Disney Legend Joe Rohde is once again praising the Imagineers behind the Tropical Americas project. This time, he is zeroing in on the team building Indiana Jones and the Myth of the Jade Serpent. In a new social media post following D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, Rohde described the cultural research behind the attraction’s design and how “this Indiana Jones attraction belongs at Animal Kingdom”.
Joe Rohde Praises Indiana Jones Attraction Team Following D23 Expo
IN THIS ARTICLE:
- Rohde explains why the Chaac temple model looks the way it does up close
- He praises Imagineer Brianna Pfost’s depth of knowledge on Maya art
- Tying Rohde’s comments to our own reporting from the Maya at the Mouse conference
Rohde Praises the Team’s Handling of the Indiana Jones Assignment
Rohde said the team took the assignment to build an “Indiana Jones attraction” and turned it into something specifically built for Disney’s Animal Kingdom. He said the design refocuses the story on nature, animals, and the human relationship to them. Rohde also praised the Imagineering team for involving the people represented in the work itself. He pointed to Indigenous Maya archaeologist Dr. Ivan Batun, a member of the project team who was also at D23 Expo. Rohde noted that Batun had just come from a Chaac ceremony in Yucatan before the event.
That kind of cross-cultural collaboration produces real breakthroughs, Rohde said, and it takes hard work to get there. Rohde noted that Creative Director Joan Hartwig offered a perfect example of the hard work the team is putting in. Hartwig said the project’s academic consultants believe attraction designer Brianna Pfost could teach a university course on Maya art and iconography. Pfost has been the public face of the Indiana Jones attraction’s design process. She also presented at the Maya at the Mouse conference earlier this year. There, she walked scholars through the cultural and design thinking behind the ride, when she wasn’t in the front row diligently taking notes to ensure the team gets this right.
Rohde closed his post with a quick aside. He wondered what Harrison Ford would make of the ecological themes built into the temple that houses his character. Rohde said he knows from mutual friends in wildlife conservation that Ford is passionate and knowledgeable about those issues. He said he would like to see that conversation happen.
Rohde closed with what I think is the biggest endorsement of Indiana Jones and the Myth of the Jade Serpent so far. Rohde said, “After all, an Indiana Jones attraction can go into any park, but this Indiana Jones attraction belongs at Animal Kingdom.”
Our Own Inside Look at the Impressive Research
Rohde’s praise lines up with what we saw firsthand earlier this year. We attended the third-party Maya at the Mouse conference. Pfost gave a presentation there titled “Indiana Jones and the Intrinsic Value of Nature” to a room full of Maya scholars and archaeologists. She spoke about the bookshelf of research material the team has amassed, and the research trips Imagineers have taken to immerse themselves in the region.
We watched the Indiana Jones and Tropical Americas teams engage with scholars across that multi-day conference. One of the most impressive things to watch like a fly on the wall bat on a construction wall, was how engaged WDI team members were. They sat right up at the front of the conference room, taking notes throughout the multi-day conference. They stayed late to keep talking with presenters. We walked away from Maya at the Mouse convinced the attraction was in good hands and that the storyline would be compelling. Seeing Rohde echo that same confidence in the team is a great sign of what’s to come.
Keep Reading
- Joe Rohde Tried to Get Tropical Americas in Animal Kingdom for 15 Years, Including Gutting DinoLand USA: Rohde’s first round of praise for the current team came earlier this year, when he revealed just how long he had been trying to get a Tropical Americas land built.
- 36-Year Veteran Imagineer Offers New Insight into Tropical Americas Land Coming to Animal Kingdom: Joan Hartwig shared more on how far back the idea for a Maya-inspired land at Animal Kingdom actually goes.
- New Concept Art Reveals Queue for Indiana Jones Ride Coming to Animal Kingdom: See the first look inside the attraction’s queue, unveiled during the same D23 weekend as Rohde’s comments.
- Sculpt of Giant Audio-Animatronic Snake for Finale Scene in Indiana Jones Ride at D23 Expo 2026: Get a closer look at the Tsukán sculpt that stood beside the same temple model Rohde described in his post.
As always, keep checking back with us here at BlogMickey.com as we continue to bring you the latest news, photos, and info from around the Disney Parks!