Expedition Everest - Questions?

[disney4ever26]

Bit of a hijack, but I sincerely hope they do NOT do this in the future. Not a flame, just my personal opinion:

Roller coasters in the US, according to ultimaterollercoaster.com: 800
Pirates of the Caribbean rides in the US: 2

What I'm saying is, I prefer for Disney to give us more of the kinds of things ONLY Disney has. If I liked coasters, which I don't, I have two Six Flags parks within four hours or so of my house. There's also a waterpark right here in town. I don't need to go to Florida for those things. I go there for POTC, HM, Philharmagic, Festival of the Lion King, Soarin' . . . . and next time down, since the girls are bigger, I may actually try a mountain or two. But it's the Disney theming that I want to see, not the inversions and such.

Again, just my opinion.

you are right. We go to disney not for the big thrills and the roller coasters but to enjoy the "theming" and things only disney has to offer. I think they shouldn't add a big thrill ride they have so many good things already. Besides it would start to turn disney into a six flags if they add one thrill ride they will add many more. Also they call them attractions for a reason.......

 

[jenjersnap]

When we were there in December, they were doing some testing and it looked really fast coming down the hill - the part you could see from the outside between the mountain tops? - but this makes it seem doable for me and, more importantly, my coaster-averse DH.

Kudos to the person filming. Wow!

 

[cyjmhill]

How high up is the roller coaster? When you stop at the broken tracks is it really high - can see alot?

 

[sarehm]

That looks so awesome! The pause at the broken track seemed like an eternity. That to me will be the most suspensful part! I can't wait!

 

[byoung]

EE is on top of my list.

 

[Miniefan]

Still no specs.... I need to know a. how fast it's top speed is, b. how tall the biggest drop is and c. how long the ride lasts, I will not ride it until I know these things I guess I have to get technical about my chickened-ness!
Kim

Oh, I forgot to add d. how long do you ride going backwards (that is not a good feeling for me, not being able to see where you are going and all)

 

[cyjmhill]

Still no specs.... I need to know a. how fast it's top speed is, b. how tall the biggest drop is and c. how long the ride lasts, I will not ride it until I know these things I guess I have to get technical about my chickened-ness!
Kim

Oh, I forgot to add d. how long do you ride going backwards (that is not a good feeling for me, not being able to see where you are going and all)

I feel the same way about my "chickened-ness".

Someone please post the specs.

Thanks!!!

 

[LuvDuke]

So, how big are the drops compared to Big Thunder Mtn Railroad? Big Thunder Mtn Railroad is about all I can handle on a roller coaster. I just need to know how the drops compare. I hate drops--they terrify me.

Thanks in advance for all the good info.

I'm with you. I don't like drops either and I don't like that sensation of falling out of the seat.

However, my DD and I rode EE several times last week and I didn't have any of the problems I usually have with drops. That drop that comes out of the mountain is a big one, but you don't feel it, IMO. It looks a helluva lot worse than it really is. It must be the way the ride is banked. Even the drop in the dark isn't all that bad.

Quite honestly, BTMR is much rougher and you feel the drops more. IMO, you feel the drop in Splash Mountain more than the ones on EE. EE is very smooth. Give it a try. I think you'll like it.

 

[babiesX2]

When it goes backwards, does it switch to a different track? The backwards part was really dark, but the part leading up to the mangled tracks was not. So does the train switch to a different track once it starts going backwards?

 

[LuvDuke]

When it goes backwards, does it switch to a different track? The backwards part was really dark, but the part leading up to the mangled tracks was not. So does the train switch to a different track once it starts going backwards?

It's hard to tell if it switched tracks in the dark. First, it went backwards and then it went forwards with a drop. That part of EE isn't just "Space Mountain" dark, but really, really, dark.

 

[Disneykat]

I can't wait!!!! Both my dd and I are chicken but EE is first on our list!

 

[MickeyMouseGal]

I've told people that it's like a cross between Big Thunder Mt. and the outside part of Test Track.

I wish the video had shown the view from the part where the coaster climbs upward towards the mountain. You can see ToT, Spaceship Earth, etc. The view is AMAZING!!!

 

[halfway there]

OK I just had to go and watch the video to see what people were talking about since we rode it the other night for the first time in the dark so I couldn't really tell what was what. It was very disorienting!

Our family of 4, 2 of which are not big on roller coasters (fast ones anyway) found it to be a very wild ride. DS nearly got sick afterward but I think that was more because we had just come off of Primeval Whirl and Dinosaur than the ride itself. I felt a little queasy afterward as well but not bad. Can you tell who the two chickens of the family are?

Anyway, the ride begins very slowly much like Big Thunder and is very smooth, not like a 'jerk you around' type coaster. The first big hill appears to be extremely high because I looked down and freaked! I'm not sure if you are actually up that high or it is an illusion. Also, there wasn't much to the drops. You never have that 'lifted out of the seat' feeling. As someone stated before it must be the design. Going backwards in the dark is just BIZARRE! I actually felt like we were sliding sideways and would end up being forward but when I saw the track and we were still going backwards I was shocked! I think there is some type of corkscrew here as you do go up backwards. I do believe you enter on one track and then go backwards down a parallel track because you are sort of to the right as you head up to the broken track and then you are more to the left but it is very subtle. The Yeti shadow scared me the most! I was screaming my head off and am now hoarse! Reminded me of Kong at US. After the dark part the ride picks up quite a bit but again is very smooth. I wouldn't say it's as fast as RnR because I think that is the fastest ride of all (even tho' I know TT is faster). The parts with the Yeti were the scariest of all to me, you hear the roar in one cave and then catch a glimpse of him at the end. My DS10 wasn't as scared as he was dizzy and nauseous and for me it was really being in the dark almost the whole time that was the most disorienting and made me kinda walk sideways like the people in the V8 commercials right after! LOL

All in all it is quite the experience and if you think you can handle it, I would try it at least once! Not sure if I will do it again (maybe one more in the daylight this time!) but I didn't hate it and am glad I did it without knowing what it was all about. That may have helped me the most is going into the unknown, I might not have done it if I knew what to be afraid of! Hope my description will be informative rather than instill fear.

 

[CinderellaPug]

Although this is a fast moving coaster, it is very smooth and the views are amazing. If you want a fun thrill, wait for the front car...it is definatly the best spot to take in all the attraction has to offer. I think the Yeti is the scariest part, it leaves me screaming and shaken when I get off. This attraction is an awesome experience!!

 

[jlatina32]

Thanks for EE video info. I showed it to my DS and DD so they know what to expect when we get on in September and they got really excited and want to get on it even more. I had explained to them before showing them the video that the ride goes backwards in the dark. But once they saw the video, I guess they got more comfortable knowing what to expect and when, while they are on the ride. I know it makes me feel better. thanks.

 

[TTT103]

I rode the coaster four times last week. Be careful with the Fastpass machines. They had fans blowing around the kiosks and one blew a Fastpass right out of my hands. Fortunately, a castmember saw what happened and issued me a replacement.

Although I thoroughly enjoyed the ride (it's also quite a spectacle), I was a little disapointed in the lack of the story-line. I rode the Mummy ride at Universal the day before and actually enjoyed that ride a bit more (although I am not much of a Universal fan--especially since they elminated their Express pass unless you are a hotel guest or pay the additional fee).

On a different note, we noticed that a structure is being build between Everest and Dinoland. Does anyone know what this is?

 

[ceejay13]

I am a huge chicken when it comes to roller coasters. I have ridden RnR once and ToT once and will not go back on either one. I don't mind Space Mountain as it doesn't have any big drops. BTM is about my speed. I watched several of the videos that have been posted, read quite a bit of reviews and watched the EE specials on the A & E and the travel channel. I decided after all of that to try it on our trip at the end of May. I'm very glad I did and actually went back on it 2 more times that same day. I decided that going back on it would lessen the apprehension the more times I did it and I'm glad I did. The drop you can see was not nearly as bad as it looks, in fact I actually kept my eyes open on the last trip down. The scarriest part for me was the backwards in the dark. It is very brief but none the less still the most intense for me. Interestingly enough, 3 of the 5 of us had different thoughts on exactly what is happening in the dark as it is very difficult to see. My DH swears you are just making a corkscrew turn very fast, my BIL thought you went upside down and I thought there was a drop of some kind. I do know you don't go upside down but other than that can't tell you. I certainly sympathize with those that don't want to try it but I'm glad I did. As with all things Disney it has a lot of detail to see, and the view at the top of the mountain at the start of the ride is just amazing.

 

[polyk]

I have a few questions regarding this ride. If anyone can help that would be great. 1. How many big drops does the ride have?
2. When the ride goes backwards in the dark do you go down the same
big drops you went up?
3. How long are you actually in the dark?

Thanks.

 

[notnothin]

It's hard to tell if it switched tracks in the dark. First, it went backwards and then it went forwards with a drop. That part of EE isn't just "Space Mountain" dark, but really, really, dark.

The switch is happening when you're outside at the top of the hill (at the section where the tracks are torn apart and you pause for a few moments. When you go backwards, you are then on a different section of track.

If I recall correctly, the second switch occurs as you are watching the animation (i.e., the 'shadow' of the yeti tearing up the tracks), and then you go forward again.

 

[babiesX2]

The switch is happening when you're outside at the top of the hill (at the section where the tracks are torn apart and you pause for a few moments. When you go backwards, you are then on a different section of track.

If I recall correctly, the second switch occurs as you are watching the animation (i.e., the 'shadow' of the yeti tearing up the tracks), and then you go forward again.

Good explanation. I have to figure out how things works. It seems that while your attention is on the mangled tracks during the pause there must be a track change happening behind the car. Then the Yeti is another distraction while the track switches again to move forward. I love Disney Magic!

Someone mentioned the Yeti scaring them really bad. The Yeti the Matterhorn at DL makes me nervous! I'm a super chicken!