You'll flip over Expedition Everest
The coaster hurtles backwards into the mountain's dark void. The track banks, and the positive G-forces push the lap bars into riders and the riders into their seats. It's a strange and disorienting sensation to be blindly racing backwards and to feel the strong gravitational pull. Riders' thrill tolerances and coaster savvy will help determine the ratio of giddiness to dread they will experience.
Yeti encounter
Before returning to the station, the coaster makes one last pass through the mountain, and the enormous yeti takes a convincing swipe at riders with his oversized paw. With the coaster flying past, the encounter lasts a mere second or two, but the effect is wild. The yeti is Disney's most sophisticated animatronic figure to date, according to Rohde.
I got to experience Expedition Everest at night, something that most guests won't get to try, since the park generally closes before dusk. And that's a shame. The mountain has dramatic lighting against the evening sky. When the train ascends the lift hill, it casts an eerie shadow on the opposing cliff wall. And the cloak of darkness envelops riders in inky blackness when they enter inside the mountain. (Some light seeps in during daylight hours.)
Disney originally planned to feature real, extinct, and mythical animals as it was developing Animal Kingdom. When it opened, many criticized the park for its paucity of attractions. Expedition Everest, which reportedly cost $100 million, marks the first Animal Kingdom ride to acknowledge imaginary creatures. It showcases the fine art of Disney storytelling and hopefully is the first of many to feature fabled beasts.
Expedition Everest Photo Gallery
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