Expedition Everest compared to BTMR

[nhtinkerbell]

My DS(11) really wants me to ride EE but I'm very scared. I can do BTMR over and over again with no problems. Would I like EE then and is it anything like BTMR. Tired to get DS to answer but all he says is its awesome don't be a chicken. Thanks for any information and tips.

 

[Airship Ariadne]

It has bigger hills, and you go backwards at one point...But it is not an "extreme" coaster by any stretch. I don't do loops, or extreme heights...and EE is my favorite coaster (BTMR is WAY up on my list as well).

Added: It has one point where you can look out across a large part of the resort...if not cloudy you can see MK if you are on the correct side of the car...but even that point the height isn't as bad as some Six Flags coasters.

I won't say "don't be a chicken" but I will say give it one go, and see what you think.

 

[mag73]

My very tall 11yo son has gone on EE since he was 8. Last year we were able to do it twice in a row (no wait time). He loves it. But I would say you can not compare it to the BTMRR, its much faster, with very large drops it is also very smooth. Does your son like Space mountain or Rock 'n' Roller Coaster I would say it is somewhere between the 2. Personally I do not like going on roller coasters, my kids call me a chicken so from my personal experience I would say give it a try.

 

[chloelovesdisney]

I can ride BTMRR all day long but I can only work up the courage to go on EE once every three years or so. I find it scary.

 

[Alesia]

I don't think it's much worse than BTMRR.

I agree with your son. In the words of my husband: "Good God, it's not going to kill you - just get on the damn ride!"

 

[disneybliss2]

It wasn't near as bad as what I thought it would be. I'm not a roller coaster enthusiast, but got drug on by my kids who love them. It's pretty smooth, and I like the fact that it's not jerky. There is one part where it goes backwards which gives some a strange sensation. This part actually didn't bother me. The one big drop gets me every time though. It's over quickly though. It's not as intense if you sit at the front. If you sit at the back, the drop is much worse. Having ridden in both sections, I can tell there's a big difference. I think if you love BTMR, you can at least manage Everest once.

 

[TooExcitedCantSleep]

I don't think it's much worse than BTMRR.

I agree with your son. In the words of my husband: "Good God, it's not going to kill you - just get on the damn ride!"

Ha!!!!!!! That gave me one good chuckle!! I completely agree too!! Expedition Everest is pretty cool.....and I believe it's worth a try!!

 

[DisneyFan2013]

EE is great! Ride it!

 

[Oodalally13]

I think I need to chime in here for a little perspective from my mom. We just got back from WDW and we had fps for space mountain at MK, thunder mountain and MK and Everest at ak. To a adrenaline junky like me, I judge a coaster by its restraints. To me a lap restraint only means tame. Wellllll.....my mom said she did not like space because it was dark and went in a lot of circles. I told her ee was no crazy circles and mostly light. After ee she told me she would never trust me about coasters again. She said it was awful and scary. I will admit the going backwards part is very fast and it almost gives you the sensation you might go upside down, but you don't. You mig want to watch it a bit or do a YouTube ride through before you commit

 

[mickeyluv'r]

EE is a great ride. Even if you end up chickening out, do yourself a favor and at least see the queue or FP+ queue. That's one of the better parts of the ride. They did a great job on both queues.

EE is more intense that BTMRR.

The first part is tame, tamer than Barnstormer.

The big hill climb feels higher than BTMRR, and gives you the full sense of being that high. (I think the top of both mountains was kept just under 200 feet) Then the dark part where you go backwards is moderately intense. It's in the dark, which helps. The somewhat intense part is two short bursts, about three seconds each.

The hill is no big deal, but the uphill right after the hill is the second most intense part of the ride. Both the drop and the uphill part are quite quick though, and very smooth.

The theming makes it worth doing at least once. Also, ask the gate CM the duration of the ride.

 

[dawnhaze]

EE is taller, faster, has a single "big drop" (in comparison to BTMRR), and the backwards portion is fairly intense for some people. It is a very smooth ride - I don't think it feels jerky at all, and the G-forces aren't overpowering even at their highest points, including during the backwards helix.

Personally, I think it's a fun and mildly thrilling ride that most people without existing motion sickness problems can enjoy. I'd say give it a shot, and if you hate it, don't go again.

To a adrenaline junky like me, I judge a coaster by its restraints. To me a lap restraint only means tame.

If you ever visit Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey, ride El Toro and Nitro, and you might rethink your judging system afterwards. Both have lap restraints, neither is particularly tame (although El Toro is the crazier of the two, IMO) - there are also launched and looping coasters at other parks with just lap restraints. OTSRs are falling out of favor when not absolutely necessary, because coaster enthusiasts don't like them and they scare 'general audiences.'

 

[blackmamba10000]

I don't think it's much worse than BTMRR.

I agree with your son. In the words of my husband: "Good God, it's not going to kill you - just get on the damn ride!"

That made me laugh so hard!! It's true though. Ride it once! If anything, it'll be one of your son's fondest memories of your trip. It's one of my favorite rides. Going up the hill is terrifying, and in all honesty, worse than going down. But, the views are great!

 

[PJ]

mickeyluv'r - I think you hit it exactly with this statement:

"The hill is no big deal, but the uphill right after the hill is the second most intense part of the ride."

This is the part that I find extremely intense. I can handle the backwards section, but that very fast curvy incline gets me every time.

BTMRR is one of my favorites - but I can't really say I enjoy EE.

 

[Altoqueenkelly]

I agree with your son. In the words of my husband: "Good God, it's not going to kill you - just get on the damn ride!"

I LOVE this

 

[Altoqueenkelly]

After ee she told me she would never trust me about coasters again.

I can see this happening to me too, lol. I tend to be abit of a thrill ride junkie and would probably do the same thing Heck, where does my seven year old get her fearlessness from? Me making her ride things the instant she is tall enough! I love taking her for bigger and bigger thrills, she's a girl after my own heart

 

[momto3gsds]

I would suggest going on YouTube and watching a video of the ride. I personally couldn't do it, but a lot of people do.

 

[Sparkly]

We took one look at the backwards part from the bridge and said no way! We had just eaten lunch too. maybe I'll at least try and see the queue line next time.

 

[tinkerbellmagic]

To me, EE is much more intense than BTMR. Like others have said, faster and higher.

The first time I rode EE some years back, I thought it was my new favorite coaster at Disney. When we returned to Disney a year later, I noticed the backwards twisty type movement really got to me, making me feel odd and not in a good way. After that, I only wanted to ride it once per trip. I rode it during our last trip two years ago only once and decided I will not be riding it again.

Please note, I am in my 50s and used to do all the coasters, including Rockin Roller Coaster (I stopped doing Rockin a few years ago and will not be riding it again). The older I get, lol, certain rides have started to bother me and with EE it is that backwards twisty movement that I don't like at all. It's not that it is so scary, it's more that I don't like the feeling it gives me.

The big hill is fun, but there is a point when you get down to the bottom of the hill, there is a feeling of being forced down to your seat. Again, not really scary, just a strange intense feeling that, when I first rode it some years back, I thought was big fun. Now, it just feels intense.

I can ride BTMR once a day... twice a day if those times are hours apart. I don't find it at all scary, it's fun, but it just jostles me about too much to do it two times in a row. I can ride Splash and stay on that ride all day, not that you asked, lol. I have limited my SpaceM riding to once or twice per trip, but I'm not so sure I'll be going back on that again either. I used to love it!

I would say that it would be fine to try EE once and after that, you can decide if it's fun enough to do again, but just know that Big Thunder is actually Little Thunder compared to EE, imo. Good luck!

 

[Aurora0427]

EE is more intense than BTMRR, but I prefer it because it is so much smoother. Ever since I entered my 30s, my motion sickness has become so much worse. BTMRR actually makes me queasy now because of all the jerking. I will ride it one more time in my lifetime- when my 3 year old adrenaline junkie is 40". Then I'm done.

EE can make me nauseated, but I once I get off the ride, I am fine. And it's such a great ride, it's totally worth it. I love it. Although I miss the original when the Yeti used to lean over like he was going to attack!

Agree with the husband who said it won't kill you, so get on the damn ride. Best. Line. Ever.

 

[SabresFan]

I would say the Expedition Everest is the most intense coaster at WDW. This is not to say it is the most intense coaster anywhere - there are 2 at our local theme park that are much more intense than EE, and most if not all of the ones at Universal are more intense than EE.

My daughters (18 and 21) think Big Thunder is no big deal, and think Space Mountain is awesome. But they've only done EE once - and while they will still consider going on it again some day, they don't want to book any fast passes there.

I used to hate all roller coasters - I only went on them because somebody had to ride when the kids went on them. I've worked my way up to where I now think EE isn't that bad - I always ride it at least once per year now because I can get a free pic on there with my PhotoPass+ (now Memory Maker) and darn it, I want my free pic.