A Walt Disney World employee was knocked to the ground Tuesday while trying to stop a 400-pound prop boulder that rolled off its track toward seated spectators at the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular in Orlando, Florida, according to Disney. A second worker intervened and stopped the boulder before it reached the audience.
Disney said Wednesday it would not disclose the injured employee’s condition, citing privacy reasons, and that it was reviewing why the prop moved off its track.
The incident drew attention to the physical hazards facing workers at live stunt attractions, where large mechanical props operate in close proximity to both employees and guests during multiple daily performances.
What happened
The boulder — a 400-pound (181-kilogram) prop used in the attraction at Disney’s Hollywood Studios — moved off its track during a scheduled performance on Tuesday and began rolling toward audience members, the Associated Press reported. The first worker who stepped in to halt the boulder was knocked to the ground by its weight. A second worker then stopped the prop before it reached spectators.
One of the attraction’s remaining scheduled shows on Tuesday was canceled following the incident. By Wednesday, performances resumed but were modified to exclude the prop boulder entirely.
Disney’s response
“We’re focused on supporting our cast member, who is recovering,” Disney said in a statement. “Safety is at the heart of what we do, and that element of the show will be modified as our safety team completes a review of what happened.”
Disney did not describe the nature or extent of the worker’s injuries.
About the attraction
The Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular recreates an early scene from the first Indiana Jones film, “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” including a large boulder sequence central to the film’s opening. The show is a longtime feature at Disney’s Hollywood Studios park.