An entertainment cast member stepped in to protect the magic after a special effect failed during the Indiana Jones show at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
The Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular! has been a defining feature of Disney’s Hollywood Studios since a few months after the Disney Park opened in 1989.
It has gone through several changes throughout the years, from the removal of Nazi symbols and prop guns to the end of audience participation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Still, the Harrison Ford “stunt doubles” entertain thousands of Walt Disney World Resort guests daily.
One of the most iconic moments in the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular! recreates the original boulder chase scene from Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981). Indiana Jones tries and fails to outrun a giant prop rock, escaping into a trap door just out of guest view. The trick makes it look like the performer was run over until he pops out to surprise the audience.
Reddit user u/TheLastGunslinger recently saw an unusual version of the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular! boulder chase. The Disney Park guest shared two photos of the Indiana Jones stunt double hanging out on stage during a show pause and explained that the boulder didn’t move as intended:
I’ve never seen the boulder fail before
I've never seen the boulder fail before
byu/TheLastGunslinger inWaltDisneyWorld
The quick-thinking Indiana Jones performer made magic for thousands of guests in the audience. The Redditor explained that he “hung out” on stage for a while before “using the Force” to reset the boulder. Luckily, it worked (with some help from the behind-the-scenes technical crew)!
Other Disney Parks fans shared their experiences with technical issues at the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular!.
“That’s hilarious,” u/powerfulpea8519 commented. “I was there 12/3 and they skipped the boulder scene entirely because of technical difficulties.”
“We were there 11/26 and same,” u/veggiesaur replied. “She even gave a speech at the start asking who’d been before and if we knew about the big boulder scene… and then said cool, well that won’t be happening today.”
Have you witnessed technical issues at Magic Kingdom Park, EPCOT, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, or Disney’s Hollywood Studios? Share your experience with Disney Dining in the comments.
