Indiana Jones Adventure: Temple of the Crystal Skull

**Indiana Jones Adventure: Temple of the Crystal Skull** is a thrill attraction in *Tokyo DisneySea* themed to the *Indiana Jones* film-franchise. The attraction has backstory connections to the *Tower of Terror* franchise.

## History

### Backstory

The *Temple of the Crystal Skull* was a large mesoamerican pyramid structure in the Lost River Delta of Cusco, Peru. The temple was built in tribute to a mysterious entity known as, "The Crystal Skull" which had great plasma and telekinetic powers. The temple also held a temple to the serpent deity Quetzalcoatl and the legendary *Fountain of Youth*. Through unknown means, the temple was lost and left in ruins where it was reclaimed by the jungle.

In 1931, the temple was rediscovered by world-famous archaeologist Indiana Jones using half of a map he obtained. Eventually, Indiana disappeared within the temple leaving his assistant Paco to run the excavation team. In Jones' absence, Paco lead tours of the temple to obtain more funds for the team with guests assuming the roles of tourists in one of these tours.

## Tower of Terror connections

### Tower of Terror

In the *Hotel Hightower* is a photograph of the evil Harrison Hightower III, smoking a cigar outside of the *Temple of the Crystal Skull*, presumably on his 1883 expedition in the Lost River Delta. There is a mural of this expedition in the Hotel Hightower, showing Hightower and Smelding robbing the temple from *Raging Spirits*. Hightower's main portrait also shows him alongside what appears to be a crystal skull with glowing red eyes, similar to the sentient Crystal Skull from the attraction

Billamongawonga's asserted grandson, "Trader Sam" also has a framed photograph of himself outside of the Temple of the Crystal Skull during its excavation by Indiana Jones whom he was close friends with. The *Piranha Aviation* sea-plane which Jones used in the region is modelled after planes used by Jones' aviator Jock Lindsey who would go on to become a member of the *Society of Explorers and Adventurers*.

### The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror

The 1931 issue of *First International News* covering the disappearance of the Herman family in the Hollywood Tower Hotel while trying to reach the Tip Top Club had the front-page news of, "Lost Temple Found!" with a story of how Indiana Jones discovered the Temple of the Crystal Skull.

### Other connections

#### Disney's Hollywood Studios

Indiana Jones is one of the classic movie characters referenced in the fictionalized Hollywood depiction of this theme-park. Most notably, he appeared in the *Great Movie Ride* excavating the Ark of the Covenant alongside Sallah and in *Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular* where he is portrayed by in-universe Hollywood actors on a set.

## Trivia

* In main Indiana Jones continuity, the Crystal Skulls are identified as the telepathic skulls of interdimensional beings whom studied humanity throughout Earth's history and made outposts in mesoamerican cities. Additionally, the Fountain of Youth is implied to be multiple water-sources with similar properties found across the world, and Quetzlcoatl was a large snake-like creature of possibly interdimensional origins which birthed other snakes and whom Indiana killed in 1947.

## Gallery

A prominent chamber of the templeThe Crystal Skull