A long-abandoned corner of Disney’s Hollywood Studios is finally welcoming guests again…but not in the way fans expected!
More than six years after permanently closing its doors, the Indiana Jones Adventure Outpost has found a surprising new purpose. The former merchandise location near Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular! is now being used as a caricature station, giving guests another place to take home a personalized souvenir while breathing new life into an otherwise dormant space.
Located just off Echo Lake, the Indiana Jones Adventure Outpost originally served as the attraction’s dedicated gift shop, selling apparel, souvenirs, and themed merchandise inspired by the iconic adventurer. Like many retail locations across Walt Disney World, the shop closed during the resort’s 2020 COVID-19 shutdown. Unlike many others, however, it never reopened.
The building briefly returned to service in 2023 when Disney transformed it into The Den of Destiny, a limited-time beverage kiosk offering specialty drinks during that year’s promotional event. Once the event concluded, the space once again sat empty.
Visitors passing by the building will now find artists stationed inside creating custom caricature drawings.
Tables, chairs, Cast Members, and a pricing menu have been added to the interior, officially converting the space into a functioning caricature location. Rather than standing outdoors, guests can now step inside the former gift shop to have their portraits drawn in an air-conditioned environment.
While the update isn’t a major attraction announcement, it’s the first consistent guest use the building has seen since its permanent merchandise closure.
Construction Continues Nearby
The reopening of the space also comes as work continues just steps away.
Construction remains underway at the exit of Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular!, where rolling planters first appeared earlier this year. Sections of pavement have been removed, but little visible progress has been made beyond the initial demolition work. Disney has not announced what changes are planned for the area.
A Location With a Complicated Recent History
Although the merchandise kiosk never reopened after 2020, the surrounding area hasn’t been completely forgotten.
Over the past several years, the former Adventure Outpost has occasionally been used for outdoor vending carts, limited-time offerings, and special character meet-and-greets. In 2021, Disney also removed the themed prop truck that once sat outside the shop, signaling that the original retail concept was unlikely to return.
At this time, Disney has not announced any long-term plans for the building. Given its relatively small footprint next to Backlot Express and Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular!, it’s possible the location could eventually become home to a new merchandise kiosk or another guest experience, but no official details have been shared.
For now, guests looking for a unique keepsake can stop by the newly repurposed location and leave with a custom caricature instead of Indiana Jones merchandise — a small but welcome update for a space that has remained largely vacant for years.
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