Expedition Everest progress?

[Corryn]

Hello,
Anyone know any new info on it?

[WDWHound]

The latest rumors are that there is a small chance they might begin test rides as early as December. It is definitely on schedule, if not a little bit ahead.

[patsal]

In February the rebar was all in place, the track seemed to eb as well. They were begining to place the skin on. The que area was being built and it seemed to be right on track for an on time or even slightly ahead of schedule opening.

[BWVPam]

When is it scheduled to be open???


Pam

[wdwgoofeeee]

I think it's supposed to open early in 2006.

[mitros]

Spring 2006 at this point.

[miseponine]

Here's a pic I took when I was down there 2 weeks ago.

http://community.webshots.com/photo/294510353/294523060ULCwYf

Seems to be progressing quickly.

[cam-89]

Wow! It looks like it's getting there, alright! Did anyone else hear that there is supposed to be an 80 foot verticle drop on this ride? Jeeze... And I was afraid to go on Splash Mountain!

[Hnymoon@Dixie]

Here's a pic I took when I was down there 2 weeks ago.

http://community.webshots.com/photo/294510353/294523060ULCwYf

Seems to be progressing quickly.

From the PIC it looks like the runaway train! I'm sure its much larger in person LOL!

[April76]

Wow! It looks like it's getting there, alright! Did anyone else hear that there is supposed to be an 80 foot verticle drop on this ride? Jeeze... And I was afraid to go on Splash Mountain!


That's right -- 8 story drop!!! (Compared to Splash's 5 story drop)

Sounds like FUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :teeth:

[StephaBabe50]

From what I saw when we went down there (begining of March) it looks like a ride I have seen at Kings Dominion in Virginia. In the begining of the ride you shoot straight up out of the top of a volcano (very fun). Not sure but maybe Everest will be kinda the same. Except not a volcano ;)

I cant wait to ride it :hyper:

[BelleChick]

I heard there was going to be five different tracks.....is that true?

[rwodonnell]

The first thing I noticed when we were there in mid-March was that we could see it as we drove up to AK's parking lot. It definitely looked taller than the tree as well, though you could see both as we drove in. It is big, and so little else there is big, it makes it look even bigger.

[magicmouse2]

I am really looking forward to this. It will help me coax dh and ds into coming to AK more. :cool1:

[Lil_Tink]

I saw it at AK and it is getting taller and taller.. Wow is that going to be a scary ride :cold:

[jazstar87]

wow they are working on it. When i was there in nov. it look like they were just about to finshing up the track, now it is actually covered. i so excited. i want to ride it!!!

[eeyore0062]

The final height will be the same as Tower of Terror... 199 ft. The drop is 80 ft, but not completely vertical.... that would be straight up and down... it will definitely be at an angle (if you want a 90 degree vertical drop, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay will have it for you this summer!). There are no inversions or loops of any kind, and I have heard that the height restriction is slated to be the same as Space Mountain at 44", making it suitable for most families. It will go forwards and backwards.

[Lil_Tink]

Coolio.. That is gonna be nice.. I personal think they should have made some inversions and loops but thats just me :grouphug:

[mitros]

I believe that 199 foot height has something to do with the fact that if they go over that, they will have to do some sort of extra lighting or warning beacons of some sort because of aircraft overflights, and they do not want to take away from the esthetics of a ride by adding all of the extra accutraments on top.

[Min and Bill]

Here is a link to 58 pics we took of the construction on April 17, 2005.

http://www.minandbills.net/disney/trippics/200504/g-everest.asp

Under the pictures are links to previous groups of construction pictures taken every 6 to 10 weeks dating back to February 2004.

[Original19]

Don't be so sure that the ride will open early just because it looks like it's ahead of schedule. Need I remind you of Test Track?

Florida law says that anything above 199 feet needs a beacon at the top for airplanes. Still... 199 feet tall makes Everest the tallest mountain in Florida; just beating Thunder Mountain (which is 197 feet tall) and Space Mountain (which is 180 feet tall). The ride looks just TOO cool!

Any news about the possibilty of the "Villian Mountain" in the Magic Kingdom? Or did that get completely scrapped when Everest came along?

[Benjo]

Tower of Terror is 199 ft. tall. So imagine how enormous that is, and then Everest will be just as big...WOW.

[JimB.]

Min & Bill - Nice Pix. It has come a long way since I saw it last..............

Florida law says that anything above 199 feet needs a beacon at the top for airplanes.

Minor point, but it's FAA regs, not FL law..............

Don't be so sure that the ride will open early just because it looks like it's ahead of schedule. Need I remind you of Test Track?

Excellent point (it's that "counting your chickens" thing), but remember that TT was pretty much brand new ride technology, where EE is a steel coaster that has been done a fair amount & should present no "developmental" problems.

Now if the weather will just behave..............................

[FANTASMIC!]

I just got back and, nothing really major. The bottom part of the mountian is getting it's rock work, but nothing to faint over.

[jlowejd5]

Well, we're going to be there the first week of March, so we'll see how early "Spring 2006" actually starts. Wish me luck.

302 days to go!

[crusader]

Hopefully, someone can help me out. Here's a photo I need some details on. Can't find corroboration from any coaster sources on this.

http://www.allearsnet.com/tp/ak/ak_ee12jpg.jpg

[FANTASMIC!]

I find it unsual that the trains don't have o shoulder harness. I guess for thrills? :eek: :scratchin I can't wait! :cheer2: :cheer2: :cheer2: :cheer2: :cheer2:

[Corryn]

Those cars look very similar to The Mummy cars that they have at Universal. The bar is enough to hold you in. I am guessing it's more of a Thrill Ride than an actual coaster? I consider The Mummy to be a Thrill Ride because it does not have any steep dips/hills. Anyone know, again, how deep the big hill will be?

[crusader]

I find it unsual that the trains don't have o shoulder harness. I guess for thrills?

Thrills, airtime, whatever you choose to call it - this type of coaster doesn't warrant a shoulder restraint due to the design. If this is the vehicle, it's the first visual on it. Hopefully, someone can shed some light on this.

When the announcement was made for this attraction, there were statements indicating the trains would feature "new restraint technology". Speculators referenced a new junior coaster Vekoma designed known as the Oki Doki. Take a look. http://users.skynet.be/pretparken/bjl/foto's/bouw%20od%2002_files/Photos/bouw%20112%20(web).jpg

Now this would be great. It keeps the kids secure and frees up the rest of us. But judging from the photo, it doesn't appear to be this restraint system which concerns me if this is the actual vehicle.

[Tinkerbellz]

I certainly hope it's open in late May 2006. My daughter and I are raring to go! It will be her grad trip. :cool1: :cool1: :cool1: :cool1: :cool1:

She wil be on :cloud9: I am going to take my old mortarboard from my college graduation to make her a Mickey hat for the trip.

[eddieras]

we just got back tuesday and the top of everest is now 'snow covered'! i heard it's a family thrill ride, and as posted earlier will go forward and backward and you'll encounter the abominable snowman en route!

[TempleofForbEye]

I'm excited to see a new ride that doens't look like it will be just slapped up (cough Nemo ride cough), but I also think we are making this up to be more than it will be.

Maybe it's because I live near Disneyland, but this sounds an awful lot like the Matterhorn. Racing through icy caverns and snowy mountains, waterfalls, the yetti.... No doubt it will be much better because of the newer technology, but to me it just seems like another version. But I guess it's good for WDW because of the lack of a Matterhorn.

[stevenpensacola]

A lot of the photos of EE show a big sweeping descent/curve coming out of the mountain. Anyone know which direction the trains will be traveling through this element?...I'm guessing it would be from photo right to left....?