After an over 20-month closure, “Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular!” is finally performing again at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. As we reported a few days ago, the show has been tweaked and updated slightly.
All of the sets have been repainted. The machinery used in the show was also re-evaluated. The lights and soundboard were replaced, and new sound effects can be heard.
Guests packed into the theater to see the show’s return.
Unfortunately, audience members don’t get to come on stage and be part of the show right now due to physical distancing guidelines.
A new moment introducing the stunt performers has been added during the first scene change.
They lead the entire audience in creating sound effects.
Though there are small changes and no audience members on stage, the plot of the show remains the same.
While the villains and vehicles in the show still have guns, Indiana no longer carries a pistol, so there’s no more scene where he shoots a henchman.
He uses his whip plenty and does briefly handle a machine gun grabbed from one of the bad guys.
There are a few new stunts and an extra comedic moment of Indy and Marion peeking out of the clothing racks.
A new scene includes the special effects coordinator demonstrating how the crew creates fake gunfire sounds using compressed air.
They talk briefly about filming in landscape mode with smartphones, a “modern” update to the show.
They still do the stunt demonstration that Marion usually performs with an audience plant.
We noticed the pilot in the final scene was a woman.
The plane and truck still have fake guns attached to them.
While swastikas have been gone from the show for a long time, all Nazi-related symbolism has now been removed.
Characters no longer “die” on stage. Instead, they run off after being defeated.
Without his pistol, Indy kicks the cockpit door to get Marion out.
The gun and death changes are likely not only for stunt safety but also to be more sensitive to recent tragedies in the U.S.A.
It was an emotional return for the cast and crew — some of whom have been part of the show since it opened in 1989 and had family in the audience — as well as for fans watching.
Watch our video of the first performance since March 2020 below.
“Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular!” is performing at 12:00 p.m., 1:15 p.m., 3:15 p.m., 4:45 p.m., and 6:00 p.m. daily.
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Cast members are magical, and it’s great to see this outdoor show finally reopen in time for peak holiday crowds. The part of the cast members’ family being in the audience just warms your heart.
Despite some of the stuff taken out possibly due to tragedies it still great to see that the showers back and its still fun.
I do wonder if some other things will return once things get fully back to normal, such as with the COVID-19 thing.
I just saw the show and noticed a few extra things….. like how the trap door worked. It seems it didn’t work that day. Also my Mom thinks that there is third reason. That being that due to COVID-19 not all the actors are back and so they had to trim it a bit. Hopefully once more of the actors are back things will be even more normal….. It did give me ideas for a few new additional parts for the show though. I think a follow up is needed.
So the trap door actually works now?