Let’s Peek Behind the Scenes at the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular
With Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny finally, in theaters, it’s time to celebrate all things Indy including the often overlooked but always awesome Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular at Disney’s Hollywood Studios! For those unfamiliar, the show provides a behind-the-scenes look at the magic of movie stunts. During a recent Disney Programs offering, guests were given some interesting insights from the second unit as to what goes into putting on this incredible show and we’re excited to pass on some Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular with you.
For instance, the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular recreates the famous boulder scene from Raiders of the Lost Ark. But, did you know that the boulder that chases Indy during the stunt show actually weighs 400 pounds and is made of rubber?
The cast member that takes on the role of Indiana Jones during the stunt show must change his outfit between every show do to the wear and tear that happens during the show!
At another stage in the show, Punji Sticks shoot out of the ground. These are actually triggered by square sensors that are triggered depending on where Indiana Jones steps!
Indy is also known for his famous bullwhip. Though Harrison Ford and the actors on stage at the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular may make brandishing this weapon look easy, it actually takes three weeks of extensive training to become proficient in using the whip. However, many cast members take years to master the tool. During the recent Disney Programs presentation one of the actors that play Indy named Aaron said during the presentation that he’s been playing the role for 16 years!
Another talking point during the presentations was “contingency plans.” Lightning Crew Chief Clifton Baxter explains, “We have a contingency in most shows we do, but most of the time they’re not noticeable to the audience.”
For example, the massive opening scene in the show has 12 possible contingencies. Performers have a backup plan for different scenarios depending upon what goes wrong. They also learn how to improvise without staying in character.
Check out some of those stunts in action!
@disneyparks Indiana Jones 🤝 getting the gold 🏆 #Disney #DisneyParks #DisneyWorld #HollywoodStudios #IndianaJones #IndianaJonesEpicStuntSpectacular #StuntPerformer ♬ original sound – Disney Parks
During another portion of the Disney Programs event, Stage Manager Casey spoke to guests about how “calling the show” differs from traditional theatrical productions. A huge role of this stage manager’s job for instance is enabling the effects for the stunt performers.
Lightning Crew Chief Clinton also shared his story of breaking into the business which was of particular interest to Disney Programs participants because his Disney career started as part of the Disney College Program. Clinton now has over 10 years of experience working with the Walt Disney Company. He went through the College Program in 2008 and then in 2015 became an entertainment technician. From there it was on to the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular.
Clinton talked about his passion for lighting saying, “I’m a little biased, I really like the lighting,” he laughs. “Even though it’s a daytime show and you can’t really see a lot of them, when we get the opportunity to do nighttime shows the lighting in this rig just makes the whole set pop. That’s why I got into my career of choice and why I do what I do.”
See more about the Discover Disney: Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular event in the video below:
Readers are encouraged to keep following along with MickeyBlog for further Walt Disney World news and updates. We’ll be coming to you LIVE! from the theme parks each and every week.
Have you heard the news? MickeyTravels just earned the incredible distinction of being a Diamond Earmarked Agency!
Whether it’s a visit to the theme parks, a Disney cruise, a stay at Aulani in Hawaii, or the trip of a lifetime with Adventures by Disney, I can’t wait to help you plan your vacation utilizing all of our incredible concierge-level services. This injdjdjdcludes discount monitoring, itinerary planning, flexible booking, and more. Best of all my services are 100% FREE!
Find out more or get your FREE no-obligation quote at mroden@mickeytravels.com at 1.800.801.4025 or via Facebook