Welcome to the treehouse home of the Swiss Family Robinson!
This unique attraction allows you to tour the fictional family’s abode built after they were shipwrecked on a deserted island in Disney’s classic 1960 film, Swiss Family Robinson. You’ll view their open-air rooms brimming with 19th-century articles salvaged from the wreck.
You’ll also get one of the best 360-degree views in the Magic Kingdom once you reach the 6-story-high summit of the treehouse.
Get ready to live the island life with our complete guide to the Swiss Family Treehouse.
Swiss Family Treehouse Quick Facts
Description: Essentially a big walk-through treehouse that allows kids to burn off some energy. It’s themed after the Swiss Family Robinson movie and involves climbing through various rooms and stairs.
Location
Swiss Family Treehouse is located in Adventureland, near The Magic Carpets of Aladdin and Sunshine Tree Terrace.
How to Ride Swiss Family Treehouse
Swiss Family Treehouse only has a Standby Line. There is no Single Rider Line.
Do I need to use Genie+ at Swiss Family Treehouse?
Genie+ is not available at Swiss Family Treehouse. Since this isn’t an extremely popular attraction, there typically isn’t a wait. Plus, the line continuously moves as guests make their way up and down the treehouse.
Rider Switch/Child Swap
As there is no height requirement for Swiss Family Treehouse, this attraction does not offer Rider Switch.
Rider Switch is Disney’s system that allows guests with small children to take turns riding bigger rides, while another person/people wait with the little one.
You can learn more about Rider Switch via our helpful guide.
What to Expect When You Ride
Queue
The queue to experience the Swiss Family Treehouse is actually part of the walk-through. As you soon as you enter the queue you will see the sign which gives a little explanation of the story behind the attraction.
Accessibility Information
In order to reach the top of the treehouse, you must be able to climb a total of 116 stairs. This is one of the few attractions where you must be able to walk to experience it.
On the Ride
If you prefer to keep your experience on Swiss Family Treehouse a surprise, you may want to skip this part to avoid any spoilers.
Step into the 19th-century as you take a stroll through The Swiss Family Treehouse.
This original Walt Disney World attraction is based off of the treehouse found in the 1960 film, Swiss Family Robinson, which tells the story of shipwrecked family of five. Together they salvage material from their downed ship to create a home among the leaves of a huge old tree on a South Seas island.
As you climb the steps of the Swiss Family Treehouse, you’ll see recreations of the family’s bedrooms, living room, kitchen, and library, all set up just like other 19th-century homes, with explanatory placards that tell the story of the Robinsons.
You’ll see the dinner table set, while the sounds of the family pipe organ plays happily. You may even feel like the Robinsons could walk in at any moment.
Ropes drive a water-wheel system that carries buckets of water from the stream to the top of the tree, just like in the film.
While you’re climbing the 6 stories to the top of the attraction, make sure you take in the awesome views.
Where else can you see the top of Cinderella Castle, Space Mountain, and TRON Lightcycle / Run all at once?
Is Swiss Family Treehouse Kid-Friendly?
This is a great attraction to help little ones burn off some extra energy.
Strollers
Strollers are not allowed in most queues at Walt Disney World. Instead, you’ll need to leave your stroller in the designated stroller parking area near the entrance to the queue.
History
The Swiss Family Treehouse opened on November 18, 1962, in Adventureland in Disneyland, two years after the release of the popular Disney film, Swiss Family Robinson. John Mills, who played Father Robinson in the movie, and his daughter, child star Hayley Mills, appeared at the attraction’s opening.
When the Magic Kingdom opened at Walt Disney World Resort on October 1, 1971, the Swiss Family Treehouse was one of the original park attractions. The tree is actually constructed of steel, concrete, and stucco, stretching 60 feet tall and 90 feet wide.
When Euro Disneyland opened on April 12, 1992, it featured La Cabane des Robinson, a version of the attraction, in Adventureland. Tokyo Disneyland also has a Swiss Family Treehouse which opened in 1993 as the centerpiece of Coral Landing.
In March 1999, the original attraction at Disneyland was closed. Refurbished and remodeled, it reopened in June 1999 as Tarzan’s Treehouse to coincide with the release of Disney’s animated Tarzan. However, in November 2022, it was confirmed that the attraction would revert back to the original theming with The Adventureland Treehouse. It is set to reopen in 2023.
In March 2021, following the Magic Kingdom’s COVID closure, it was announced that the Swiss Family Treehouse would be closed for refurbishment until March 25, 2021, reopening in time for Walt Disney World’s 50th Anniversary celebration.
Other Fun Details
- While it is supposed to look like a banyan tree, the artificial tree species that houses the Swiss Family Treehouse was given the scientific name, Disneyodendron semperflorens grandis. This means “large, always blooming Disney tree”.
- The Magic Kingdom’s Treehouse tree is known as Disneyodendron eximus or “Out of the Ordinary Disney tree”.
- The roots are concrete and the limbs are steel, covered in concrete. The tree’s structural root system descends four stories into the ground below the tree. All in all, the attraction weighs about 200 tons.
- The 300,000 plastic leaves all had to be attached by hand. The moss on the tree is actually real!
- The tree has a 15-foot trunk and nine main limbs.
- Keep your eyes peeled for the Hidden Mickey in a rock on a bench near the Treehouse.