Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse appreciation

[John]

If they ever try and remove this attraction I am tying myself to the tree in defiance. This and COP is some of the last remnants of days gone by. Call me old fashioned....I don't care. I enjoy the simpler things. These attractions you have to use....OMG.....some imagination. A simple pleasantness. In this day of the latest and greatest ....whiz....bang.....boom, I am glad these places exist.

 

[epcotisbest]

If they ever try and remove this attraction I am tying myself to the tree in defiance. This and COP is some of the last remnants of days gone by. Call me old fashioned....I don't care. I enjoy the simpler things. These attractions you have to use....OMG.....some imagination. A simple pleasantness. In this day of the latest and greatest ....whiz....bang.....boom, I am glad these places exist.

Yes, imagination on the part of the park guest is not asking too much. So many don't appreciate simpler pleasures. For example, we can easily spend all day at Animal Kingdom and never ride a ride, then just stare in confusion and share a knowing smile when someone says it is a half day park.

 

[NYBaloo]

We love it! Such a classic. It wouldn't be a day at MK without a dole whip and then a walk up into the tree.

 

[epcotisbest]

We love it! Such a classic. It wouldn't be a day at MK without a dole whip and then a walk up into the tree.

Right. Dole Whip and treehouse, or treehouse then Dole Whip. Either way is fine.

 

[graphite1326]

For some reason I like this attraction. Just a nice change of pace. It's never really busy and you can take your time and relax a bit.

 

[Weather_Lady]

I think people who are bored by this attraction probably just never read the Swiss Family Robinson novel and/or saw the classic Disney film (uncultured swine!) and thus can't appreciate the loving detail that went into it. I found that it was really best to "close my ears" to the comments of others as we passed through, as people tried helplessly and hopelessly to "interpret" the rooms and objects for others.

As someone who read the book repeatedly as a child and enjoyed Disney's film version (even though the film made many changes to the story and characters), I love the Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse! It's a "can't miss" for me (notwithstanding the fact that, like @FettFan, I invariably end up behind some poor person who's not in sufficiently good physical shape to negotiate it very well).

 

[epcotisbest]

For some reason I like this attraction. Just a nice change of pace. It's never really busy and you can take your time and relax a bit.

The change of pace is nice.

 

[MDactor1980]

Leave it! With a climb to the top I can pretend to burn some Dole Whip calories!

I also appreciate the variety of a walk-through attraction as opposed to another ride.

 

[Beholder]

If they ever try and remove this attraction I am tying myself to the tree in defiance. This and COP is some of the last remnants of days gone by. Call me old fashioned....I don't care. I enjoy the simpler things. These attractions you have to use....OMG.....some imagination. A simple pleasantness. In this day of the latest and greatest ....whiz....bang.....boom, I am glad these places exist.

Yes, asking the guest, or in the case of a film or book, to actually invest ones own imagination is becoming a thing of the past. You aren't old fashioned, just from a better time. I think that when I use my imagination to fill in the blanks, or suspend my disbelief, then at that moment, I'm invested in the attraction. And I honestly think, that in the early days, that was intentional. That's a real "interactive" experience.

 

[Beholder]

I think people who are bored by this attraction probably just never read the Swiss Family Robinson novel and/or saw the classic Disney film (uncultured swine!) and thus can't appreciate the loving detail that went into it. I found that it was really best to "close my ears" to the comments of others as we passed through, as people tried helplessly and hopelessly to "interpret" the rooms and objects for others.

As someone who read the book repeatedly as a child and enjoyed Disney's film version (even though the film made many changes to the story and characters), I love the Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse! It's a "can't miss" for me (notwithstanding the fact that, like @FettFan, I invariably end up behind some poor person who's not in sufficiently good physical shape to negotiate it very well).

Great post! Truth here. I like that, "interpret" the rooms. That's the personal investment I look for, not just a spectator, but a participant on a personal level.

 

[wdwstateofmind]

The only attraction experience I have had that is worse than that tree house is when you get that revelation of you just waited in line for a boat and went to an island for a bunch of nonsense only to have to do it again to get back...

 

[Gullywhumper]

Agreed. Here is a pic of something interesting from partway up in the treehouse.

View attachment 62135

Nice!

 

[Scooter]

I say leave it alone. It's great just the way it is. I have to admit though, that every time I do this attraction I want to jump over the ropes and lay in the beds or sit in the chairs, or at the desks or just walk around the little rooms. I made many a tree house as a child and the best part is walking around in them. I feel slighted just looking at them and not being able to play in them....and I'm a 60 year old man. lol

 

[epcotisbest]

I say leave it alone. It's great just the way it is. I have to admit though, that every time I do this attraction I want to jump over the ropes and lay in the beds or sit in the chairs, or at the desks or just walk around the little rooms. I made many a tree house as a child and the best part is walking around in them. I feel slighted just looking at them and not being able to play in them....and I'm a 60 year old man. lol

I have had the same thoughts, but realized trying out the different treehouse furniture would not be worth getting thrown out.

 

[Phonedave]

I love it. However because of the engineer in me, I am always looking at it and thinking of ways I would improve it. Not improve the ATTRACTION per se, but improve the TREEHOUSE if indeed I was shipwrecked and had to build such a thing.

I do love the water supply system, but that kitchen has lots of room for improvement (If I was living there)

-dave

 

[Lucky]

I love it. However because of the engineer in me, I am always looking at it and thinking of ways I would improve it. Not improve the ATTRACTION per se, but improve the TREEHOUSE if indeed I was shipwrecked and had to build such a thing.

I do love the water supply system, but that kitchen has lots of room for improvement (If I was living there)

-dave

You would like the book then, if you haven't read it. The movie seemed pretty silly to me, having read the book first.

 

[wdwgreek]

Such wonderful ascetics and the best self playing piano I know of!!!!

 

[Tinkwings]

Yep I too like it simply because I loved the movie, so it's a reminder of a wonderful family film, and I really love tropical plants so getting some exercise while I am still able to do stairs in my favorite place....that and the location of the dole whip nearby....its a MUST DO....every trip, and sometimes? Mulitiple times! I agree it's best when not busy!

 

[epcotisbest]

I love it. However because of the engineer in me, I am always looking at it and thinking of ways I would improve it. Not improve the ATTRACTION per se, but improve the TREEHOUSE if indeed I was shipwrecked and had to build such a thing.

I do love the water supply system, but that kitchen has lots of room for improvement (If I was living there)

-dave

I have personalized several different rooms, in my imagination of course.

 

[MinnieM123]

Yes, asking the guest, or in the case of a film or book, to actually invest ones own imagination is becoming a thing of the past. You aren't old fashioned, just from a better time. I think that when I use my imagination to fill in the blanks, or suspend my disbelief, then at that moment, I'm invested in the attraction. And I honestly think, that in the early days, that was intentional. That's a real "interactive" experience.

Your insightful comments made me ponder the value of an attraction, that lends itself to each person's creative imagination. (This reminds me a bit about when I was a little kid, and I'd open a present. The toy was fun, but I also had a great time creating something out of the box it came in.) Bottom line here is that there should always be a balanced approach for the guest experience at WDW—including everything from thrill rides, to calmer, walk-through ones.