Should you catch this epic stunt show on your next visit?
When I was six years old, my dad took my best friend Jackie and I to see Stephen Spielberg’s “Raiders of the Lost Ark.”
Now, this is the early 80s, and my parents were quite young, so what movies were and were not appropriate for a six-year-old was a moving target
Spoiler alert, I suppose, but when the movie reaches the face-melting scene, I can remember my Dad sitting bolt-upright in the theater trying to decide whether or not it was too late to get us out of there.
I watched with my hands over my eyes, fingers splayed, so I could see Indy wisely instructing Marion Ravenwood – who was tied to a post with him – not to look. I, however, was free to watch with shock, awe and amazement.
“Cool,” I said in stage-whispered appreciation. Dad was reassured that he hadn’t scarred me for life, but had to collect Jackie from under the chair.
I have loved Indiana Jones from that day forward. Because of that, for decades I was somewhat disappointed that Disney hasn’t done more with Indy in Florida parks. .
The exception to that decided lack of swashbuckling adventure is The Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular.
What is the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular?
It is – as the name implies – an epic stunt show. Based around the adventures in the original Raiders film, the show was Meta before Meta was cool.
Essentially, you go behind the scenes of a movie set where you get to see stunt performers setting up stunts just like – or similar to – those in the famous film.
The show first opened in August of 1989 just a couple of months after the park opened. It’s not an original Hollywood Studios experience but it’s close.
I’m a little disappointed that they didn’t tie it in with Last Crusade which came out in 1989 and would have been a great tie in, but I suppose Raiders’ stunts were more spectacular.
It’s also connected to the original mission of the park which was to take guests behind the scenes of the Hollywood process.
There are acrobatics, fight scenes, and explosions. I wish you were seated a little closer to the action. However, with loose props and pyrotechnics, safety is key.
Will Disney expand on the Indiana Jones IP in Florida?
Yes. Indiana Jones is coming to Animal Kingdom in place of the now defunct DINOSAUR ride. It is part of the Tropical Americas expansion that’s expected to be finished in 2027.
The move is somewhat controversial, but I am excited with slight reservations. I’m not the biggest DINOSAUR fan in the world – it was a rough ride – and the new Indiana Jones ride will use the same track.
We don’t know what McGuffin Indy is seeking, but it’s fairly certain there will be a South or Central American Temple involved. Probably not the one from Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.
Does Disney have other Indiana Jones rides?
Yes, Disneyland Park in California does have an Indiana Jones Adventure ride. It features a 12-person ride vehicle that moves swiftly through the crumbling Temple of the Forbidden Eye past intricate booby traps. Guests get to inspect carvings and frescos, but absolutely no looting. The ride takes approximately 3 minutes. They learn the story of Mara, a powerful deity who promises great treasures. Vengeance befalls those foolish enough to gaze into its all-seeing eyes.
The ride simulates going over tough terrain as guests brave unimaginable perils aboard the rugged troop transport that carries them into the Chamber of Destiny.
A nearly identical version of that ride opened in Tokyo DisneySea as Temple of the Crystal Skull on Sept. 4, 2001. It is not related to the fourth Indiana Jones movie “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.”
In Disneyland Paris, there is Indiana Jones and Temple of Peril, a runaway rail cart ride coaster ride loosely similar to the mine escape from “Temple of Doom”. There’s no ramping across the missing track, but there is a loop.
Is the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular good?
It’s good, not great. But once you’ve seen it, it’s not really a must watch on EVERY visit.
At 25 minutes, it’s long. But it’s not a bad place to sit down and rest your legs and feet. The acrobatics and explosions are quite entertaining. I mean, who doesn’t love a good explosion?
The stunts are impressive, but might not keep a younger child’s attention until they get to the fire. Again, you are kind of far away, so the smaller stunts, fight scenes, and the like don’t land as hard.
Personally, I wouldn’t mind seeing a refresh, incorporating scenes – or at least themes – from the other five movies. I would really like to see an ancient knight tell Walter Donovan that he has chosen “poorly” as he crumbles into dust after having drank from the false grail, but that would probably play badly with the younger crowd.
The other thing is that Hollywood Studios is pretty much flush with great shows right now. Indy is certainly behind the new Villains Show, the Frozen Sing-a-long show, and the Little Mermaid Show. I think it’s ahead of the Beauty in the Beast Show, which I find underwhelming, but I might be in the minority. And of course, nothing else in Disney World compares to Fantasmic!
Will the show go on?
I’m not sure.
Disney could – at some point – do something with that space.I think it’s odd to have Indiana Jones in two parks, but there’s certainly not room to move the show to Animal Kingdom.
It does fit nicely with the original theme of the park – and a lot of people like that – so a refreshing of the ride with new stunts and elements might be popular.
The arena is large, and you can usually find a seat, but the crowds remain fairly sizeable as well.
For now, I suspect Disney had bigger fish to fry and will allow Indy to continue as it has.
