Dispatch From Disneyland
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Tarzan's Treehouse

Little Johnny Guest bounces his way through Adventureland. There wild tropical forests await his exploration; ferocious lions and tigers lurk nearby hoping he might 'volunteer' to be their next meal; and world famous explorers have opened their most treasured discoveries for the public to explore.

Put yourself in Johnny's shoes. How excited would you be?

When you're only nine years old, the treehouse at the entrance to Adventureland seems that much taller and looming. Still, the transfixing jungle rhythms entice you to ascend to the treetops and overcome your slight fear of heights. As you climb the spiral steps toward the crow's nest and rope bridge, you lose yourself in the moment, and for awhile, you are there in the jungle with Jane and Tarzan.

You set off cautiously across the rope bridge knowing you must traverse this dangerous canyon to make it to the jungle. The bridge sways slightly in the breeze, but soon you're safely on the elevated footpath that seems to run along the canopy of the jungle.

Off in the distance you can hear a elephant trumpet and followed by the unique yop of the ape-man. Tantor and Tarzan, you suppose. They represent your goal. Just when you get the feeling you're on the right path, a leopard's roar rips the air. It seems very close. Too close for comfort.

Up ahead on the path you see a little bamboo shack. That looks like a good place to hide. There you can wait for the leopard to pass. As you near the shack you notice luggage spread about on the path. Either the owners are very messy or the jungle cat has been here already.

Not willing to stay out in the open any longer you wisk aside the shack's curtains and... come face to face with the snarling leopard. The glistening fangs that protrude force the cat's mouth into a grim grin of hunger.

For awhile you both sit there and stare each other sizing up the danger. You notice the cat has really made a mess of the place. Clothes lay strewn about, a lamp has fallen in the corner, and a family portrait hangs askew--a huge crack dividing their lives forever.

Prudence being the better part of valor, you decide to slowly back away from the cat and leave him to his mess. As you, ever so slowly, start to move, the leopard lets out a loud growl as if to say, "I'll let you go this time, but next time you just might be lunch."

At a safe distance you turn around and hurry down the wooden path.

A little further along you stumble upon another room in the treehouse complex. The jungle in this area is so dense it is difficult to see the sky through the trees. But still there is an effervesent light that almost blinds you.

It's not too difficult to determine the mystical glow that fills the area emanates from inside the room. As you watch the light dims enough for you to see inside. You tingle slightly, perhaps it is a kind of magic you feel.

Inside the room a gentle gorilla cradles a young tarzan. Together they watch a large mirror that appears to be the source of the infusing glow. As you watch with them, the mirror morphs between important moments in Tarzan's life. Scenes of contentment, sadness, and confusion fill the life of this unique boy.

You get the feeling you could watch all day, but you also know more rooms wait to be explored. So you scuttle off.

As you approach the next room, you notice it appears to from a ship's hull that had the misfortune to be marooned high in the tree. The steering wheel is mounted in the room and looks out what used to be the glass rear window. The rest of the room appears to be converted into a library and sketch room.

You're doubly suprised when it becomes obvious the room's occupants are present. Jane, in her finest yellows, is there sketching a very muscular Tarzan, who has struck a commanding pose against the opposite wall.

The floor and walls are covered with Jane's discarded sketches. They show Tarzan from every angle and in every position. All of them are marvelous. You get the feeling that Jane might be wasting her talents in the jungle and should probably go join that Disney fellow in his Mickey Mouse animation studio.

The two seem to be very busy, so rather than stop and chat you proceed back outside.

Soon you have found your way down to the jungle floor. There a research base camp has been erected by Jane and her father. Lots of interesting scientific equipment is set up on a table. Some experiments are ongoing. Fluids in multicolors bubble from bulb to beaker, but none of it makes too much sense to you. You'd like to ask someone exactly what is going on however, it looks like the professor has stepped away for a moment.

You do see a lovely victorian disc-player. It sits idle until you wind up the gears and set the needle in its groove. After a few scratchy seconds some marvelous polka music pours out. It makes you want to dance or play along. The kitchen area is close, so you bang around on some pots and pans till you hear Jane call down and politely request some peace and quite.

You think about cleaning up the mess you made by washing off some of these dishes in the nearby creek, when you notice a small jungle resident has already had the same idea. It's a baby elephant and he's happily spraying himself down in the stream. You move in for a closer look and are rewarded with a shower of your own from the elephants trunk. Seems he wants a little privacy.

Not wanting to get on the elephant's badside, or worse his mother's, you think it might be best to return to civilization. Looking up you see Jane and Tarzan out on their porch waving goodbye and wishing you good luck in your further explorations of this magical land. You give a cheery ta-ta of your own and vanish into the bush.

-- Indigo (September 1, 1999)