Article Summary: The Harrison Ford Indiana Jones ride is becoming a major reason to watch Disney’s Animal Kingdom in 2027. Ford will model the attraction’s Indiana Jones animatronic, while Tropical Americas adds a new Maya-inspired adventure, an Encanto ride and a carousel as Disney replaces the former DinoLand U.S.A. area.
Harrison Ford is becoming part of Walt Disney World in a way he never has before. During D23 in Anaheim, the actor revealed that Disney Imagineers will use his likeness for the Indiana Jones Audio-Animatronics figure coming to Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The Harrison Ford Indiana Jones ride update gives the Tropical Americas expansion its clearest star connection yet.
The Harrison Ford Indiana Jones ride will use the actor’s face as the model for Disney World’s new Indiana Jones Audio-Animatronics figure. The attraction, Indiana Jones and the Myth of the Jade Serpent, is coming to Animal Kingdom within Tropical Americas, the 11-acre land replacing DinoLand U.S.A., which Disney currently plans to open in 2027.
The August reveal matters now because Disney moved the project beyond broad concept art. For 2027 travelers, the attraction now has a title, a central story, and a confirmed Ford likeness.
What Is Disney World’s New Indiana Jones Ride?
Disney is building an original Indiana Jones adventure for Animal Kingdom. Riders will enter an ancient Maya temple and travel alongside Dr. Jones. However, the story will differ from existing Indiana Jones attractions at other Disney parks.
The adventure begins near a cenote, an underground water-filled cave. Local legend says the passage leads to the Maya Underworld. Soon, riders encounter the Tsukán, a giant serpentine creature guarding the route.
The ride will also feature bats, oversized scorpions, fire, and other dangers. Therefore, Disney is leaning into the supernatural-adventure structure that defines many of Indy’s screen quests.
According to People’s report on the D23 reveal, Disney is building the attraction inside Tropical Americas. The report also confirms that the land will replace DinoLand U.S.A. and include an Encanto attraction and a carousel.
An Original Animal Kingdom Story
The Disney World Indiana Jones ride uses Animal Kingdom’s focus on nature and real-world cultures as part of its identity. Disney says Imagineers worked with archaeologists, anthropologists, and Maya experts while developing the attraction.
Meanwhile, project teams researched sites in Honduras, including Copán. That work helped shape the temple, artwork and cultural details.
The result should feel distinct from Disney’s existing Indiana Jones attractions. It also gives movie fans a new reason to build Animal Kingdom into a future trip to Florida.
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Will Harrison Ford Appear in the Indiana Jones Ride?
Yes. Ford will serve as the model for the new Indiana Jones Audio-Animatronics figure. Moreover, Disney says this marks the first time a park attraction anywhere will use Ford’s face for the character.
That Indiana Jones-Harrison Ford animatronic connection turns the ride into a direct extension of his screen version of Indy. Instead of a generalized character likeness, visitors will encounter a figure modeled on the actor himself.
Ford announced the detail through a video appearance at D23. He also said he plans to visit Walt Disney World. Later, Imagineers showed the digital model they are using to create the figure.
Deadline’s D23 parks roundup also reported Ford’s involvement while covering Disney’s wider attraction slate. The update stood out because it places the actor directly within the franchise’s physical future.
Why Ford’s Face Changes the Attraction
Ford has played Indiana Jones across five feature films. Therefore, his face remains inseparable from the character for several generations of viewers.
The Harrison Ford Indiana Jones ride now incorporates that recognition into the attraction design. Consequently, Disney can build the experience around a visual identity audiences already know.
The reveal also creates a crossover between film fandom and vacation planning. Even travelers who rarely follow theme-park development can immediately understand the appeal.
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When Will Indiana Jones and the Myth of the Jade Serpent Open?
Disney currently plans to open Tropical Americas in 2027. However, the company has not announced a specific opening day for the Indiana Jones attraction.
That distinction matters for trip planning. Travelers can target 2027, but they should not book flights or hotels around an exact ride date yet.
Construction is already underway. Disney has also shown the temple facade taking physical shape. Therefore, the project has moved well beyond its early concept stage.
The Harrison Ford Disney World connection should add another layer of demand once Disney announces a firm opening window. At that point, search interest will likely shift toward hotel reservations, park strategy, and first-ride planning.
What Else Is Coming to Animal Kingdom’s Tropical Americas?
Tropical Americas will offer far more than Indiana Jones. Disney designed the 11-acre area around Pueblo Esperanza, a fictional community whose name means “village of hope.”
The Disney Tropical Americas project will also introduce Disney’s first Encanto ride. Guests will enter Casita on the day Antonio receives his ability to communicate with animals.
Additionally, Disney is adding El Carrusel de los Animalitos. The carousel will feature 22 hand-carved animals inspired by Disney and Pixar stories. Dining, shopping, and a children’s exploration area will round out the land.
Together, those projects make Tropical Americas one of the largest Animal Kingdom new ride developments in years. Disney is not simply replacing one attraction. Instead, it is rebuilding a major part of the park around several experiences.
What Is Replacing DinoLand U.S.A.?
Tropical Americas is the full replacement for DinoLand. Disney first announced the project at D23 in 2024 and later moved into phased closures and construction.
The change also shifts the park’s visual identity. DinoLand focused on prehistoric creatures and roadside Americana. By contrast, Pueblo Esperanza combines rainforest settings, cultural inspiration, and Disney character attractions.
The latest D23 Disney World announcements give travelers a reason to keep an eye on Animal Kingdom. A major new land could change how visitors divide their time across Walt Disney World.
What Happens Next for the Harrison Ford Indiana Jones Ride?
The next major milestone should be a more precise opening window. Disney still lists Tropical Americas for 2027, but it has not announced a firm debut date.
Meanwhile, construction should reveal more of the temple, queue, and surrounding Pueblo Esperanza environment. Disney could also release additional footage of Ford’s Audio-Animatronics figure as it moves from digital model to completed attraction.
The attraction now has more than a famous name attached. It has an original mythology-driven story, a physical land under construction, and a direct visual connection to the actor who defined Indy.
That combination makes it one of Disney World’s most closely watched future attractions. For the travel, entertainment, and cultural destinations shaping what comes next, follow Runway Magazine.
