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Within days of the conclusion of the D23 Expo, Disneyland debuted a new special effect on the popular Adventureland attraction, Indiana Jones Adventure: Temple of the Forbidden Eye.
When riders ignore instructions and gaze into the eyes of Mara, all chaos ensues, much as it has since the ride first opened in 1995. But now Mara is even madder at that whole staring-into-the-eyes thing, erupting with new eye-catching effects to launch passengers into the high-energy ride.
Video: New Mara effect on the Indiana Jones Adventure at Disneyland
(Video by Jeremiah Daws)
Why Disney decided to wait until two days after the D23 Expo ended before showing off this new effect is anyone’s guess. Mara’s new voice has been met with mixed reactions from the Disney fan community, so perhaps Imagineers wanted to wait until most of the tens of thousands of fans who showed up to the Expo had already left. Or perhaps the effect was simply not quite ready yet. Either way, one of Disneyland’s biggest rides now boasts this new upgrade, utilizing projections in a new way that could be just a stepping stone for what guests can expect out of future attractions.