Exploration Awaits: New Updates Unearthed for Indiana Jones Ride at Animal Kingdom
Indiana Jones has spent a lifetime uncovering hidden temples, ancient mysteries, and legendary artifacts across the globe. And during D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event presented by Visa, we’re excavating a few discoveries of our own with brand-new details about the Indiana Jones attraction coming to Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park at Walt Disney World Resort.
During the Disney Experiences showcase, “Horizons: A Carousel of Progress,” Imagineers Michael Hundgen and Chris Beatty revealed a treasure trove of announcements about everyone’s favorite hero with a snake grudge. The attraction will live in the vibrant, lush new land of Tropical Americas, and includes revolutionary Audio-Animatronics figures, an original storyline, and one grand escapade that transports guests into the world of the ancient Maya alongside Indiana Jones, in a way that only Animal Kingdom could.
So, grab your field journal and fedora, and let’s uncover these exciting new updates!
Harrison Ford Revealed as Animatronic Model
Everyone in the audience was delighted to receive a message from Indy himself, Disney Legend Harrison Ford, to kick things off.
After expressing his gratitude to fans for being along for the ride on so many adventures with this beloved character, Ford briefly shared that he is the actual model for the next Indiana Jones animatronic. He confirmed that this is the first time he will be the face you see on a Disney attraction anywhere in the world.
Michael and Chris resurfaced this news later in the showcase, proudly displaying the digital model that is being used to build the Audio-Animatronics figure.
What is the New Indiana Jones Attraction Called?
The next major announcement from the presentation came from Michael and Chris, as the duo confirmed the name of the attraction publicly for the first time. We are pleased to share that Indiana Jones and the Myth of the Jade Serpent is the title of this next installment of Indy’s adventures at Disney parks.
What Inspired the Indiana Jones Attraction?
Also revealed today were the first details about the ride’s cultural inspiration, new storyline, and the experience guests will have once entering the temple and embarking on this breathtaking quest.
Imagineers were eager to blend the thrill of a classic Indiana Jones adventure with the rich cultural details that are quintessential to Animal Kingdom, a park that is dedicated to creatures both real and imagined. The attraction takes riders on a journey alongside Indy, beneath an ancient temple ruin, showcasing Maya culture and its profound connection to nature – perfectly fitting for this park.
Michael and Chris shared that the temple entrance is being built as we speak, and gave a behind-the-scenes look at the stunning facade, which up until now we have only seen in renderings.
They continued to share that the project team remains dedicated to authentic storytelling, working closely with archaeologists, anthropologists, and Maya experts to ensure that every element is accurate for the region. Riders will be awed by the highly detailed and original Maya artwork found in the attraction, and I can’t wait to get a first glimpse at some of these pieces.
What is the Storyline of the Indiana Jones Attraction?
You’ll rendezvous with Dr. Jones, who is in the midst of exploring this mysterious temple near a once water-filled underground cave, called a cenote. Local legend says the passageway leads directly to the Maya Underworld, and is protected by a serpentine creature: the Tsukán. Michael and Chris provided an animated first look at one of the key scenes. And they shared that the adventure takes off when riders are unwittingly sucked through a portal to the Underworld, where they’ll have to escape perilous dangers, like monstrous bats, larger-than-life scorpions, fire and flame, and of course, snakes.
You may be asking, “why’d it have to be snakes?” and Imagineers have a great answer to that. Chris divulged that you’ll encounter the Tsukán throughout the attraction, including a final confrontation that will probably solidify your fear of snakes for the rest of time (speaking for myself here, at least).
A first look at the gigantic Audio-Animatronics figure was showcased to the crowd, revealing how it completely towers over the Imagineers bringing it to life. Not only that, but the team is taking great care to sculpt the figure by hand, which will make it that much more life-like, and snake-fear-inducing, for guests.
More Details About Tropical Americas
During the showcase, Disney Imagineers shared that this attraction is part of the biggest slate of expansion projects in the history of Disney World, so getting an inside look at this extraordinary feat was such a special treat.
We first learned of Tropical Americas during D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event in 2024, where then Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D’Amaro revealed the new 11-acre section being added to Animal Kingdom. The sprawling land will contain two headlining attractions inspired by Indiana Jones and Disney’s Encanto, in addition to shopping and dining.
Additionally, families visiting Tropical Americas will find plenty to discover, including El Carrusel de los Animalitos, a brand-new carousel featuring 22 hand-carved animals inspired by Disney and Pixar stories — spot the likes of Scuttle, Squirt, Pua, Pascal, Simba, Eeyore, Kuzco, Heimlich, and more. Young adventurers can continue the journey in a nearby play area inspired by the Maya, where young explorers can unearth artifacts and investigate the natural wonders of the rainforest through hands-on exploration and play.
In recent months, the Imagineers have divulged details about their research trips to places like Honduras, where they’ve learned firsthand about the region’s culture, customs, and folklore. Their experience with native artistry and architecture has served as inspiration when crafting the new land, specifically for the Indiana Jones attraction leveraging observations from the Copán site, one of the most well-preserved cities of the ancient Maya civilization.
