The Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular

I've written briefly in some of my other Disney travel articles about how you shouldn't miss the Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular. But I honestly feel like the show is so remarkable, that I want to take the time to tell you just exactly why you should take the time to see it during your Walt Disney World vacation. As always, I keep my park reviews as spoiler-free as possible. I want to convince you to go see the show, not ruin it for you.

First of all, I notice that a lot of people pass up the live shows at Walt Disney World. They don't like the idea of waiting for something that isn't a ride. But if you were going to skip anything, I'd tell you to skip the parades over the shows. Don't get me wrong, I love the parades! But the shows typically play out like live movies. All the Disney special effects teams have worked hard to make their live shows the absolute best of the best. They work on the same level for kids and adults, and that's a rare accomplishment, even for Disney.

From the lighting to the score to the stunts, these aren't your typical amphitheater theme-park live shows. They're of a high quality that you would definitely pay good money to see if they came to a local venue where you live. So for those that aren't convinced, think of the value you're getting by being able to go see such high-caliber shows at no extra cost to you. Admission to a Disney park doesn't come cheap anymore, so take advantage of the shows! The more you do on your vacation, the better value your ticket becomes. (I also recommend that you do not miss, "Fantasmic" which shows at the same park as the "Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular", Disney's Hollywood Studios.

So, let's discuss the "Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular". For starters, anyone who loves the Indiana Jones movies should definitely see this. No excuses. There are many stunt recreations, all from, "Raiders of the Lost Ark". But they don't try to fool you into believing that their stuntmen are actually Harrison Ford. This saves the show from any cheese-factor. They embrace the idea of taking you behind the scenes to show you how stuntmen do their jobs.

However, at this show, the stuntmen likely work way harder than any stuntmen do on a film set. Because they perform multiple stunts, right in a row, sometimes a handful of times in one day, in the Florida heat. I was lucky enough to speak to Jeff Robinson, a stunt man in the Indiana Jones role from the show in 2007, and he couldn't even count how many times he'd dropped from the ceiling or dived from rooftop to rooftop in that theater. They're the hardest working stuntmen in showbiz who work at live shows. They get fewer breaks and often times they're working without a net and with minimal safety precautions, unlike what happens on a film-set.

This show is best seen at night, because then the full effect of the beautiful lighting can be seen, and the drama of the on-set fires can really be appreciated for the spectacle that they are. The music of John Williams always gives me goosebumps, so just imagine it being pumped through the speakers of a giant amphitheater. There are multiple stunt performers and acrobats, as well as stunts involving mechanics, props, high jumps, and as mentioned, fire. It's an incredibly well-rounded show, and it's well worth the effort of grabbing a Fastpass a few hours before showtime. Much like the Indiana Jones films themselves, there's not much cynicism to be found on the stage. Sure, there's plenty of humor. But there's not too much winking and nudging going on. This makes the experience feel just that much more magic, and the crew works together in a way that makes it seem like they're really a family.

In 2007 when I got to speak to Mr. Robinson, I asked him if all that camaraderie was an act. He mentioned that it wasn't. These people work together, even if they do so in different combinations on some days, all the time. It's their day job, and just like the cast of any other show, they have bonded. I guess you really get to know somebody if you have to vault over a rooftop with them every day. What a gig.

I simply can't recommend this show enough, and I honestly think it's a big reason why you should plan a vacation to Walt Disney World in the first place. As we all know, Disney runs its park in a sometimes unpredictable fashion. Who knows how much longer the show will appear at Disney's Hollywood Studios? So make the trip and take in this truly thrilling show while you still have the chance. The seats are comfortable, the show is a decent length, and the atmosphere is always one that's very energized and never annoying like some other shows you may have seen. The stunts and set-ups of the Indiana Jones films are truly a sight to behold when you get to watch them unfold right in front of your very eyes. Go see it! (Especially you, movie geeks.)