Indiana Jones in the Disney Parks and More Adventures Coming!

With so much talk on the WDWMagic boards about a mega "E Ticket" ride based Indiana Jones coming to Disney's Hollywood Studios- and coming from some very reliable sources- I thought it was time to take another look at Indy in the Disney parks as well as to share a very personal encounter or two.

I mean, let's be extremely honest about it all- with the brand new Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge opening up in the late Fall of 2019, this poor little park better have some big plans for the other side of the park! Something big to pull people and spread them out. Folks want and adventure! And nothing in modern history says adventure like Indiana Jones!

When Michael Eisner was made the new CEO of the Walt Disney Company, he knew hits when he saw them. As the former president of Paramount Pictures, it was under his watch that the world got Saturday Night Fever, Grease, and yes, Raiders of the Lost Ark. His keen business sense and his love for the Indy franchise drove him to bring this hero into the Disney world. Where and how would he begin?

Although it would take years of design, planning, and construction for the attractions to open, rides and shows with Indy would bring instant name recognition- and a sign that Disney was very serious about reaching audiences who had previously saw Disney parks as hangouts just for families with kids who loved princesses and animated stories. Even then, Eisner knew the power of Intellectual Properties and how to leverage them.

With the upcoming opening of the new Disney-MGM Studios in 1989, and the hot competition with Universal to see who would open first and have the greatest success, the timing for this decision couldn't have been more perfect.

Indy in The Great Movie Ride. Copyright Disney.

First to completion was an Audio-Animatronics Indiana Jones, appearing in the Great Movie Ride at the brand new park. In what scene would he appear? Nothing less than one of the first film's most iconic! It was a crowd pleaser. This was quickly followed by another attraction in the studio park, the incredible Epic Stunt Spectacular, a 30 minute show highlighting several stunts from the films.

My photo from 1989.

Our first visit to the Studios was during the opening year. The park was small and held very few attractions, but back then it waylaid out well. The Great Movie Ride was the centerpiece of the park (and should still be- even though I'm sure Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway will be great!) Fun, nostalgic, and thrilling, the ride embraced the impact and love of Hollywood films in a way not experienced before. It was the park's Pirates of the Caribbean ride.  

As we left the ride, we just happened to walk on by the Stunt Spectacular building and were asked to come in to experience a pre-opening performance. Of course, the answer was "Yes!" Even with the stopping and starting and minor technical difficulties, the show became a family favorite, and we tried to enjoy it every visit since.

This would not be my only or most memorable experience with Indiana Jones at the parks. During this time, I was employed by AT&T in Denver and was blessed to be chosen to receive a very prestigious national award. 

The scheduled ceremony "just happened" to be held in Newport Beach during Indy's opening weekend. In my mind, this was a blessing from God and not just a coincidence. Since the company was the new attraction's original sponsor, one of our optional activities for the weekend celebration was to go to Disneyland and experience the ride for ourselves. It was that or a round of golf at a nearby resort. As a park fan and a lover of the Indiana Jones' movies, this was one of my quickest and easiest decisions ever.

This limited edition framed print hangs in my home.

Between the expected awards ceremonies and parties, I was free to go to the park that Saturday. Admission was free, but it did not include front-of-the-line privileges. No matter. Enduring a three and a half hour wait for my first ride through the Temple of the Forbidden Eye, the time seemed to go quickly and slowly all at once. 

The exterior queue extended out from Adventureland into the plaza, wrapping around and passing by the entrance to Frontierland. When we still lived in California, I was at the opening of Captain Eo and Star Tours years before, but never had I seen anything like this! People in line couldn't stop talking to their friends and total strangers about how much they wanted to ride. Folks were getting off the ride, talking away excitedly, and turning around to get back in line for another journey! Everything about this day was just amazing, and the new attraction with every effect working, lived up to the hype and surpassed my expectations.

Finally being able to see the temple for the first time, I just couldn't believe what I saw! Master Imagineer Tony Baxter and his team had created a new Imagineering masterpiece. The building and queue fit seemingly effortlessly to an Adventureland I knew so well, as if it had always been there- but I knew better. They worked so hard to make this fit. One of the strengths of Imagineering and the blessing of so little space in the park. The camp set-up enhanced the atmosphere with the newly decorated Jungle Cruise boats sailing by adding to the mystery of the temple.

Snaking through the queue and into the temple (pun intended), we were given a decoder card to translate the ancient language inscripted on the walls. The detail was so lavish throughout that I almost wished I had more time to take it all in.

My time was near! As I got closer to getting in my "troop transport", watching folks return from their adventure and bursting into applause made my heart race with anticipation. Remember, this was before the web was used as a tool to share pictures and concept art and trip reports from the parks. I had heard next to nothing about what was inside but had only seen a promotional picture of the jeeps racing over a rickety bridge passing the fiery cavern. My maiden journey thrilled me to no end- and the rest of our jeep as well. We, too, starting hollaring and clapping as the ride came to an end.

What could have been!

Before I ran back to the line for my second journey, I hopped over to the Disney Gallery and purchased a signed print of the attraction's concept art- which hangs in my office to the is very day. All I did was ride Indy that day, getting in a third trip before I left, as crowds finally started to thin.

Years later, I would discover that the Indy attraction was potentially considered to be an assortment of Indy attractions. (Concept art above.) I was disappointed that this didn't make the cut, but what we did get is still one of my favorite attractions in any park. Needless to say, I absolutely love this attraction- and whenever I make a visit to the original kingdom, it is always on my must-do list. You'd think this would be the end of my Disney/Indy adventures, but you'd be wrong.

The next Indy incarnation was across the globe in France. Visiting Disneyland Paris in October of 1998 was a treat all its own. We had saved and planned to go to California to visit family, but when innaugural flights from Denver to London were sold for $99 each way- less expensive than Denver to Los Angeles, we were able to take our whole family overseas for a very "jolly holiday". (London is a wonderful city- and very kid friendly, by the way. Paris and all of France, too.) We'd seen the opening of EuroDisneyland several years prior, and I was drooling as I watched the telly. Praying God would let me go one day-really, as I just had to get over there and take a first hand look at this amazing park.


Knowing this attraction was a coaster, and having visions of an Indy version of Big Thunder, I expected it to be spectacular. This time, however, I would be sorely disappointed. The hour and a half wait moved very slowly through the camp area, and finally walking up the temple steps, I realized I was seeing folks return to the station very shortly after leaving from it in their ore car. It wasn't long before I realized this was a very cheaply done ride. No special effects at all. Actually, this was my only disappointment in the entire park. The rest of Disneyland Paris mesmerized me. (Read this article: Disneyland Paris: The Theme Park as Art.) The one redeeming factor of this attraction is the great views of the park from the lift hill and before the first drop.

From Paris to Tokyo was the next leap in the park additions. Now, I have not (yet!) been to the Tokyo Disney Resort, but anyone with good vision can see that Tokyo Disney Sea has to be one of the most richly detailed parks ever built. It premiered in late 2001 with Indiana Jones and the Temple of the Crystal Skull, long before the movie of the same name, already awaiting guests. This version of Disneyland's original "troop transport" attraction was filled with enhanced effects, a new storyline, and a south of the border setting in the Lost River Delta section of the park. Another hit. (Next door on the map above is the later addition of Paris' Indy coaster, but in Tokyo, it is not themed to Indy.)

Tokyo Disney Sea's Indy poster.

What's next for Indy at Disney parks? The strong and recurring rumors of another jeep attraction coming to the growing, changing Disney's Hollywood Studios. The Disney suits need to make this happen. In my not always humble opinion, beyond Star Wars, this will be one the attraction on the horizon to truly keep Universal's Harry Potter in check- and the clock is ticking. One thing is certain, if or when Indiana Jones Adventure version 3.0 arrives in Florida, you can be sure it will spread out those crowds and bring in even more guests- me included!

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company and all photos except the top copyright Mark Taft.)