At the D23 Expo’s Park Showcase, new details were shared about the Indiana Jones attraction coming to Animal Kingdom! This post shares all of the news given by Disney and our commentary below that. Let’s get to it!

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. 

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.

Commentary

Along with the  Tsukán being featured during the showcase, a model was also featured in the Imagineering Pavilion on the final day of the D23 Expo.

As you can see, the scale is massive! The aqua blue is both frightening and beautiful, a shade we don’t often see on attraction monsters or villains. I can’t say I’m overly familiar with Maya culture or anything but this looks to be an inspired, original story featuring a stunning and scary creature.

I’m excited by all of the other news announced for this attraction, as well. Anytime you can get Harrison Ford on screen, you do it, no questions asked. It’s very cool that they’ll model the animatronic after him, a move that was many years in the making. What a thrill for Imagineering!

Indiana Jones and the Myth of the Jade Serpent might be wordy but it doesn’t feel out of place relative to all of the other Indy titles. I’m curious if there will be a shorthand given to the ride like Indiana Jones Adventure or not. There was no mention of that in the showcase or pavilion but titles get shortened in theme parks often. We’ll see what happens there.

I’m really excited to see Tropical Americas come to life. Outside of the major news announced at the Parks Showcase, I also saw several presentations from Imagineers on the upcoming land. The care and thought put into these IP’s (Encanto) making their way to Animal Kingdom is usually spoken about in a different tone than other projects. I imagine that comes from the leadership installed by legend Joe Rohde and passed down to current Imagineer Joan Hartwig.

While Indy might end up being the second attraction in Tropical Americas, I think it will fit in wonderfully as guests explore some of the more mystical sides of Animal Kingdom. With Harrison Ford as your guide and a massive serpent lurking, what could go wrong?

Are you looking forward to Indiana Jones and the Myth of the Jade Serpent? Let us know your thoughts, along with any questions you might have, in the comments below! Planning a trip to Walt Disney World? Check out our Disney World Trip Planning Guide to help you out. This site offers discount tickets for those looking! If you enjoy what you are reading here on Wandering in Disney please share this post with your friends, as well as like our social media pages. You can also subscribe to the blog via WordPress or email. All of those links are on the right side of this page. Thank you for reading, we really appreciate