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Tree of Life is losing its branches

Walt Disney World: Branch falls off Tree of Life; It's Tough to be a Bug closed.

From Domenik Jost
Posted April 27, 2012 at 6:36 PM
This week on Monday apparently 3 branches fell off the Tree of Life at Animal Kingdom. From what I was told from a friend that works there is 3 branches from the artificial tree fell and landed next to a bench where some guests were seated. Disney temporarily closed the paths leading around the tree as well as the It's Touch to be a Bug show since it is right underneath the tree while they inspect the tree and figure out what caused that failure.

My question is, why is there branches falling off of an artificial tree that is built to withstand hurricane force winds? Doesn't make me feel safe walking under that tree anymore knowing I could get smacked right upside the head by a 5 pound artificial branch.

I also just saw that screamscape.com also reported on hearing about this incident.


Comments in chronological order. Most recent at the bottom. Scroll down to respond.

From Andy Milito
Posted April 28, 2012 at 7:20 AM
"3 branches from the artificial tree fell and landed next to a bench where some guests were seated."

Would have scared the living poop outta me!

From Skipper Adam
Posted April 28, 2012 at 8:40 AM
That's so strange because my friends who work there (most of my friends from the Jungle Cruise) say it was one branch that fell near a guest area, not on guest and that the area is still closed. However, falling branches is a bad thing,

From TH Creative
Posted April 28, 2012 at 10:48 AM
It's NOT an "accident!" it's another effect. The park experience is now more interactive.

From Mark Fairleigh
Posted April 28, 2012 at 1:12 PM
Just curious whether parks regularly inspect stationary features like the Tree. I'd imagine so, but you would think cracks would have been noticeable way before something like this happened.

From Dominick D
Posted April 28, 2012 at 3:27 PM
I bet the tree has bugs in it, oh wait it does. Anyways, I'm glad nobody was hurt, but the good thing is no complaining parents at ITTBAB at the moment :P

From Mike Gallagher
Posted April 28, 2012 at 3:36 PM
Guy I know from another forum had a real (rather large) branch fall on his head while sitting near Panda Express at Cedar Point several years back.

From Dominick D
Posted April 28, 2012 at 3:38 PM
I bet that was a killer sneezing baby panda.

From Daniel Etcheberry
Posted April 28, 2012 at 4:56 PM
First the Yeti, now this; what's next? a lion gets loose? a dinosaur falls over the ride?

From Anthony Murphy
Posted April 29, 2012 at 9:32 PM
How about a Dino getting loose!

From Dominick D
Posted April 30, 2012 at 11:00 AM
Jurassic Park already did that.......

From Brandon Mendoza
Posted May 2, 2012 at 2:58 PM
"If the Pirates of the Caribbean breaks down, the pirates don't eat the tourists"

From Robert Niles
Posted May 2, 2012 at 3:03 PM
The animatronics might not, but I can't vouch for the cast members - depends on how long they've been frozen in position without a break.

From Mark Havens
Posted May 2, 2012 at 3:17 PM
We were at Animal Kingdom on 4/27, and was told the Tree of Life (& Tough to be a bug) were closed due to a lightening strike on the tree the week before.

From Dominick D
Posted May 2, 2012 at 3:25 PM
ITTBAB has reopened, but a net is above the queue.

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