Unlike Mission: SPACE, Expedition EVEREST will be all about the
thrill ride. As Animal Kingdom's senior Imagineer, Joe Rohde
promises, "We go fast, we go high, we fall far, we get cold, and
we do finally see the Yeti itselfHe's a huge, HUGE, gigantic
shaggy creature as real as we can bring him to life."
Guests won't need the over-shoulder restraints present on
multiple-inversion Rock 'n' Roller Coaster at Disney-MGM Studios
(sturdy lap restraints will be supplied) but this won't be a
gentle ride in the park. The "tea plantation" train will climb
steeply to the top of the mountain, make undisclosed, high-speed
travels within the peak, and after encountering the mountain's
"secret" resident, guests will be hurtled backwards down a
100-foot drop (that's twice as long as Splash Mountain). Still,
the child's height restriction is expected to be moderate around
44 inches, and health warnings will probably be no greater than
Walt Disney World's other coasters. The queue area through an
Asian mountain village will be richly decorated and provide
story elements to set the scene (similar to Kali River Rapids),
but there won't be a formal pre-show or post-show area on this
FASTPASS attraction. Considering the "cold" Joe Rohde promised
in his speech, I suspect you should ride this one before you get
soaked on Kali River Rapids.