Disney has confirmed the name and story for its new Indiana Jones attraction coming to Disney’s Animal Kingdom. During the Disney Experiences showcase at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, Imagineers Michael Hundgen and Chris Beatty revealed the ride will be called Indiana Jones and the Myth of the Jade Serpent. Harrison Ford himself is the physical model for the new Audio-Animatronics figure. Here is everything we learned about the attraction coming to Tropical Americas.
Indiana Jones and the Myth of the Jade Serpent Details Revealed at D23 Expo 2026
IN THIS ARTICLE:
- Harrison Ford is the physical model for the new animatronic
- Disney confirmed the attraction’s name and storyline
- The ride sits inside Tropical Americas alongside Encanto and a new carousel
Disney Legend Harrison Ford opened the presentation with a recorded video message, thanking fans for decades of Indiana Jones adventures. Ford confirmed he is the actual model for the next Indiana Jones Audio-Animatronics figure. It marks the first time his likeness will be used for a Disney attraction anywhere in the world. Hundgen and Beatty later displayed the physical model being used to build the figure. The model bore an impressive likeness to the actor.
The pair then confirmed the attraction’s name publicly for the first time. Indiana Jones and the Myth of the Jade Serpent will be the title of the ride. It is being built inside the Mayan temple facade under construction at the former DINOSAUR entrance in Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Imagineers said the goal was to blend the thrill of a classic Indiana Jones adventure with the cultural depth associated with Animal Kingdom, a park built around stories of animals both real and imagined.
The Storyline of Indiana Jones and the Myth of the Jade Serpent
The story finds Dr. Jones exploring a temple built above a cenote, an underground cave once filled with water. According to local legend, the passageway leads to the Maya Underworld. A serpentine creature called the Tsukán guards it. Guests join Indy on his exploration, and the myth suddenly becomes real. Riders get pulled through a portal into the Underworld itself.
Once inside, the adventure turns into a chase against the clock. Guests will face monstrous bats, oversized scorpions, and fire. And, of course, snakes, in the form of the Tsukán, who appears throughout the ride and returns for a final confrontation at the end. Imagineers said that Indy’s aversion to snakes gets tested throughout the entire experience. Disney also confirmed the ride tells “an original Indiana Jones story,” distinct from any other Indiana Jones attraction at Disney parks worldwide.
Getting the Story of the Maya Right
Imagineers said the project team has worked closely with archaeologists, anthropologists, and Maya experts to keep the attraction culturally authentic. Imagineering previously discussed a research trip to Honduras, where a small team met with Maya artists. Those artists carve and recreate details found throughout the Copán site, one of the most well-preserved cities of the ancient Maya civilization, as we detailed after a recent conference update. The same red and green stone native to that region is expected to make its way into the finished attraction.
A hand-sculpted head of the Tsukán also went on display at the Imagineering pavilion on the Expo’s final day. It gave guests their first up-close look at the finished character design. The sculpt shows the serpent with an open jaw, curved fangs, and a raised, feather-like crest running down its neck. A human-scale reference figure sits nearby, showing just how far the animatronic head towers above head height, as we reported from the show floor.
New concept art shown at the pavilion also gave the first look inside the attraction’s queue, previously only shown from the temple exterior. That art depicts a cave-like archaeological site with scaffolding and Mayan glyphs on the walls. A video projection of Indiana Jones also appears, part of the queue itself rather than a separate pre-show area, as we broke down in our look at the new artwork.
Tropical Americas Continues to Take Shape
Indiana Jones and the Myth of the Jade Serpent is one of two headlining attractions coming to Tropical Americas. This 11-acre land is replacing the former DinoLand U.S.A. at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The other headliner is an Encanto attraction, which also received new story details during this year’s presentation. Beyond the two rides, the land includes shopping and dining.
Families visiting Tropical Americas will also find El Carrusel de los Animalitos, a new carousel featuring 22 hand-carved animals from Disney and Pixar stories. Nearby, a play area themed to the Maya will let younger guests explore rainforest wonders through hands-on activities. Disney has not announced an opening date for the Indiana Jones attraction or the wider land.
Story So Far
- 2023: Tropical Americas is announced at Destination D23, with Encanto and Indiana Jones confirmed as the land’s headlining IPs, replacing DinoLand U.S.A.
- 2026, February: We attend the Maya at the Mouse conference and get an inside look at Imagineering’s collaboration with Maya experts
- 2026, March: Aerial photos show construction beginning to transform the former Dino Institute into the Mayan temple facade
- 2026, May: An Imagineer shares new insight into the Tropical Americas project, including details on a research trip to Honduras
- 2026, August 15: Disney confirms the attraction’s name, Indiana Jones and the Myth of the Jade Serpent, along with its full story
- 2026, August 16: A hand-sculpted head of the Tsukán animatronic goes on display, and new concept art reveals the attraction’s queue
Disney has not yet announced an opening date for Indiana Jones and the Myth of the Jade Serpent or the rest of Tropical Americas. We will continue to bring you updates as Imagineers share more details and construction progresses.
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