Disneyland's Indiana Jones Adventure reopened Friday after a refurbishment aimed at improving the ride's reliability and throughput. The work included replacing hydraulic door mechanisms, rebuilding audio-animatronics and adding spiders to a dark tunnel. The attraction had been closed for several weeks while crews worked on one of the Anaheim park's most mechanically complex rides.
The Los Angeles Times reported that the attraction reopened Friday after a six-week refurbishment; WDW News Today put the closure at nearly seven weeks. The reported changes address several sources of interruptions, from door malfunctions to vehicles that need repositioning and belongings that fall during the ride.
The work targets reliability and capacity
One major change is the switch from hydraulic to electric door actuators. The Los Angeles Times reported that hydraulic doors could malfunction and remain open, disrupting the intended show effects. When that happened, fewer vehicles could be dispatched, slowing the attraction, area manager Nicholas DiBernardo told the paper.
The electric replacements are expected to be more dependable and simpler to maintain, the outlet reported, and they remove the possibility of a hydraulic-fluid spill. DiBernardo, an eight-year resort veteran and lifelong San Pedro resident, works Disneyland's third shift, from 2 a.m. to 11 a.m., and was closely involved in the engineering work.
Smoother operations could add riders
Disney expects the combined changes to increase capacity by about 125 riders per hour, or roughly 1,000 more guests a day, according to DiBernardo's comments reported by the Los Angeles Times. Changes to loading and unloading include hardware and software adjustments intended to help vehicles stop in the correct position at the loading dock.
Previously, a vehicle that stopped out of position could be sent through the temple empty so it could be reset, taking time away from normal dispatches, the Times reported. DiBernardo said the positioning adjustment was introduced gradually over the past year and the parking issue was fully resolved by May.
A fix for belongings that fall during rides
The vehicles now have larger pouches for riders' loose belongings, the Los Angeles Times reported. DiBernardo identified items falling from vehicles as the attraction's leading cause of downtime. Disneyland is also reminding riders to stow their belongings before departure, according to the paper.
A dropped phone, hat or stuffed Chewbacca can require the ride to stop, DiBernardo told the Times. Preventing those interruptions is part of the effort to keep vehicles moving and realize the expected capacity gains.
Animatronics Rebuilt, Spiders Multiplied
The refurbishment also addressed the attraction's show elements. The Los Angeles Times reported that Indiana Jones audio-animatronics were disassembled and rebuilt, and that figures were dusted and given refreshed blacklight paint and lighting. Crews also added large spiders and other creatures to one tunnel, giving riders more to encounter in the dark.
The attraction also still relies on a moving-wall illusion that tricks riders into believing their vehicle is reversing, a classic bit of Disney Imagineering sleight of hand that remains untouched by this round of upgrades. Disney describes the ride itself as a fast-paced thrill experience aboard a 12-person vehicle that realistically simulates quick driving over rough terrain, according to Disneyland's official attraction page.
A Ride That Never Really Stops Evolving
Indiana Jones Adventure opened in 1995 and has been operating for more than 30 years. DiBernardo told the Los Angeles Times that the attraction generally receives a refurbishment each year because of its size and maintenance needs. This closure combined the door replacement with changes intended to improve vehicle positioning and ride capacity.
The ride has also received show updates in recent years. It added temple-shattering projections in 2023, and WDW News Today reported that the full pre-show returned in early 2025 after a five-year absence. Other restored or refreshed elements have included the bridge effect and exit props. The attraction's many moving show elements must meet theatrical and safety standards while engineers work to improve reliability.
California's ride-inspection requirements
Permanent amusement rides in California undergo annual structural and operational inspections by a qualified safety inspector, after which the state approves operation, according to Cal/OSHA’s Amusement Ride and Tramway Unit. The information available here describes the inspection and approval requirements but does not specify what inspection reports are publicly accessible.
A 2019 azcentral.com analysis estimated that Indiana Jones Adventure could handle as many as 2,025 riders per hour, ranking it sixth among attractions at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure at the time. The available reporting does not say whether that figure has changed with this year's modifications. Against that historical estimate, Disney's projected increase of 125 riders per hour would be a modest but potentially meaningful gain.
