Harrison Ford Is Officially the Face of Disney’s New Indiana Jones Ride — Here’s Everything We Know

Grab your fedora and dust off your whip, because Animal Kingdom just got a whole lot more adventurous. Disney dropped a bombshell announcement at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event presented by Visa, and if you’re an Indiana Jones fan (or just love a good underground temple with a snake problem), you’re going to want to sit down for this one.

Here’s the scoop on Indiana Jones and the Myth of the Jade Serpent, the newest attraction headed to Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

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Harrison Ford Is the Actual Face of the Attraction

Here’s the headline-grabbing part: Harrison Ford himself was scanned and used as the physical model for the new animatronic. Disney attractions have paid tribute to Indy before, but this is the first time anywhere in the world that guests will see Ford’s own likeness built into a ride figure.

That’s a pretty big deal. This isn’t a stand-in or a generic adventurer — it’s Ford, immortalized in animatronic form. Disney Legend status, confirmed.

What’s the Story Behind the Ride?

Animal Kingdom has always leaned into its identity as a park centered on wildlife, both real and mythical, and this new attraction was clearly designed with that in mind. Disney’s Imagineering team wanted the ride to carry the same globe-trotting energy fans love from the Indiana Jones films, while grounding the setting in genuine Maya culture and its ties to the natural world.

Meet Dr. Jones at the Temple

The ride’s story drops guests into the middle of one of Indy’s expeditions. He’s investigating an ancient temple built beside a cenote — a natural underground cave that once held water.

Local legend, as told through the attraction, claims that cenote is a gateway to the Maya Underworld, watched over by a snake-like guardian called the Tsukán.

Things Get Wild Fast

That’s when the ride shifts into high gear. A portal pulls guests down into the Underworld itself, where the journey turns into a race past a lineup of threats:

• Bats
• Oversized scorpions
• Fire
• Snakes, naturally

Classic Indy chaos, basically — exactly what fans would hope for.

Why This Fits Animal Kingdom So Well

Placing this ride in Animal Kingdom makes sense once you think about it. The park has always celebrated creatures both real and legendary, so a temple adventure built around Maya mythology and a serpent guardian fits right into that theme. It’s a smart pairing of Indy’s adventure-movie roots with the storytelling style Animal Kingdom is known for.

What We Still Don’t Know

Disney’s announcement, made on August 15, 2026, focused on the story, the cultural inspiration, and the Harrison Ford reveal — but didn’t include an opening date or ride mechanics. As more details roll out, I’ll keep this post updated so you’re always in the loop.

Final Thoughts

Between Harrison Ford’s animatronic debut and a storyline that sends you tumbling into the Maya Underworld, Indiana Jones and the Myth of the Jade Serpent already sounds like it’s going to be one of Animal Kingdom’s most talked-about additions yet. If you’re planning a future Disney World trip and want help mapping out when to add new attractions like this into your itinerary, reach out here or start with a free quote request — I’d love to help you plan around it.