Indiana Jones Ride Disneyland 07 08 1995

This is a video of Indiana Jones at Disneyland (California) from the entrance, following the zigzag waiting line (the folks at Disneyland sure do understand queuing theory and line control) to the ride itself. The footage is a bit shaky and fuzzy in the darkened ride but the sound is on so you can hear the screams and excitement and live vicariously. Hope you enjoy it.

[@intheparksitp6257]

It's really sort of shocking how many effects/story cues have been switched off... there is, of course, the water/ice effect, but there's also the old effect of getting the different door every time, the music cue in the Hall of Promise, the gates of doom shutting and explaining why your transport falls to the floor, the lack of stopping in the middle of the dark scene, and all sorts of different fog effects that are extremely rare to see working frequently now.

[@nonameman7114]

I heard the ride was very complex from a technical perspective, the company that made some of the effects like the rotating doors went bankrupt. So Disney kinda just got too greedy to repair.

[@UrSammich]

Yeah and I remember riding this ride around this time or least a few years later when most the effects were still in place. One time I rode it my eyes were shut because I was scared, but after that I was fine. I personally remember the doors rotating and the bridge...and the rock when it worked and a few other elements. I don't remember the water/ice effect ever and probably because of the problem it caused. Here again it was a "blink and you miss it" effect that I don't think many people remember seeing. It's sad how many elements are turned off or no longer the same. I rode this ride recently and we ended up stopping 3 times during the ride, something that has never happened any time I rode the ride, other than maybe when you see the last Indie animatronic and stop there for a second. Even the headlights stopped working for a bit as we were left in the dark. This ride needs TLC badly. Most show elements are barely functional and even Indie animatronic(s) are struggling.

[@markatthepark97]

The snake doesn’t even move anymore at all

[@christopherhodges7607]

Thankfully it's finally getting a massive overhaul. It's first big one in I wanna say twenty years almost

[@markatthepark97]

@@christopherhodges7607 for only 3 days of closure?

[@elusiveart530]

Very important footage this man unknowingly recorded

[@gioiacobucci]

Yeah, normally I’m annoyed when people do this, but it’s like every blurry second of footage flashing through the dark he got managed to be an element that’s just not the same any more. I can’t believe how much the snake whips back here!

[@treeseis9]

It fills me with warmth watching this ride when *everything* was in it, and hearing the amazement from the public folks experiencing it all for the very first time. Gives me this happy feeling

[@maddoxcox]

5:15 why over 5K people came to see the video

[@shawnshablinski2232]

Randomly found this 24 years to the day it was filmed! Just rode it yesterday @ Disneyland! Still a crowd favorite, even without the falling ice effect!

[@DaddoInTigard]

Thank you for bringing this to my attention. That was one of the best trips we ever took as a family. The oldest boy (blue shirt) in the video today is a 39-year old teacher married to a nurse with a seven-year old son and a four-year old daughter. The second boy (red hat) is a 34-year old attorney married to a swim coach with no children but two great cats. The third boy (green hat) is a 34-year old engineer (yes... he and the second boy are twins) and is not married. My wife (good looking lady) and I (cameraman and not seen) are retired and live within five miles of the boys. We still talk about the great time we had living at the Disneyland Hotel for a week, riding the monorail from the hotel to the park at all hours of the day and evening and submersing ourselves into the Disney culture.

[@elusiveart530]

@@DaddoInTigard thanks for sharing!

[@DaddoInTigard]

@@elusiveart530 You are welcome!

[@emily91303]

Now it’s like 27 today.

[@icomeandgobybubble87]

My first trip tp Disneyland was in December of 95. I remember riding the ride when it was new. It remains a favorite of mine.

[@TopCat0601]

Yes!!! 5:15!!!!! Thank you so much for uploading this. I've always wanted to see what that lost effect looked like.

[@TopCat0601]

I noticed another lost effect! 4:54. Keep your eye on the door Indy is guarding. At one point it slams shut. I don't remember ever seeing that before.

[@aidanjuliano1528]

I didn’t see it

[@TerrorJonnyYT]

I saw it yah

[@cashvault1996]

what? this was recorded in 1995 (this attraction's first operating year), none of the effects could not have died off or wore out that quickly. That's strange.

[@Mpiewizard]

This is a really late response but that effect was created by simply turning off the light behind the door and Disney, for whatever reason, eventually changed it to some type of curtain that ended up breaking down of course, so that’s the reason that effect doesn’t work anymore.

[@HauntFreak13]

That part of the ride your Jeep is supposed to be “floating” towards those doors that Indy is holding back (the gates of doom). When he slams them shut, the Jeep is “dropped” which is why you feel that rough bump. Conceptually that part of the ride was supposed to be shrouded in fog but they realized keeping that much fog going would be a nightmare.

[@disneyimagineer84]

Thank you so much for sharing. You caught the famous falling debris effect. I was there to experience it on opening day! It was an amazing but unreliable effect!!!! Definitely made you jump. Sounds like everyone had fun on the ride.

[@DaddoInTigard]

Its interesting how many people enjoyed that effect on the ride. Our family had so much fun. We stayed at the Disneyland Hotel and took the first monorail every morning and the last monorail back every night for a week. How many times can you see Fantismic! before it gets old... we never tired of it. All the energy and excitement and Peter Pan swinging from one part of the ship to another. We took our four young sons and on the third day we found they would be safe at any time so we let them go over by themselves. They grew a lot on the trip, but by far this was one of their favorite rides. Glad you enjoyed it in the video.

[@mjl1384]

This and Jurassic Park were both great rides

[@matts.3514]

I believe the cast member near the beginning of the line (near the beginning of the video) is passing out a card that "decoded" the hieroglyphs so you could read them on the walls while standing in line. The ride was sponsored by AT&T when it opened so the cards had the AT&T logo on them. There was also an AT&T sign on the way out that read "Choose Wisely". It is an absolute treasure to see watch these videos back from 1995. I was only 7 at the time but I can remember first going on this ride in its opening year. Although there are a few differences like the famed ice machine effect that are no longer in existence (even the screeching tires on the audio are gone now) - it's still largely the same exact ride for almost 25 years now.

[@DaddoInTigard]

You are absolutely correct about the decoder cards. Our sons all got one. I'm thrilled you enjoyed the video. At the time I took it, I only wanted to have something our sons would use to remember good times we shared as a family. I'll consider you one of my kids. Blessings Matt. Richard Small

[@DaddoInTigard]

disneylandinsideout.com/forums/disneyland/38998/indiana-jones-ride-decoder-card-is-back

[@kirkchan7726]

@@DaddoInTigard you're a good dad 💖

[@DaddoInTigard]

@@kirkchan7726 Thank you Kirk. I grew up without a father and my mother worked really hard, so I never had somebody to take a picture of me doing anything for most of my life. When I was thirty, I looked back on the blank spots and decided when our children were born (we have four sons) I would document their lives as much as possible with photos and videos. So, we have hundreds of hours of band concerts, football, wrestling, track, baseball, guitar, parades, vacations, parties, friends, weddings and on and on. Our boys are in their forties now, and several years ago, I converted the VHS and Hi-8 videos to digital and put the finished shows (as well as thousands of photos) on external hard drives and gave it to the boys for Christmas presents. I'm not sure if they spend any time looking at them, but at least they have visual proof of the things they remember that were important to them. Thanks for the kind words. Blessings. Richard

[@kirkchan7726]

@@DaddoInTigard 💖💖💖you're a really good dad 💖💖💖💖

[@SeanOHayer]

Kills me when they walk right past the interactive things in the queue (bamboo pole in the spike room... which was removed last we were there, May 5th, 2023... and the well rope) Lots of great memories having been lucky enough to grow up near Disneyland! Thanks for sharing this video.

[@Mr17051963]

I loved the first version of the Chamber of Destiny, with the 3 different doors!!!!

[@mokthemagicman]

5:15 you can see the extinct effect of the water & Ice falling from the ceiling. Wish they could bring that back.

[@taylorward3773]

+mokthemagicman Wonder why they got rid of it?

[@writerchick4eva]

+Taylor Ward I've been looking into this myself... apparently, the main problem is that, like a regular ice machine, the machine needed to be cleaned and maintained. However, during construction they never added a matinence way to get to it. It's in an odd area in the ceiling that's very cut off and hard to reach, even more so without an enterance. The melted cubes also failed to drain properly most of the time at the bottom. At some point, the machine broke down and it can't be fixed unless they physically rip it out of the ceiling which would close the ride entirely.

[@taylorward3773]

writerchick4eva When exactly did it stop working? I assume it wasn't too long after the attraction opened.

[@writerchick4eva]

I've seen another video from 1995 and the ice effect is shut off. Presumably, it ran for a few months in 95 when it opened and then broke later that year, never to be used again

[@mokthemagicman]

+writerchick4eva You are correct, sort of. The ice didn't always fall on every rider passing by. It was flash frozen but only fell when it was frozen and ready. People say it was every 10 cars or so but who really knows? The ice machine broke down within its first year that the attraction opened and is very hard to fix due to the location. A new machine needed to be replaced but the roof of the attraction would need to be cut out to install a new one. Too expensive to replace so they shut it town. The main tomb room used to be filled with water lit from underneath with red lights to simulate hot lava. Red lit water used to flow from the mouth of the center skull in the room (and in some other places) and down the rocks below. The ice from the ceiling would hit the water (and melt) and make a lava splash as well that could be seen on the last lower level of the ride just before you leave the main tomb room. Now all the water is gone and they use low level fine water misters and same red lights to simulate the lava. Guess having a water fountain was too hard to maintain as well.

[@abramm.4861]

This brings so many memories. I remember riding this with my mom in the 90s. It was her favorite ride(RIP Mom). I will say that the vechicle was more extreme when it rocked back then. They have toned it down now. Thanks for bringing back the nostaliga for all of us.

[@starwarsunfiltered7848]

My first time going on this ride was almost exactly on this date. I know this because my family used to go to Disneyland for mine or my sister's birthday, and we went shortly after my sister's that summer, which was around July 3rd.

[@DaddoInTigard]

Our family spent an entire week. We stayed at the Disneyland Hotel and took the monorail. Of all the rides, this and Splash Mountain are the ones our four sons seemed to head for the most. I liked the space ship one where the robot took you on his first flight and ended up fighting a space battle. What a hoot. We have fond memories of the place. Thanks for the comment. Merry Christmas.

[@jonathansutton7093]

Richard Small The space ride you're thinking of is Star Tours! (Star Wars-themed.) It came out in late 1987, and was upgraded with new footage in 3-D in 2011. I still have a book and t-shirt bought at the Star Trader store on that July 1995 trip. :)

[@DaddoInTigard]

Jonathan Sutton I find it pretty amazing that using Hydraulics under the platform for that ride Disney could make it feel like an actual encounter in space. normally I'm afraid of falling but that was sure fun. Thanks for telling me the name again.

[@VFKAdventureRabbit]

Thank you for this footage. I love being able to compare all the major and minor differences from over the years, such as Sallah's first safety spiel, the different special effects not in play today, and the different audio cues on the ride that you rarely hear today like "Watch out for anything that slithers." Also the underground root section of the ride that the jeep always stops at today, but you used to go past most times.

[@nickthetrex]

5:15 That falling rock effect is really ice cubes.

[@lukeskywalkerstudios941]

Sounded like you had a blast :)

[@AngrySockMan]

Can't believe no one touched the "Do not touch" pole in the queue. I totally did on my first trip through opening week. The booming sound effect was so loud people screamed!!

[@robertmaybeth3434]

That was a nice effort, thanks for trying. A bit dark in the ending, 1990's tech how it was...

[@p.terodactyl6848]

5:15, the falling rubble effect!

[@DaddoInTigard]

It was our four son's favorite ride. We came early one morning for some kind of special breakfast with the actors before the park opened (anybody could purchase the early ticket so it was actually not as if we were anything special... but the actors did walk around where we were sitting and we got a lot of photos ). As soon as breakfast was over we went to this ride and went through the line several times, each one as fast as the video showed. Finally, the park opened and the line filled up immediately. It was now an hour plus wait to go in again so we stopped riding it. None of us tired of it.

[@HYBECTIVE]

I love watching old videos like this thank u :D !!!

[@nathancruz9172]

HYBECTIVE me too.

[@willrobinson3662]

Fun Fact of the Day: this ride has Darth Vader and Han Solo’s voice from Star Wars.

[@Jellyyfishyy]

Actually Indy’s not voiced by Harrison Ford in the ride. There was some kind of contractual issue at the time of recording the voice lines for Indy and they couldn’t go forward using Ford’s voice. Mara is definitely voiced by James Earl Jones tho.

[@whatmeworry4713]

It really tickled my heart to catch a glimpse of how fast Fluffy used to strike. Nowadays he just lurches forward like he needs to puke instead of actually striking like a real cobra.

[@justimagine2403]

Tires screeching too. but the cameraman... is fired. Dang. The first guy holding the camera did way better. We even missed the hall of 3 doors. Still. Saw the falling rubble just like I did! I knew I wasn't making it up. I felt there were dead ends in there a lot too but I guess it was just the one. Best ride ever.

[@taylorward3773]

Wow! Thank you so much for uploading this!

[@gabethedinosaur95]

I was just one month old that year the ride opened. When I was little I remember being so scared of this ride . But now that I’m older and after watching the movies I love Indiana Jones

[@acornheart465]

I almost forgot about the little fake turn into the treasure room right after Mara, I wonder how long that’s been gone? I adore this ride (even in its downtrodden state) and I have really high hopes for them to restore it to its original glory.

[@sonicpressure]

love this!

[@velvetpoltergeist]

Yhis is the first time I've seen those doors close and I've been on that ride infinity times in my 29 years. Breaks my heart to know they neglected such an amazing ride so badly 😢 I hope with this refurb they take the time to fix everything. The interactive stuff in line, the ride itself, everything. They should be doing the same to Roger rabbit, especially since it's also closed because the toon town refurb. (But they probably won't, idk why disney hates Roger rabbit so much, it's a wonderful ip)

[@gotsomegetsome]

OMG this is so amazing. You can clearly see the crumbling rock effect!!!!! So excited!!

[@DaddoInTigard]

I'm pleased you like it TadaHiro Foto. Blessings.

[@CTladiesman]

I was three years old and my sisters one year year old when this ride opened up and I think my sister and I were both very scared of it. We were a little bit. My sister was terrified of the haunted mansion ride.

[@superpixelwarrior6893]

Back in November 2021 I went to Disneyland for the first time in several years for my birthday. And I went on the Indiana jones ride but was disappointed. I thought it was just an off-day where the ride would stop several times, the lava pool looked like it was drained, with no fog, the snake only opened its mouth. And I think the music wasn’t playing in the boulder scene. But turns out most of those are just the way the ride was at the time

[@L33W1NT3R5]

The pre show is SO much shorter now. I miss the longer version.

[@PolymerJones]

I went on this in the 90s and I remember it being LOUD AF

[@Joopitor]

I went on it yesterday and it still is lmao

[@adrianceja1818]

Wow, crazy how different this was back then. I wonder how it would be on the ride if it was still bumpier/rougher

[@skrillboystgdmvids9418]

Imagine if the new refurbishment restored the ride to it's 100% fully functional Glory (with some new additions to the ride and little tweaks to the story) then we would have another big great Adventure ounce again in The Temple of the Forbidden Eye.

[@chipramos2066]

That will most definitely be a dream come true for fans!

[@HauntFreak13]

They’d have to tear it down and rebuild for some sections

[@Ancalagon272]

Hey! This was filmed on my birthday! I mean 5 years before I was born. But still

[@srvfan42]

Don't step on the diamond staped shones.

[@DaddoInTigard]

You are correct. A terrible fate awaits those who fail to heed your warning. You may have saved many lives today.

[@rainierbq]

Woah, I was only 1 year old when this video existed.

[@halfunkbass2966]

Wow and no camera phone too!!!

[@TheGrizNation]

That song at the beginning is in Fallout New Vegas!

[@jared1804]

Well, you can’t see a dang thing on this video.

[@dariabeh]

That seems like an amazing family experience! P.S. my parents never took me to Disney and they always insulted me. I wish I could have a family as connected as you have! My husband left me 30 years ago 😢

[@GG69355]

Gee, I wonder why! You seem like such a delight 😏

[@dariabeh]

@@GG69355 If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say it at all. This is a community website , so we should act like a community. 😒😒🫠

[@GG69355]

@@dariabeh your cats are uuuuuuuuugly

[@360zm4]

Camera man at times, sounds like Indy.

[@DaddoInTigard]

When a ride is that much fun you should expect the cameraman to show it with his comments. For me... It makes the video that much more enjoyable.

[@CoriLane3060]

Just rode a week ago, looks the exact same. I love these kind of videos, looking at parks back in day 👍🏽

[@nathancruz9172]

6:00 🐍

[@DaddoInTigard]

That looks a bit like a snake... what does it mean?

[@nathancruz9172]

Richard Small 6:06 cobra.

[@Lusirin-hq1wl5uq4p]

1995年！？俺まだ生まれてねぇや

[@rickyquinteros7100]

Is it true that is was bumpier back then?

[@ColeWalker]

Yes, they reduced the violent movement of the cars as they were slowly wrecking themselves.

[@slob5041]

Very much yes, it used to really hurt. A real comparison nowadays would be HP and the forbidden journey but it's still not close.

[@MeowMeow_95_]

My favorite part is when you filmed that woman’s shirt the whole entire time in front of you…. Amazing rare footage 🙄