Attraction Spotlight: Expedition Everest at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Years ago during our first trip to Disney World as a family of four, I remember wandering past the entrance to Expedition Everest at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. I confess it wasn’t our best moment. My young kids were approaching full meltdown. I was pushing an awkward, EMPTY double-wide stroller that both kids decided to hate mere moments after I rented it. While navigating the cumbersome behemoth along the pathway through Asia, I spotted a small “Single Rider Entrance” sign to my left.
“You should go!” I implored my husband while subtly nodding toward the sign so my adventurous but too-short-to-ride daughter wouldn’t notice. “What is it?” he asked suspiciously. I mumbled something about it being an escape route a shorter line for a roller coaster and encouraged him to go. After a few more assurances, he did.
Less than fifteen minutes later, my husband rejoined us with a huge smile. “I’ve got them,” he said, while discreetly nodding toward the kids. “You should go too.”
So I did. If you ever get a chance to ride Expedition Everest at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, you should too, even if you’re not trying to avoid a toddler meltdown. Today’s post takes a closer look at Disney’s Expedition Everest.
Overview
Let’s start with the attraction’s full title, which is technically Expedition Everest: The Legend of the Forbidden Mountain. It’s a long one, but it appropriately captures the full theme of the ride.
Disney first opened Expedition Everest at Animal Kingdom in 2006. It’s been delighting guests ever since, albeit with a few minor alterations. Today Everest remains a unique ride for its incredible theming, entertaining waiting space and overall fun ride experience.
Oh, and that single rider line is a great bonus too.
Theming
Similar to the acclaimed Mt. Everest in Nepal from which the attraction takes its name, Disney’s Everest soars high above the treeline of Animal Kingdom. Not THAT high of course, just under 200 feet versus 29,000 feet, but you get the idea. It’s the tallest attraction at Disney World, mostly because anything taller would need a theme-busting pole on its peak to abide by Florida law. The height makes Everest a beautiful backdrop and easy to spot from multiple locations around the park.
The theme, which seems more complicated now that I’m trying to summarize it in print, is essentially a journey through the Himalayas. Guests join a tour hosted by Himalayan Escapes to explore the famous mountain and its surrounding peaks in search of the fabled Yeti.
Waiting Space
Of course there’s more to it than that. The meticulously decorated waiting space fills in the other details beautifully. Personally, I think it’s one of the best places to wait in line at Disney World because there’s just so much to see!
Shortly after entering the main entrance, guests encounter a small reception area for the Himalayan Escapes travel company.
Then they head back outdoors and follow covered corridors around a small courtyard complete with a Yeti-inspired fountain. Depending on how long the line is, you may circle a small temple and a few uncovered areas too.
I love the detail here, from the weathered flags to the crumbling stone walls to the overgrown greenery.
Next, the line moves back indoors and into a small shop of sorts with gear you may need on your journey. The space is lined with equipment from floor to ceiling so its difficult to see it all.
From the shop you enter the biggest section of the queue, a (fictitious?!?) museum highlighting collectibles and artifacts from previous expeditions.
Guests wander by tables of worn equipment from other Everest travelers.
Shiny display cases contain masks, sculptures and other artwork from the region. Of course there are also newspaper headlines, various photographs and other items to document the famous Yeti’s existence.
After the museum, guests travel to the final section of the queue where they meet the rest of their party. Rotating signs on the wall in this space promote food and gear travelers may find helpful (and humorous?) on their journey.
Overall it’s an entertaining space that builds excitement for the main attraction and makes the wait in line seem to pass quickly.
The FastPass line offers a condensed version of the supply shop and museum. The Single Rider Entrance is noticeably less ornate, but takes guests pretty much straight to the boarding area.
Ride experience
Speaking of which, the real fun begins after boarding. Guests travel on weathered rail cars around a few curves before starting their ascent. Technically they pass through an abandoned village during the climb, complete with additional artifacts and remnants from past inhabitants. At this part of the trip you can catch a quick glance of the Tower of Terror at Hollywood Studios in the distance to the left and the floating mountains of Pandora to the right.
Look fast though, because the train continues to wind and climb before stopping rather abruptly between the mountains. Here an animatronic bird makes a maniacal call as travelers notice the track in front of them has been ripped away.
The rest of the ride is an exciting blur of falling backwards, forwards and around the mountain. The biggest drop stretches nearly 80 feet. Explorers get a few fleeting glances of the Yeti too, once as a shadow on the mountain wall and another as huge (and non-moving!) animatronic shortly before returning to the boarding area.
Expedition Everest is one of a handful of true thrill rides at Disney World. It’s also the only roller coaster to take guests backwards. Well, at least until the new Guardians of the Galaxy attraction opens at Epcot in 2021.
Other stuff you may want to know
Despite it’s status as a thrill ride, Everest offers a fairly low (44″) height requirement. That means little kids are capable of riding the attraction before they may be ready to actually do so.
If you and your own Disney World expedition team are ready to face the challenge, you’ll find the lines the shortest first thing in the morning and again late in the evening. It’s a high capacity ride so even on crowded days the wait rarely extends past 50 minutes for the majority of the day. Even so, it’s a great use of a FastPass selection at Animal Kingdom since the park offers limited options.
As I mentioned in the opening, you could also consider the “single rider” line. This line, as you can guess from the title, matches parties of one with other groups to fill in any available seats. It tends to move quickly and efficiently and is perfect for those that want to try the attraction while the rest of their party waits elsewhere.
Finally, Expedition Everest is one of 13 attractions at Disney World to offer on-ride photography. These photographs (if you want to see them?!?) appear automatically in your My Disney Experience account if you’re wearing a Magic Band. Otherwise, you can preview them at the conclusion of the ride in Everest’s fun and unique gift shop.
Summary
So with that, I’ll wrap it up. I hope you enjoyed this closer look at Expedition Everest: The Legend of the Forbidden Mountain. Overall, it’s a fun ride with exquisite theming and an entertaining waiting space. For thrill seekers and Yeti-hunters, it’s definitely worth considering for your Disney World vacation.
Until next time, add a little (Yeti) magic to your world!