A Ride Chicken’s Everest Review

[Minnie]

This review is for all of you that look at Expedition Everest in awe but really get the shakes and the tummy aches even considering getting on. I know exactly the feeling because I am the same way. I have been in awe of EE ever since I first saw the steel structure being built. The next trip when I started to see the tracks taking shape only made the want to give this mountain a try build farther into my system.

Yet the ride chicken inside knew that I would never find a way to get myself on this ride. Then the shows appeared on the Travel Channel and I was even more hooked on the ride. Right before I left for WDW I asked a Wish Team member about her experience and somehow someway her post encouraged me to try and I knew that I couldn’t let her down (thanks Cam).

The following is how I avoided letting the ride chicken overtake me:

On the last morning of our trip we headed for AK to be there for the opening. I didn’t want the experience to ruin my entire trip so the last day seemed to be the best time to try to get past my fear. I sent my family off to the Tusker House for breakfast while I ran over to EE for fast passes. After breakfast we went on a couple other rides waiting on our fast passes to become valid. These fast passes turned out to be golden as we walked past a major crowded section on the ride with no wait at all.

I asked to be seated in a middle row of the car and ended up in row 6. This turned out to be a great idea as the lady and daughter in front of our two person car ended up helping us through the ride once she heard of our nervousness. She advised us to remove our glasses, told us when things were going to happen, and calmed our fears. Having this wonderful lady seated in front of us was the best PD in the world.

This is going to include giveaways of the ride so if you don’t want to know skip to the bottom to read the extra shower of pixie dust at the end.

Okay the ride takes you up a huge hill but thankfully it is wonderfully themed with gorgeous flowers so you really do not notice just how high you are going. You are taken then down a hill through caves and turns before stopping quickly at the end of tracks that are smashed. From here it is a very quick ride backwards through those hills and caves in the dark (which my DS did not care for). Then on to a quick stop where a shadow of the Yeti is shown on the wall. Once again you are thrusted forward around a corner and the straight up toward the clutches of the Yeti. Once escaping his “swipe” you go down the “drop” – my biggest fear which is banked and straight up again through so turns and small drops until you exit the ride.

Amazingly the PD shower was not over yet though. The pictures were shown as lost on the screen so we had to wait in a line at the counter to find and view our picture. As we were waiting a nice young man came up and offered me his free picture voucher. Thank you!!!!!! Then when we walked outside my DM who had been waiting on us presented my DS and I with ride shirts (polo for me) and a T-shirt for my DS – Thank you Mom!!

All in all we made it through thanks to the PD of the wonderful family in front of us. The Yeti looked so real and the animators did a wonderful job on this. I don’t know if we will ever go again as I did experience some motion sickness after my heart rate went back to normal. However this ride chicken – RODE Expedition Everest!!!!!!!

If you my fellow ride chickens feel the awe of EE and feel compelled to give it a try. Follow my suggestions and I think you too will get past your ride chicken fears and escape the Yeti!

 

[DisneyDotty]

Thanks so much for your post! I too am a chicken--hated ToT and Space Mountain, though I do love BTMRR and Splash. I get nervous now thinking about riding EE in late July! But I will never live with myself if I don't do it--so I will try.
BTW--I hate drops--which is why I'm no fan of ToT or Space. How bad is EE's drop? Thanks!

 

[Minnie]

The "drop" is different from any other that I have been on.

It drops then turns to the left and back up a hill so it's not a straight down plunge. I'd classify it as a bigger than BTMR but not nearly as bad as Splash.

 

[buzzmom3]

Thanks for the report. My mom is a self proclaimed ride chicken but want to try EE. She did Splash and BTMRR last year and enjoyed them so your review will help her to decide if she really wants to do EE.

 

[mdhkitten]

I must be crazy , but I thought that the Yeti "shadow" was on the wall and then you went down the drop, and then after that actually came across the big Yeti. I was just there a week ago and rode it, so that shows you how my 23 month old effects my brain!

 

[STEAMBOAT209]

Thanks for the report, I'm looking forward to this ride. I've been watching the progress since it started like many others, and can't wait to check this off my list to do. My DW won't be riding, even though she does Splash and BTMRR, she feels this is too much to handle. DS will venture on with me, he's been waiting for this ride also. Thanks again for the report, and glad you got to experience EE.

 

[Babs50]

I get motion sickness on rides that spin around like the teacups, how bad was your motion sickness?

 

[Luv2CtheMouse]

I too am a coaster-chicken, but I rode EE on May 3rd....not once, but twice. Truthfully, I was light-headed and felt like I was bouncing when I got off, but it was not so terrible. I think spinning on the tea-cups is much worse.

 

[matt&jakesmom]

I have seen the making of it on the Travel Channel and my family is anxious to go on it August. However, I am a bigger CHICKEN than you Minnie. I went on Barnstormer once and that was enough for me. My family has been begging for a years to go on Splash Mountain, just don't want my heart to stop for even a second. Believe it or not I get nervous on the dip that was in Pirates of the Caribbean. Yes that is how much of a CHICKEN I am. Now I have been on Dinosaur a few times and 1 time on Test Track. I am sorta leary on doing Test Track this time. 0 to 60 is not my cup of tea. I went on Soarin' last year and took the advice of the bottom tier. Yeah hung on for deal life and peeked periodically at the screen. I had red marks on my hands for how scared I was. The best was in Blizzard Beach, the family raft ride. My DH did not enjoy the ride because all he saw was his DW again hanging on to ropes for dear life screaming "when is this ride going to end". Never again will I do that ride. So for as much I would like to do EE this CHICKEN cannot.

 

[Minnie]

I must be crazy , but I thought that the Yeti "shadow" was on the wall and then you went down the drop, and then after that actually came across the big Yeti. I was just there a week ago and rode it, so that shows you how my 23 month old effects my brain!

To be very honest I was shaking so hard during that ride that I am not entirely sure of the order.

 

[Minnie]

I have seen the making of it on the Travel Channel and my family is anxious to go on it August. However, I am a bigger CHICKEN than you Minnie. I went on Barnstormer once and that was enough for me. My family has been begging for a years to go on Splash Mountain, just don't want my heart to stop for even a second. Believe it or not I get nervous on the dip that was in Pirates of the Caribbean. Yes that is how much of a CHICKEN I am. Now I have been on Dinosaur a few times and 1 time on Test Track. I am sorta leary on doing Test Track this time. 0 to 60 is not my cup of tea. I went on Soarin' last year and took the advice of the bottom tier. Yeah hung on for deal life and peeked periodically at the screen. I had red marks on my hands for how scared I was. The best was in Blizzard Beach, the family raft ride. My DH did not enjoy the ride because all he saw was his DW again hanging on to ropes for dear life screaming "when is this ride going to end". Never again will I do that ride. So for as much I would like to do EE this CHICKEN cannot.

If Test Track bothers you then I have to say that EE is probably not for you. I enjoy speed and love Test Track and Soaring. The drops are my main problems.

 

[Minnie]

I too am a coaster-chicken, but I rode EE on May 3rd....not once, but twice. Truthfully, I was light-headed and felt like I was bouncing when I got off, but it was not so terrible. I think spinning on the tea-cups is much worse.

To answer Babs the above posters experience is pretty close to my own. It wasn't a horrible motion sickness problem like I get on Mission Space but it did make me feel light-headed and just not quite right. I am pretty sure that the backwards section is what caused my problems.

 

[trvlr4301r]

Thanks for your report on EE. I have been toying back and forth about going on this and from reading your report I believe I can do it! It is the big drops that kill me and I love Big Thunder Mountain and I will ride on Splash but really do not like that drop at the end. So if you say it isn't as bad as Splash then I believe I will have to give it a try!

 

[Renee1061]

I must be crazy , but I thought that the Yeti "shadow" was on the wall and then you went down the drop, and then after that actually came across the big Yeti. I was just there a week ago and rode it, so that shows you how my 23 month old effects my brain!

That's the way I remember it, too. It is an incredible ride!!

 

[michaelsmommy]

We just got back a few weeks ago. I get extreme motion sickness so I was very nervous to get on EE. We had a free photo so I knew I was getting on it, but we actually had forgotten the coupon when we went to AK. Hubby was very excited to ride it though so we did. I definitely have an appreciation for the creativity that went into it, but I had the worst headache for the rest of the day after riding it. It was the backwards through the dark part that did it! We went back the last day to take advantage of the free photo, and once again I had a terrible headache afterwards. Needless to say, hubby will be going that one alone next time.

 

[Sandi12404]

I can not wait to go on this ride. I get motion sickness from spinning. Teacups are definatly not on my agenda. But roller coasters- bring em' on. It's weird though, that I have no problem turning upside down multiple times on a coaster but sometimes even a merry-go-round will throw me off with the spinning After reading the ride description I'm even more excited.

 

[Mamu]

I also have watched the progress and wondered if I'll have the nerve to ride.

I've done all the Disney rides but RnR. Can't seem to rich down deep enough to find the nerve to ride this ride. Not a coaster person.

Thanks for all the advice and hopefully on my next trip, this Chicken Lady will cluck her was to EE and get to meet the Yeti. Who knows maybe ever find the nerve to ride RnR (doubt it). Backwards maybe, upside down never.

 

[keenercam]

Minnie -- I am so glad you got to experience this ride. I know it took tremendous courage for you to get on it, but just think of how, for the rest of your life, you can brag that you rode Expedition Everest. SO happy for you sweetie!

 

[Minnie]

Minnie -- I am so glad you got to experience this ride. I know it took tremendous courage for you to get on it, but just think of how, for the rest of your life, you can brag that you rode Expedition Everest. SO happy for you sweetie!

Oh thank you Cam

My DS was so scared yet so proud of himself that he did this ride. Great experience that we got to do together. At 12 who knows how many more chances I will have with him. He loved wearing his EE shirt to school on Tuesday and telling them all about it

 

[teammom]

If your son is like mine you will have many years ahead of enjoying Disneyworld with your son. Mine is 27 and for the last 4 years we have come to Disney together. I'm not sure who gets more excited, me or him. They are really fun as adults!!