The ride reopened Oct. 23 after a late start, with new electric doors, faster loading and bigger pouches for your stuff. Here’s what changed during its refurbishment.
Indy’s Jeeps are back on the road. They just took the scenic route.
Indiana Jones Adventure reopened at Disneyland Park on Friday, Oct. 23, after a refurbishment that started Sept. 8. That closure came right after Disney removed the queue’s interactive bamboo pole, the one that makes the ceiling look like it’s caving in, WDWNT reported.
The ride didn’t open on time Friday morning, though. Cast members told WDW News Today the ride might open “later today,” with “no estimated timeline.”
Later that morning, the Disneyland app showed it open, WDWNT reported. And Disney says the ride should now handle more riders and break down less.
What changed at Indiana Jones Adventure?
The biggest change is capacity. Engineering updates add about 125 guests an hour, or about 1,000 more riders a day, a Los Angeles Times feature reported, according to WDWNT.
That figure comes from Nicholas DiBernardo, an area manager for Disney’s Attractions Engineering Services. He told the Times the updates should also cut down on breakdowns.
Here’s the full ride, from Disney Parks on YouTube:
Why did Disney change the doors on Indiana Jones Adventure?
They kept breaking. The doors that open into the first big show scene, where riders meet the goddess Mara, used to run on hydraulic actuators.
Those could leak and sometimes failed. When they did, the ride went down, or the doors stayed open and spoiled the scene. They also slowed the ride down.
Now the doors are fully electric, which makes them easier to fix and more reliable, WDWNT reported.
How did Disney speed up loading on Indiana Jones Adventure?
The Jeeps park more precisely now. A mix of hardware and software changes over the past year means the vehicles stop where they’re supposed to at the load area.
Before, a Jeep would sometimes miss its mark, and operators had to send it through empty to reset it. Disney made that change back in May. Between the new doors and the loading fix, more Jeeps go out full.
What causes the most breakdowns on Indiana Jones Adventure?
You do. Well, your stuff.
“Our No. 1 downtime driver is guest items,” DiBernardo said, as WDWNT reported. Riders bring big water bottles or backpacks and don’t stash them, and the Jeep’s twists and turns send things flying.
“We’ll have to stop the ride,” he said.
So every Jeep now has a bigger storage pouch. Disney is also working with operations to remind riders to put their things away before they go.
Are the Indiana Jones Adventure animatronics fixed?
Yes, according to Disney. The Indiana Jones Audio-Animatronics figures were taken apart and rebuilt, and Indy and the other figures now have full movement again, WDWNT reported.
Every figure in the ride was dusted and repainted with blacklight paint. Disney also added more big spiders and “creepy critters” to one of the tunnels and brightened the lighting so riders can see more of the details.
Why does Indiana Jones Adventure close every year?
Because it’s huge. “Indiana Jones typically has a refurbishment every year,” DiBernardo said. It needs one “just because of the size of the attraction,” he said.
The ride had two short refurbishments in 2025, when its full pre-show came back. Earlier this year, Disney restored the bridge effect and refreshed props at the exit.
The ride opened in 1995 and sends guests through the Temple of the Forbidden Eye in troop transports that pitch and bounce, as PNP reported Oct. 17. A second version opened at Tokyo DisneySea in 2001.
Is there an Indiana Jones ride at Disney World?
One is on the way. Disney is turning the old DINOSAUR ride at Disney’s Animal Kingdom into Indiana Jones and the Myth of the Jade Serpent, set to open in 2027. It uses the same kind of Jeep, with a different story.
Harrison Ford said at D23 in August that he’s the model for the new Indy figure, as PNP has reported.
So if you’re at Disneyland this weekend, expect a wait on day two, too. Just zip up that backpack.
Article compiled and written by Kambrea Pratt (editor-in-chief), Derek Gibbs (beat editor) and the Pirates & Princesses newsroom. Pirates & Princesses is part of WebReef Media.
Pirates and Princesses is your destination for Disney news, theme park updates, and the pop culture you love. From Disney cruises and travel tips to Disney fashion, food, collectibles, and movie news, PNP covers it all. Visit us at piratesandprincesses.net for daily coverage. Follow PNP on Facebook and Instagram, and listen to the Pirates & Princesses podcast on Apple Podcasts and YouTube.
Hat Tips:
WDW News Today, Shannen Ace and Megan K (Oct. 23, 2026), the delayed reopening and the Los Angeles Times details, including Nicholas DiBernardo’s quotes
Pirates & Princesses (Oct. 17, 2026), the ride’s history and the Disney World version
Disney Parks on YouTube (2023), the ride-through video
AI Disclosure: All articles are assigned, edited and reviewed by an experienced human editor before posting. Like most modern newsrooms, WebReef Media uses a variety of AI tools to help with accuracy and efficiency. Ways AI may be used in article creation include research, grammar, fact-checking and ideation, as well as occasional AI generated or enhanced thumbnails or graphics. No articles are generated or posted without human oversight or involvement.