Expedition Everest in Animal Kingdom is an exhilarating expedition through the icy Himalayas overseen by Himalayan Escapes – Tours and Expeditions. For years, the Royal Anandapur Tea Company shipped its tea via train through this very mountain. After mysterious accidents, the railroad was closed and fell into disarray. Now that the Himalayan Escapes has reopened the mountain, it is your turn to explore the mountain, but beware! This area is known to be home to the Yeti, a mysterious snow monster that will not appreciate your presence.
Halfway through your journey, the train screeches to a halt when the available track disappears. It looks as if an animal tore it in two! All the sudden, your train launches backward and picks up speed as it twists and winds itself through the mountain. And you realize that the legend is true as you are hurled down an 80 foot drop to the base of the mountain to escape the snow monster.
Length of Ride: 4 minutes
Height Requirement: 44 inches
Scare Factor: It is a roller coaster that also goes backwards.
Rider Switch (for small kids): Yes
Weather Procedure: Closed in the rain.
Ride Photo: No.
Flash Photography: Good luck!
Queue: This queue is amazing and modeled after a Napalese Village. You board a train headed for the top of Mount Everest but beware that there is a monster that protects the mountain.
Extra Magic Hours: Open for Morning Magic Hours
Fastpass: Yes
When to Ride: Early in the morning or late in the evening or with a Fastpass.
Our Touring Strategy: We always grab a Fastpass.
Secrets/Tips and Tricks:
- This ride has a Single Rider line. This can be faster than waiting in the regular line, but your party will likely not ride together.
- Ride in the back and look to your left behind you and you will see the Contemporary as you go up the steep incline.
- Ride reaches up to 50 mph.
- There are over 8,000 artifacts from Nepal in the queue. Each time you ride focus on a different area and see how many you can spot.
- When the attraction first opened, the Yeti actually moved. But something went wrong (maybe it is actually a haunted mountain) and the Yeti no longer moves. The issue with repairing him is that the mountain was built around the Yeti. Don’t worry! He’s still freaky!
- Ride at night for a completely different experience.
- In the queue, the pictures of the teams who have journeyed over the mountain in attempts to find safe passage for the train are actually pictures of the Imaginners who traveled to Nepal to help make this attraction feel realistic.
- You can request to be in row 1. Just be prepared to wait on a few additional trains before it is your turn.
- Just before the train goes backwards, you can spot part of Epcot and Hollywood Studios. Can you make out the park icons?
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Campbell Miller says
When I went, there was a ride photo taken, was there not a while ago?
Lyn says
When I visited in March, 2016 the single rider line was not open. Major disappointment, as I did not have a fast pass for it.
Caroline says
The front is the best! Its a great roller coaster for Disney. In Sept two years ago we got to ride 3 or 4 times in the front. Single rider is a great option if you don’t mind. We will be back in November and after lunch at Yak and Yeti we will be in this line!!!!!
Lorie Liptak says
It is well worth it to wait in line, even if you choose not to ride with your family. The queue is like a museum!
Jen says
There is a ride photo! Included in photo pass plus too!
Jeanie says
It does have a ride photo near the end. My boys thought this ride was ok but could do without it until this year when we got to ride on the front two rows! They kept getting us back in line to see if we could get the front again!
Shannon says
Loved this ride! There was a ride photo, I believe at the first drop.