The Maya Temple Is Rising Fast: New Look at Indiana Jones and the Myth of the Jade Serpent

Construction of the Tropical Americas land at Disney's Animal Kingdom is visibly accelerating. The centrepiece is the Maya temple facade for Indiana Jones and the Myth of the Jade Serpent, currently going up at notable speed.

Why it is moving so quickly

The method explains it. Disney is having facade sections sculpted and painted backstage, then delivering them to the site finished, where they only need installing. The same technique was used for Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana at EPCOT. For onlookers, progress appears to jump, because much of the work happens out of sight beforehand.

Behind the show building, the Madrigal casita is also rising. Imagineers have designed it to read as freestanding – guests will be able to get within roughly 40 feet of the front door, but no closer.

What is confirmed

From the D23 announcements in August:

• Harrison Ford voices and portrays Dr. Jones – his first Disney Parks role
• The ride's climax features a hand-sculpted Audio-Animatronics figure of the serpent Tsukán, intended to look considerably more lifelike than previous serpent figures
• The queue received the project's most extensive rework, shifting from a museum setting to the ruins of an ancient temple
• Tropical Americas will feature no live animals

Treat the timeline with care

Disney announced no specific opening dates at D23. Expectations circulating in the trade press point to a phased opening across 2027 and 2028 – the El Carrusel carousel perhaps in summer 2027, the Indiana Jones attraction sometime in 2027, and the restaurant Antonio's Fiesta de Encanto possibly in spring 2028.

These are estimates, not Disney statements, and should be handled as such.

Animal Kingdom Reworks Its Morning: Early Entry Checkpoints Move to Discovery Island Anyone hoping to be first at Avatar Flight of Passage needs to rethink their morning. Disney has moved Animal Kingdom's Early Entry checkpoints out of the cramped Oasis corridor and deeper into the park. Resort guests lose a little head start – everyone else gets a far more comfortable wait.