Good Morning! This day in Disney history! Nov, 18th, 1962. The Swiss Family Treehouse attraction opens in Adventureland. The opening ceremony is hosted by Walt Disney, Hayley Mills , John Mills (Hayley's father & star of Swiss Family Robinson) & Kevin Corcoran (who appears in both Pollyana and Swiss Family Robinson). The treehouse closed on March 8th, 1999 to make way for the redesigned Tarzans Treehouse.
You can still see the tree house in Florida, Japan & France.
Here is a link to an interesting OC news story done about the original tree that inspired Walts version of the treehouse at Disneyland:
http://is.gd/afL3Mt
Which treehouse do you prefer and why?
π Add one vote for Swiss Family Robinson Tree House. Why? Because its better!!! That's why!!! (This endorsement paid for by the Committee to Stop Updating Classic Attractions) - BlueberryCrusader
650.7 #161 10:38AM
Teehee! Your vote has been added! :: hands you an "I voted" sticker:: and ps, I agree! π - Duchess_SMK 3291.4 #11 11:31AM
When the Tarzan Treehouse was built I gave it the benefit of a doubt. And although it has its own charm and fun, it's not the Swiss Family Treehouse. For me, the Magic of the SFT is that it was inspired from a live film with a "real" (not animated) treehouse. Thank you SMK for the reminder of things we used to love at Disneyland. I loved this and miss it. - MyPark
944.4 #91 10:45AM
I prefer the SFT as well MyPark. Thank you for your insite. Perhaps the fact that I too am a live action fan is the reason I relate to the old treehouse more as well. - Duchess_SMK 3291.4 #11 11:35AM
Also, MIssMollys Grandfather wrote the song Swiss Family Polka for the movie that you can still here upstairs in the kitchen room at the top of Tarzan's tree house and still at WDW - Dave
8652.6 #2 1:10PM
tahnk you again duchess, great conversation piece for this morning while drinking cup of coffee.=> - pikarich
615.1 #177 8:58AM
Thank you pikarich24! So? Which is it? You didn't answer my question. :) - Duchess_SMK 3291.4 #11 9:08AM
opps reading mw and sunday paper,i only remenmber the swiss family attraction as a 7 yr and it was the only trip i got to dl until i was 28,but I preffer swiss family as we have the film as well as many classic movie film (we like classic live disney movies) but swiss or tarzan it doesnt matter to micheal when he feels like going in tarzans tree i feel like i climbed the matterhorn. - pikarich 615.1 #177 9:14AM
It's a real work out! ::giggles:: - Duchess_SMK 3291.4 #11 11:06AM
I loved Swiss Family treehouse, mostly because I loved the movie. Tarzan is okay too, don't get me wrong, I just have so many memories associated with the other version! - preggoprincess
183.2 #1827 9:04AM
I'm with you preggoprincess! The Swiss treehouse made me want to climb those stairs! - Duchess_SMK 3291.4 #11 9:10AM
I still feel this should have been left alone. I'm old school. - ScooterMike
1959.8 #35 9:06AM
I couldn't agree with you more. - Duchess_SMK 3291.4 #11 9:21AM
I like both. Thanks for sharing! - bigpete
265.1 #872 9:06AM
:) thanks for reading! - Duchess_SMK 3291.4 #11 9:28AM
I miss the original Swiss treehouse. π - Gia
785.6 #121 9:07AM
Me too! What was your favorite part of the treehouse back then Gia? - Duchess_SMK 3291.4 #11 9:29AM
I loved the Swiss tree house. π - Miss-E-Mouse
795.5 #117 9:12AM
Me as well! I think we shall watch the movie today and try and remember the tree house as it was. ::sigh:: - Duchess_SMK 3291.4 #11 10:18AM
I'm definitely a Swiss Family Robinson Girl!!! I love that movie and I use to spend so much time playing in the treehouse with my brothers! I think the only reason I go in now is to remember the old one.. Lol. No hard feelings Tarzanπ³ - hatgal76
202.7 #1590 9:14AM
This made me giggle! I don't even go up there anymore. Besides the view, I don't care for it now. But do appreciate the effort Disney put into the redesign. - Duchess_SMK 3291.4 #11 10:19AM
I miss the original as well! Dd you know when they switched over to Tarzan's Treehouse it only took a few months? - IDVandalSkipperCM
1297.5 #63 9:15AM
hi idv,for most rides that get converted it doesnt matter the size of the attraction they all take a few months even if it look like a simple change right? when star tours converted it took a few months and the country bear jamboree and something from the previouse attraction is always let behind as a tribute to it.for the treehouse there plenty of the swiss family elements around right? - pikarich 615.1 #177 9:22AM
I think if I remember right it took like 3-4 months to switch it over. According to yesterland.com it reopened in early June. - IDVandalSkipperCM 1297.5 #63 9:33AM
I did! But I find that fact truly fascinating! Disney magic strikes again! Thanks for adding that! - Duchess_SMK 3291.4 #11 11:05AM
Love the Swisskapolka! - DizKahuna
134.5 #2528 9:22AM
How could anyone not! Another add for the list of Swiss! - Duchess_SMK 3291.4 #11 11:07AM
So cool that people know the song!! - MissMolly 697.6 #141 5:35PM
Ok so Tarzans house is cool and the younger generation really relates to it but, being from the Haily Mills generation, and I'm not talking about Saved by the Bell!!!, I mean the Moonspinners, original Parent Trap, I have to vote for the Swiss Family Tree house!!! - princessfrozenbanana
13.9 #5841 9:26AM
Parent trap! LOVE that movie! Another vote for the Swiss! - Duchess_SMK 3291.4 #11 12:27PM
Wow I didn't know that thanks for the info! - Goofy24
115.9 #2801 9:31AM
Oh I miss the Swiss tree house. Loved that movie too. Great memories. Thanks Duchess. - BeagleBoy12
167.3 #2047 9:58AM
::checks box for Swiss for BeagleBoy12:: π - Duchess_SMK 3291.4 #11 12:28PM
Thank you! I have to prefer the original! I remember climbing it a lot as a child. Fun! And love Hayley Mills! - meridafan
1036.5 #83 10:06AM
I never got to see the original only knows it as tarzans tree house and this gave me a glimpse of what the original was like! Thanks lovely for the amazing work and heart that goes into all of these history posts!! ππ - CourtyAstroBlisters
440.2 #282 10:27AM
I don't really remember Swiss Family Robinson at DL. When we went to WDW, it was closed because it was raining - BaseballMickey_CM
2859.4 #16 11:33AM
I miss the original as it was more interactive. So my vote goes with SFT. I still remember the first time I went up to see the tarzan version and i wanted to get a pic with my head inside the tiger's mouth and it snarled with a jet of air. Just about had an accident and then I could not stop laughing. - Plumiegirl
3345.9 #10 12:04PM
I really liked that movie! - madsdad
1128.7 #72 1:23PM
I really do miss the SFR treehouse. Thank you for the info!! - melissa_ficent
317.9 #531 1:27PM
I can't remember ever going into either. I suppose I may eventually visit both versions to properly answer the question. I want to go see that tree now too. I hope its still there. Thank you. - GrumpyPirateDad
502.3 #237 2:09PM