding Tarzan easter eggs and props was a big point of interest to many park goers. With that in mind, switching the theme back to Swiss Family Robinson makes sense as it’s rooted in tradition in the parks. But they aren’t really doing that?

Perhaps it’s because they found Swiss Family Robinson to be too old of a reference but I did find it strange that the rooms are for nameless characters. Mother’s room sounds like something out of a horror movie and son’s nature room is less ominous but just as strange. Pirates of the Caribbean and Haunted Mansion are just a few steps away so maybe Disney is embracing a spooky side of the park!

Moving past the names, the concept art is pretty and the outside of the Treehouse does look good. Walking past the new attraction is more whimsical than it used to be, while also fitting in with the South Pacific architecture of Adventureland. Adding to the weirdness, we’re just getting concept art of the attraction in this news even though it’s opening in roughly 2 weeks. The art is interesting though and there’s plenty of props to enjoy.

Getting the treehouse back, no matter what the theme is, will be a nice addition to Disneyland. While it’s far from a headliner, it adds to the skyline in that area and the park could use more walk through attractions without a wait. Disney Parks throughout the world have some beautiful treehouses that offer glorious views of the rest of the park. Having that back at Disneyland will add another lovely spot to enjoy the park. I’m excited to see the interior but, at the very least, we’ll have the views!

What do you think about Adventureland Treehouse? Let us know, along with any questions you might have, in the comments below! Planning a trip to Disneyland? Check out our Planning Guide here. Need tickets to Disneyland? We’ve got discounted options here! If you enjoy what you are reading here on Wandering in Disney please share this post with your friends, as well as like our social media pages. You can also subscribe to the blog via WordPress or email. All of those links are on the right side of this page. Thank you for reading, we really appreciate it!