Expedition Everest progress?

[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? I can't wait!

 

[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 od 02_files/Photos/bouw 112 (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.

She wil be on 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....?