Disney's revealed significant new details about the Indiana Jones and the Myth of the Jade Serpent attraction heading to Animal Kingdom, and there's a lot to unpack here.
The ride will anchor Tropical Americas, an 11-acre expansion that's part of what Disney's calling the largest slate of expansion projects in Walt Disney World history. It'll sit alongside an Encanto-inspired attraction, a carousel with 22 hand-carved animals, and a Maya-themed play area.
The Attraction Itself
Here's what we know about the experience you'll have. You'll join Indiana Jones as he explores an ancient temple near a cenote, an underground cave that local legend says connects to the Maya Underworld. That's where things get complicated. The storyline has you getting pulled through a portal into the Underworld itself, where you'll face off against the Tsukán (a serpent creature protecting the passage), giant bats, enormous scorpions, fire, and yes, snakes. Lots of them.
Imageneers have built a massive Audio-Animatronics version of the Tsukán that towers over the team working on it. They're hand-sculpting the figure to make it feel as lifelike and genuinely unsettling as possible.
Harrison Ford's Involvement
One of the big reveals at D23 was that Harrison Ford himself is the model for Indiana Jones's animatronic figure in this attraction. It's the first time Ford's likeness will appear on a Disney attraction anywhere. Ford sent a video message to the D23 audience expressing gratitude to fans and confirming the news.
The Cultural Foundation
This is where it gets interesting. Disney worked with archaeologists, anthropologists, and Maya experts to build authentic storytelling into the attraction. The Imagineers took research trips to places like Honduras and studied the Copán site, one of the most well-preserved ancient Maya cities, to inform everything from the temple facade to the original artwork throughout the ride.
The goal was to blend classic Indiana Jones adventure with the cultural elements that make sense for Animal Kingdom, a park focused on creatures and ecosystems real and imagined. The temple connects riders to Maya culture and its relationship with nature.
What Else is Coming to Tropical Americas
Beyond the Indiana Jones attraction, the land will include:
- El Carrusel de los Animalitos, a carousel with 22 hand-carved animals inspired by Disney and Pixar characters (Scuttle, Simba, Pascal, Kuzco, and others)
- A Maya-inspired play area where kids can explore and uncover artifacts
- Shopping and dining venues
