Twenty Years
Happy Birthday Animal Kingdom! It’s hard to believe it’s already been 20 years, while at the same time so much has changed that I would be surprised if it wasn’t. My history with the park started a few months before opening, working as part of the opening crew via Disney’s College Program. It should be no surprise that I operated the Discovery Riverboats from park opening until mid-August 2018. Alas, the attraction is no longer, having undergone a series of changes starting before the official opening and last until late 1999. However, those details are a story for another time. It’s taken me 20 years to finally begin posting about the park, and therefore I will share a series of pictures reflecting what was then and what is now. Enjoy!
Tree of Life
![Tree of Life](http://discoveryriverboats.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/01-Tree-300x219.jpg)
During the day, the intricate artwork of the animal impressions in the tree continue to be a marvel to admire. At evening and into the night, a projection show has given additional life to this icon. Aside from the projections, the tree itself and the show inside (It’s Tough to be a Bug!) has not changed. In the opening year, identifying and counting the carvings from the Upcountry Landing area helped guests pass time while waiting for a round on the Discovery Riverboats. While the many trees and plant life around the Tree of Life have filled in, the tree itself has not grown an inch 🙂