This island is the hub from which you'll depart on your animal-based adventures. The centerpiece of this island is the Tree of Life, which houses a theater where you can see the 3-D movie It's Tough to Be a Bug! On this island, you'll experience live entertainment, see exotic birds and wildlife, and get a preview of what this park is all about.

The Tree of Life

Not only is the Tree of Life the centerpiece of Disney's Animal Kingdom, but it's also a stunning work of art. A picture of the people you're traveling with standing in front of this tree will make the perfect addition to your vacation photo album.

Here's the scoop on this man-made masterpiece:

• Animal Carvings: 325 animals

• Sculptors: Zsolt Hormay and a team of three Native American artists, plus artists from France, Ireland, Indianapolis, and Central Florida spent eighteen months creating the carvings on the Tree of Life

• Height: 145 feet (14 stories tall)

• Number of Branches: 8,000

• Number of Leaves: 103,000

• Trunk Width: 50 feet

• Width at Root Base: 170 feet

Pathways have been created throughout Safari Village so guests can wander around and enjoy the landscaping and wildlife.

It's Tough to Be a Bug!

When you enter the theater (located in the trunk of the Tree of Life), you become an honorary bug and begin to see the world from a bug's point of view. Not only is this a 3-D movie with incredibly lifelike special effects, but the entire theater becomes part of the adventure, so expect to see, hear, and feel what's happening. Remember, the best seats are in the sixth or seventh row close to the center. As you enter the theater, you'll be given a pair of 3-D glasses. Don't put the glasses over your eyes until you're seated and the Audio-Animatronic character who hosts the show (a bug, of course) tells you to put on the glasses.

The theater holds 430 guests and shows are presented continuously throughout the day. This is, however, one of the most popular attractions in the park, so be prepared to wait in line. It's Tough to Be a Bug! appeals to people of all ages, whether they like real-life bugs or not. Like all of the attractions at Disney's Animal Kingdom, this one has a positive message. Let's just say you'll think twice before zapping a bug with a can of bug spray or a fly swatter when you get home. Because this 3-D movie takes place within a custom-built theater that's interactive, young children (under the age of eight) may get frightened by some of the special effects.

ô This is a must-see attraction.