Josh D’Amaro Visits Tropical Americas and Shares a Close-Up Look at the Indiana Jones Temple

Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro just walked three of Walt Disney World’s biggest construction projects, and the photos he shared give us a new ground-level look at the Indiana Jones temple taking shape in Tropical Americas at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. D’Amaro toured Tropical Americas, with Walt Disney Imagineering teams, then posted about it on Instagram.

The temple facade is far enough along now that you can see the scale and detail of its Mayan-inspired exterior. Here’s what the photos show and why they matter.

Quick Summary

• Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro toured Tropical Americas, Monstropolis, and Disney’s Lakeshore Lodge with Imagineers.
• His Instagram post includes a ground-level look at the Indiana Jones temple facade in Tropical Americas.
• The facade shows detailed, Mayan-inspired stonework, with scaffolding still surrounding much of it.
• D’Amaro said the ideas, details, and stories “are all coming together.”
• No new opening dates were shared during the visit.

What D’Amaro Said

In his Instagram post, D’Amaro wrote about the energy at Walt Disney World and the experience of walking the sites with the people building them. He said he got to walk Monstropolis, Tropical Americas, and Disney’s Lakeshore Lodge with Imagineers, “hear what they’re dreaming up, and watch it become real.”

He also thanked the Walt Disney Imagineering team and closed with, “I can’t wait for you to experience it all.”

It’s an upbeat post, which is what you’d expect from a CEO. The useful part for fans is the photos, which show more of the Indiana Jones temple than we’ve seen from the ground before.

A Closer Look at the Indiana Jones Temple

Most of what we’ve seen of the Indiana Jones attraction so far has come from aerial photos and from a distance. D’Amaro’s photos are taken right at the base of the temple, and they show how much detail is going into the facade.

The exterior has a Mayan-inspired design, with carved-looking stonework and layered sections that step up the structure. Scaffolding still surrounds much of it, so it’s clearly not finished. But the scale is obvious, and the level of detail suggests this will be one of the more striking structures at Animal Kingdom when it’s done.

We’ve been tracking this project for a while. Back in September, we covered the Indiana Jones Tropical Americas construction as painted facade sections started going up. Earlier, we got a first look at the model for the Indiana Jones attraction. These new photos show how far the temple has come since then.

What Is Tropical Americas?

Tropical Americas is the new land replacing most of DinoLand U.S.A. at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. It’s built around two headline attractions: a new Indiana Jones adventure set in the temple you see in these photos, and an Encanto attraction inspired by the Madrigal family. The land is designed to feel like a lush, Central and South American setting, which fits the park’s focus on real-world places and nature.

Disney hasn’t announced an exact opening date for Tropical Americas. Until it does, treat any specific date you see online with caution.

Why the Visit Matters

A CEO walking construction sites doesn’t change the schedule on its own. But it does signal where the company’s attention is. Tropical Americas, Monstropolis, and Lakeshore Lodge are three of the largest investments at Walt Disney World right now, and seeing the top executive spend time on all three in one visit is a sign of how central they are to Disney’s plans for the resort.

For fans, the practical takeaway is the photos. Ground-level shots of the Indiana Jones temple give a much clearer sense of what the finished land will look like than aerials alone.

What This Means for Your Trip

If you’re visiting Disney’s Animal Kingdom soon, Tropical Americas is still behind construction walls. You won’t see much of the temple from inside the park. Plan your day around the attractions that are open now, and check the park map in the My Disney Experience app for current walls and closures.

The Bottom Line

Josh D’Amaro’s tour of Tropical Americas, gave us the best ground-level look yet at the Indiana Jones temple at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The Mayan-inspired facade is detailed, massive, and still wrapped in scaffolding. No new dates came out of the visit, but the photos show steady progress. We’ll keep tracking Tropical Americas as construction continues.

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Meet the Author: Nate Bishop

I’m a die-hard Disney fan with 38 years of visits under my belt, having stepped into Disney World 120+ times. Proud to be a Disney Annual Passholder, a Vacation Club member since ’92, a Castaway Club Member, and a runDisney enthusiast. Oh, and I’ve graduated from the Disney College of Knowledge. Need Disney insights or planning tips? I’m your guy!

Photos via Josh D’Amaro on Instagram.