Ever wonder how they perform those amazing stunts in your favorite action movies?
Then head over to the Indiana Jones ™ Epic Stunt Spectacular! in Hollywood Studios to go behind the scenes of one of the silver screen’s most beloved films.
Based on scenes from Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular! is a 35-minute live show, that pulls the curtain back on how some of the craziest stunts in Hollywood are performed.
Keep reading for our complete guide to Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular!
Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular! Quick Facts
Location
Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular! is located in Echo Lake near For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration and Star Tours – The Adventure Continues.
Here is the location on the map:
How to Watch Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular!
Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular! has a Standby Line and a Lightning Lane. There is no Single Rider Line.
Do I need to use Genie+ at Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular!?
Genie+ is available at Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular!, however it is not an early priority as the show features plenty of seating and Genie+ availability rarely runs out.
We don’t necessarily recommend using a Genie+ Lightning Lane Selection on a show. But if it’s a busy park day and/or you don’t want to line up early to grab a seat, Genie+ might be a good option for you.
Be sure to check out our touring strategies for Hollywood Studios for more Genie+ advice.
Rider Switch/Child Swap
Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular! does not offer Rider Switch since this show is appropriate for all ages.
You can learn more about Rider Switch via our handy guide.
What to Expect when you Watch
Queue
Guests wanting to experience the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular! must wait in an open-air queue covered with netting.
Accessibility Information
Since you are seated in a theater for this experience, those in wheelchairs and ECVs may remain in them. Guests using wheelchairs and ECVs will be seated in a special area in the rear of the theater.
Handheld captioning, assistive listening, and sign language is available for guests.
In the Show
If you prefer to experience Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular! without spoilers, make sure you skip over this section!
This show is based on the scenes and stunts performed in the original Indiana Jones film, Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981).
The show opens with a man dressed just like Harrison Ford’s character breaking into an ancient cave by falling through the ceiling, hanging by a rope.
After lowering himself down to the cave floor, he makes his way up to the object of his desire, a golden idol on a stone pedestal. As seen in the film, he carefully replaces the idol with a bag of sand.
Just when he thinks he’s outsmarted whatever boobie traps have been set, the stone pedestal lowers itself into the ground in order to make way for a huge boulder that starts barreling toward our hero. He cannot outrun it and is apparently smushed as it rolls over him.
But don’t worry – the fun has just begun! The director calls “cut” and our Indie lookalike pops out from the ground, saved by a break in the set.
It’s at this point we’re introduced to the cast of Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular! including stunt doubles for Indiana Jones and Marion Ravenwood, as well as the rest of the stunt team.
Then we get to watch live as this daring duo escapes from the clutches of a group of well-trained assassins in the famous bazaar scene (also straight out of the film), and make a thrilling getaway from a moving plane, all while dodging bad guys.
Make sure you stay all the way to the end to witness the dynamite finale!
Is Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular! Kid-Friendly?
While there are high-action moments and loud sounds during Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular! this show is fun for the whole family.
If your children are frightened of loud noises, pick a seat further away from the main stage area.
We have a list of things that may scare little ones at Disney World that you can check out, if you’d like.
Strollers
Strollers are not allowed in most queues or theaters at Walt Disney World.
You’ll need to leave your stroller in the designated stroller parking area near the entrance to the queue at Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular!
History
Back when Hollywood Studios was Disney-MGM Studios, the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular! was supposed to be one of the parks opening day attractions.
However, Imagineers, along with George Lucas and then-CEO of the Walt Disney Company, Michael Eisner, did not feel the show was ready for the park’s May 1, 1989 opening.
The show finally debuted on August 25, 1989. It closed for six months in 2000 to refurbish the sets and prepare for the addition of the old system of FastPass (now Genie+), but no major changes were made to the format of the show itself.
In 2004, Disney removed the Nazi swastikas from German trucks, aircraft, and actor uniforms and replaced them with a Balkenkreuz.
The show was closed in 2020 due to COVID and when it reopened in December 2021, a few changes had been made.
While the show had been known for its audience participation where guests were selected to act as “extras” in a few scenes, instead the audience was asked to perform background noises.
Also, Indiana Jones no longer carries a pistol, and swords once used by the stunt team in the bazaar scene have been replaced by large sticks. Compressed air is still used to illustrate gunshots hitting the ground from automatic gunfire.
Other Fun Details
- Movie Connection: Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular! is based on the scenes and stunts performed in the original Indiana Jones film, Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981). The other films in the Indiana Jones franchise are Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984), Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989), and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008). A fifth and rumored final film titled Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny will premiere in 2023.
- Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular! is the oldest attraction at Disney’s Hollywood Studios still in operation. Previously it had been second to The Great Movie Ride, but that closed in 2017 to make way for Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway.
- Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular! was the first live show at Walt Disney World to use a computer program to coordinate the pyrotechnics, mechanical components, and other elements to ensure the action is safe for performers.
- This show has more moving parts than any other live show at Walt Disney World. The total weight of the show’s sets come in at just about 100 tons for each scene, and the famous ball Indie narrowly escapes is 12 feet in diameter and weighs 440 pounds!
- The small golden idol used in the first act of the show is an exact replica of the idol in Raiders of the Lost Ark.
- Don’t miss the sign above what looks to be an abandoned well just outside the theater that says, “Do Not Pull Rope.” Look carefully — the “not” is crossed out! Give the rope a tug and you’ll be treated to a little something extra.
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