Welcome to planDisney, Meaghan. It's so nice to virtually meet you!
The Tree of Life Awakenings, which are the breathtaking projections on the already beautiful
Tree of Life icon at
Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park, typically only happen on fall and winter nights. Since this theme park usually closes the earliest of all the theme parks, it's not often open after the sun sets, which is necessary for the projections to happen. If you attend a
Disney After Hours event at this park (when offered) or visit during
Extended Evening Theme Park Hours for
Deluxe Resort Hotel and
Deluxe Villa Guests, there's more of a chance you'll be there after the sun sets and have a higher likelihood of seeing these projections.
If you visit during a time of year when the projections aren't happening, the Tree of Life is still a fascinating spectacle to behold. And sometimes even I don't realize how close you can get to it to observe the intricate carvings that were carefully sculpted onto it. When you're in the queue for
It's Tough to be a Bug!, you can often get a close-up view. You can also get some unique vantage points of the tree, while observing and learning about some majestic animals, on the
Discovery Island Trails.
And then there are the other
nighttime spectaculars at the resort that will give you plenty to "ooh" and "ahh" about! My favorite is
Happily Ever After at
Magic Kingdom Park with its classic setting and beautiful projections on
Cinderella Castle. And you shouldn't sleep on
Luminous The Symphony of Us at
EPCOT. It's surprisingly emotional but in the best way. Plus, the updated
Fantasmic! show in
Disney's Hollywood Studios is a mixture of classic and modern sequences that will delight your Disney-loving heart.
Meaghan, enjoy all the lights on your next trip to the
Walt Disney World Resort. If you have any other questions,
I'm always happy to answer them!
The wilderness must be explored,
Matt