Snakes. Giant scorpions. Monstrous bats. The Maya Underworld. What could possibly go wrong?
Indiana Jones is getting ready to embark on an entirely new adventure at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and Disney just revealed a treasure trove of new details about what we’ll experience when we join him.
During Horizons: A Carousel of Progress at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, Walt Disney Imagineers Michael Hundgen and Chris Beatty officially revealed the name of Animal Kingdom’s upcoming attraction: Indiana Jones and the Myth of the Jade Serpent.
But the name was only the beginning.
Disney also revealed the story behind the mysterious Maya temple, the mythical creature guarding a passage to the Underworld, some of the dangers riders will encounter, and one VERY familiar face joining us on the adventure.
Meet ‘Indiana Jones and the Myth of the Jade Serpent’
We finally have an official name! The new attraction replacing DINOSAUR at Disney’s Animal Kingdom will be called Indiana Jones and the Myth of the Jade Serpent.
And if you’ve ridden Indiana Jones Adventure at Disneyland, don’t assume you already know what’s waiting inside.
Disney has repeatedly emphasized that Animal Kingdom’s attraction will feature an original storyline created specifically for Walt Disney World, transporting guests into the world of the ancient Maya alongside Indiana Jones.
The attraction will anchor the new Tropical Americas land currently under construction in the former DinoLand U.S.A. area.
We’re Heading Into a Mysterious Maya Temple
Here’s where the story gets interesting. According to Disney, guests will rendezvous with Dr. Indiana Jones, who is exploring a mysterious ancient temple located near a cenote…a once water-filled underground cave.
Imagineers have been researching Maya history and culture while developing the attraction, working with archaeologists, anthropologists, and Maya experts as they create the temple and its story.
The attraction is intended to showcase elements of Maya culture and its connection to nature, fitting the adventure into the larger themes of Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
But naturally, Indy isn’t investigating an ordinary archaeological site. There’s a legend attached to this one.
Meet the Tsukán
According to the attraction’s story, the cenote near the temple is believed to contain a passage leading directly into the Maya Underworld.
And that passage has a guardian. The Tsukán.
Disney describes the Tsukán as a serpentine creature from local legend—and yes, that means Indiana Jones is once again heading directly toward the one thing he famously can’t stand.
Snakes. Why did it have to be snakes?
Disney teased that guests will actually come face-to-face with the Tsukán during Indiana Jones and the Myth of the Jade Serpent.
And this isn’t going to be the only creature waiting for us.
We’re Getting Sucked Into the Maya Underworld
Disney also revealed a pretty major part of what happens during the ride.
While exploring the temple with Indy, riders will be unwittingly sucked through a portal leading into the Underworld.
From there, our archaeological expedition apparently goes very, very wrong.
Disney says riders will have to escape a series of dangers that include:
- Monstrous bats
- Larger-than-life scorpions
- Fire and flames
- And, naturally, snakes
Imagineers even presented an animated first look at one of the attraction’s key scenes during Horizons, offering attendees a better idea of the adventure waiting beyond the temple walls.
So if you were wondering how Disney would make an Indiana Jones attraction fit naturally into Animal Kingdom, this gives us a much clearer answer: the adventure is being built around mythology, nature, animals, and the creatures associated with this mysterious Underworld.
Harrison Ford Is Becoming an Indiana Jones Animatronic
And then Disney dropped a pretty huge surprise.
Harrison Ford himself will serve as the model for the attraction’s Indiana Jones Audio-Animatronics figure. Ford appeared via video during the Horizons presentation to help introduce the new details and revealed that his likeness is being used for the attraction.
That means when we eventually encounter Dr. Jones inside Indiana Jones and the Myth of the Jade Serpent, we’re not getting a generic version of the character. We’re getting Harrison Ford’s Indiana Jones.
Disney says the attraction will feature revolutionary Audio-Animatronics figures, although the company hasn’t revealed exactly how many Indy figures—or other characters and creatures—we’ll encounter throughout the ride.
Disney Showed Off the Temple, Too
The actual attraction is already beginning to take shape at Animal Kingdom.
Imagineers revealed a behind-the-scenes look at the temple facade currently being created for the attraction, while a detailed model is also on display inside D23’s Imagineering: Horizons pavilion.
The model gives us a much closer look at the architecture and colorful details that will eventually transform the former Dino Institute into an ancient Maya temple.
And Disney isn’t simply covering the old DINOSAUR building with a few vines and calling it a day.
The exterior is receiving a significant transformation to establish an entirely different setting before guests ever board the attraction.
This Will NOT Be Disneyland’s Indiana Jones Ride
This distinction is especially important.
Although Animal Kingdom’s former DINOSAUR attraction shared its ride-system DNA with Indiana Jones Adventure at Disneyland, Walt Disney World’s new version isn’t simply becoming a copy of Disneyland’s Temple of the Forbidden Eye.
Indiana Jones and the Myth of the Jade Serpent has its own storyline. Disneyland sends guests into the Temple of the Forbidden Eye.
Animal Kingdom will send us into an ancient Maya temple, through a portal and eventually into the Underworld, where the Tsukán and plenty of other creatures are apparently waiting.
Same archaeologist. Very different bad decisions.
When Will the Indiana Jones Ride Open at Animal Kingdom?
Disney has previously announced that the new Tropical Americas land is expected to open at Disney’s Animal Kingdom in 2027.
The land is replacing DinoLand U.S.A. and will feature Indiana Jones and the Myth of the Jade Serpent alongside a new Encanto attraction and additional experiences inspired by the Tropical Americas.
And after the latest D23 reveals, we finally have a much clearer idea of what Animal Kingdom’s Indiana Jones adventure will actually involve.
A mysterious Maya temple. A passage into the Underworld.Giant bats and scorpions.Fire.Harrison Ford as an Audio-Animatronic Indiana Jones. And a mythical serpent waiting somewhere below. Indy is going to LOVE this!
Keep checking back with Theme Park Scope for the latest D23 announcements, Tropical Americas construction updates, Disney’s Animal Kingdom news, new attraction details, and everything coming next to Walt Disney World.
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