-
More interesting bits about this amazing Attraction -
In the interior queue is a circular area known as the Rotunda.
It features a large graphic design painted on the domed ceiling of Mara and his worthy (and un-worthy) worshipers.
There is a story that the Rotunda was originally designed to be a type of time measuring place, a cross between a sundial and a Aztec calendar.
Sunlight would come in and shine on different parts of a graphic piece in this area at different times of the day and year.
Think of it as being Disneyland*s own version of Stonehenge!
Because the show building was not quite sitting in the right place, when the sun shined in from a space in the stone Temple ceiling, it did*nt hit the parts of the graphic as it was hoped.
So a simulation was created instead that is there today.
The *calendar* is the large intricately painted stone tablet above the pit where you pull the rope to upset a moody archeologist.
The *sunlight* you see coming into the Rotunda by day is actually a lighting effect.
In the evening, it is lit different...much like the *sunlight* that seems to come through the Temple*s cracked ceiling in the loading area.
Indiana*s office, also located in the queue, is packed full of neat finds.
Here one will find numbers and names on the shipping crates that refer to his films, as well as letters from Abner Ravenwood (Marion*s father).
Disney fans will appreciate seeing on Indy*s desk a 1930s issue of Life Magazine with Mickey Mouse on the cover.
Cast Member Tradition - ALWAYS make a offering to the *Breakdown Buddha* before opening the Attraction for the day!
Entering the loading Station, to your left, is a Buddha statue on a crate.
Cast Members place offerings to the Buddha and rub its head in the hope the Attraction will run smoothly all day with no major breakdowns or issues.
Coins are usually placed in the Buddha*s hands as *offerings*.
While on the ride-through portion of your journey, after you enter the *Hall of Promise* and enrage the golden Mara idol, you enter what is known as the *Tunnel of Torment*.
The most memorable feature of this Temple passageway is the crackling *lightning* that flashes across the walls around you.
There was originally more to this experience -
What was to originally happen was that the chamber would be filled with fog effects to simulate running into a cloud.
The rocking motion of the Transport, coupled with the *lighting* effects, was supposed to give travelers the sensation of being lifted up by a cloud of magical power from Mara...as he sends you to the Gates of Doom.
When your Transport first enters the main Show room showcasing the huge stone Mara idol engulfed in firey flames, explorers will often see a beam of light shoot out of Mara*s eye and hit the pathway in an area near the front of your vehicle.
A terrific effect, but originally even more impressive -
During the first month or so after the Attraction*s opening, the beam would hit the ceiling in this area and *rocks* would tumble down.
The effect was great...and the *rock debris* were actually pieces of ice colored with tea. These *ice cubes* were made by a ice machine mounted above and timed to drop every time Mara shot his gaze across the room as a Transport entered the scene.
Ice had the same visual look and consistency as falling rocks, and would not damage the vehicles or interiors of the Show scenes.
Best of all, the ice would be melted by the present fire effects in the pit and the water would then be pumped back up to the ice machine to be re-used.
Genius idea.
Unfortunately, the effect stopped being used at some point shortly after that first month of operation as the ice would pile up in the fire pit below the scene entrance and caused some issues with maintenance.
Sadly, the effect was turned off, and Mara*s laser-like gaze was re-adjusted to strike the ground near the Transport pathway instead.
The on-ride *Mummy Chamber* has a humorous touch many miss in the dimly lit corridors while speeding by -
The famous skeleton wearing Mickey Ears located to your left as you enter the room....named *Bones*.
The custom embroidered ears were added by a Cast Member some years ago.
A photo example -
The Animatronic Indiana*s that appear during the ride-through portion of the experience were made in a unique way for this Attraction.
Instead of wearing the traditionally used fabric clothing to dress figures in, Indy is instead completely sculpted from head to toe in his famous attire.
It was felt by the designers that his animation movements would look better and more realistic in the settings and situations that the ride experience calls for if he had sculpted-in *clothing* instead of real, fabric clothing.
Face casts were said to have been made of Harrison Ford to insure a authentic looking Indy, but alas, the voicework done for the character was not done by him.
Which brings us to.. why Indiana Jones was not voiced by the actor who played the role in the films -
(one version of the tale)
Harrison Ford had originally agreed to voice the three Indiana Animatronic characters but would only do it on two conditions - that he not be asked to appear on, or do any voice recordings for the special Super Bowl Half-TIme Show being planned.
The Show was to be a part of Disney*s marketing push that year to promote the new *Indiana Jones Adventure* Attraction, and had segments themed to the character Harrison had portrayed.
He did*nt want to be involved in the Super Bowl show, but was very positive about being involved in the making of the Attraction.
He was scheduled for a Saturday recording session, and the studio was rented and ready to go.
However, someone in marketing over at the studio who was not aware of the agreement between Disney and Harrison mistakenly sent a script over to Mr. Ford of the Super Bowl Show dialog instead of the Attraction script. This happened three days before the scheduled recording session.
Rather disappointed that the one simple request he had made was apparently not being kept, Harrison outright canceled his studio appearance just one day before.
And thus a alternative to voice the character figures had to be sought out.
A voice actor was brought in to provide a replacement, thus the speaking lines were recorded that we hear from Indiana today while riding by.
