Theme Park Scope

Snakes. Why did it have to be snakes?!

Disney just gave us our closest look yet at one of the creatures waiting inside Indiana Jones and the Myth of the Jade Serpent, and suddenly that attraction name feels a whole lot more intimidating.

Following the big reveals during Horizons: A Carousel of Progress at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, Walt Disney Imagineering added a model of the Tsukán to its D23 pavilion, giving attendees an up-close look at the enormous mythological serpent that will appear in the new Indiana Jones attraction coming to Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

And yes, Indy is going to have a VERY good reason to hate snakes this time.

Meet the Tsukán

The Tsukán isn’t simply a random giant snake Disney created to give Indiana Jones something to run away from.

It’s an important part of the attraction’s brand-new storyline.

In Indiana Jones and the Myth of the Jade Serpent, guests will rendezvous with Dr. Jones as he explores a mysterious ancient Maya temple located near a cenote, a once-water-filled underground cave. According to the local legend created for the attraction, that passage leads to the Maya Underworld and is protected by a serpentine creature known as the Tsukán.

Now, Disney has given us a much better idea of what that creature will look like.

After the Horizons presentation, Walt Disney Imagineering updated its D23 pavilion with several newly revealed pieces — including a physical model of the Tsukán.

The model gives fans a close-up look at the creature’s design before we eventually encounter it inside the attraction.

And considering Disney specifically teased that riders will come face-to-face with the Tsukán, we’re expecting this particular serpent to make quite an impression when the attraction opens. Disney’s concept art also places the enormous creature directly in Indy’s path during the adventure.

And the Tsukán Won’t Be Our Only Problem

Unfortunately for us (and Indiana Jones) the Jade Serpent won’t be the only creature waiting beneath the temple.

Disney has confirmed that the adventure will also include encounters with monstrous bats, larger-than-life scorpions, and snakes as riders travel deeper into the Maya-inspired environment.

The attraction will feature an entirely original storyline, rather than recreating one of the Indiana Jones movies, and Disney says the experience is being designed specifically to connect Indy’s adventures with Animal Kingdom’s emphasis on animals, nature, and creatures both real and imagined.

It’ll also feature revolutionary Audio-Animatronics technology, including an Indiana Jones figure modeled after Harrison Ford’s likeness — the first time Ford’s face will appear as Indiana Jones in a Disney Parks attraction anywhere in the world.

Indiana Jones Arrives at Animal Kingdom in 2027

Indiana Jones and the Myth of the Jade Serpent is scheduled to open in 2027 as part of the new Tropical Americas land at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

We already knew Indy was headed beneath an ancient Maya temple in search of adventure. Now we’ve gotten our first close-up look at one of the things waiting for him down there.

And judging by the Tsukán? Maybe we should’ve listened when he said he hated snakes.

Keep checking back with Theme Park Scope for the latest Indiana Jones and the Myth of the Jade Serpent updates, Tropical Americas construction news, D23 reveals, and everything new coming to Disney’s Animal Kingdom.