From just about anywhere near the Animal Kingdom, you can see the snowy peak of Mount Everest. And the closer you get to the ride, the more you believe you have actually been transported to the Himalayas. Starting in the ride queue, you feel like you’re waiting to start your trek to find the Yeti – research, pictures, and artifacts from previous expeditions are there for you to explore! Bells ring the entire way, prayer flags are prevalent, tributes to the Yeti abound, the attention to detail Disney used when re-creating the villages near Everest is breathtaking. It’s no wonder the Guinness Book of World Records lists this as the most expensive roller coaster ever built!
When you board the rickety tram that will take you into the mountains, the anticipation starts to mount. Will this thing really keep me safe from the Yeti?!? You start by ascending into a big temple arch, and as you go up the incline, if you look over your shoulder, you can see the park and the world disappearing below you, and you really feel like you’re high up in the peaks of the mountain.
You expect a huge drop after the high ascension, but it’s not coming yet! You start with a graceful (though fast) ride through the mountain
and end up at the top of another hill. But wait, you can’t go any further – the track isn’t there! You feel the frigid mountain air and see the remnants of flags from previous expeditions.
And then you hear the Yeti! Things are not going as planned! And you’re off – backwards this time! You go through a tunnel and see the outline of the Yeti ripping up track. Then back forwards, in and out of caves, until you finally meet up with the Yeti himself! He swoops down at you with his menacing glare, and you fear he’ll tear you to shreds.
The ride comes to an end, and you’re home safe, but the remains of the adrenaline rush will stay with you for hours!
This ride is high speed, forwards and backwards. A great ride for the parent-swap if you’re traveling with kids, as the wait times can be long. Or opt for fast pass. On this ride, you still get a chance to see the pre-ride queue items in the fast pass line, but you can view them if you wish or speed past to the ride itself. This ride is a definite don’t-miss for all roller coaster buffs!
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Nicole is a more recent convert to Disney, and has her husband Corey to thank. As a kid, she went a couple of times and had fun, but didn’t really catch the “Disney bug” until her husband finally convinced her to go in March of 2003. Since then, she goes every opportunity she can, and every time finds something new to explore! She’s a proud Disney Vacation Club owner and mother of two Disneyphiles – ages 5 (Maggie) and 2 (Max). She helps friends and family to plan Disney vacations all year round, and when she can’t be at Disney, she surrounds herself with it. Her house and office have plenty of pictures and souvenirs covering them, so she’s never far away from the magic!
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