Expedition Everest Yeti

[james1865]

I'm sure this has already been discussed to death but are they ever going to fix it? My first Disney trip it was working and EE was absolutely my favorite ride because that working Yeti was absolutely awesome. It is still a great ride but the stationary Yeti definitely takes a lot out of it. Sometimes I can't even see it. I know there are structural issues and it may not be fixable. But if it is I think it would definitely be worth the refurbishment time.

 

[kmb584]

I'm sure this has already been discussed to death but are they ever going to fix it? My first Disney trip it was working and EE was absolutely my favorite ride because that working Yeti was absolutely awesome. It is still a great ride but the stationary Yeti definitely takes a lot out of it. Sometimes I can't even see it. I know there are structural issues and it may not be fixable. But if it is I think it would definitely be worth the refurbishment time.

I haven't heard of any plans to fix the poor girl (but I wish they would!).

 

[mesaboy2]

I would not expect a fix until the next major refurb (6-9 months minimum) or until at least one other major attraction is added to AK.

 

[csmith041177]

This has been something I have wondered about alot. It is very dissapointing that this has not been fixed by now. I do still enjoy the ride, and have heard various theories on why it has not / cannot be fixed. However, given the creative genius at Disney one would hope they would find a solution.

 

[JimmyV]

Somewhere, (either on this board or elsewhere), there is a fairly detailed explanation of what would have to be done to fix the Yeti, and it is MAJOR. (Assuming the person who posted the information is correct. Always a dubious proposition.) It is apparently not as easy as replacing a blown fuse, or tightening a few screws. It goes to the entire structural integrity of that area of the ride and a significant tear down and rebuild would be needed. Weighing that against the cost of a strobe light, I cannot see this being resolved in our favor.

 

[awilliams4]

Joe Rhode recently said that the intent is to fix it. I would guess within 1+ year of Avatar opening.

 

[JimmyV]

Here is the discussion that I recalled reading.
http://micechat.com/forums/walt-dis...n-yeti-expedition-everest-mystery-solved.html

With so few attractions at AK, can they really shut a "Top 2" ride down for an extended period? Perhaps after Avatar is open they can, as people will be distracted by tall blue aliens for a good while and might not miss Everest for a year.

 

[PSUGuy]

Here is the discussion that I recalled reading.
http://micechat.com/forums/walt-dis...n-yeti-expedition-everest-mystery-solved.html

With so few attractions at AK, can they really shut a "Top 2" ride down for an extended period? Perhaps after Avatar is open they can, as people will be distracted by tall blue aliens for a good while and might not miss Everest for a year.

I doubt that the popularity of a given attraction affects its rehab schedule. Every ride requires maintenance from time to time and putting if off could result in big problems for Disney if an accident due to wear and tear were to happen. Since EE will be down at some point I'd happily miss it for one WDW trip if Yeti gets fixed.

Bill From PA

 

[JimmyV]

I doubt that the popularity of a given attraction affects its rehab schedule. Every ride requires maintenance from time to time and putting if off could result in big problems for Disney if an accident due to wear and tear were to happen. Since EE will be down at some point I'd happily miss it for one WDW trip if Yeti gets fixed.

Bill From PA

Your point about maintenance and safety is, of course, correct. But the issue here is, would they close the ride down for close to a year to fix a Yeti that isn't moving when there is no safety issue involved? Most routine maintenance that is done for ordinary wear and tear is done in one to two month stretches. Space Mountain was shut down for a very long time for a rebuild. But that was after the ride was 25+ years old. If and when EE requires a year-long shut down for truly maintenance and safety issues, then yes, they could address the Yeti then. But I would hope that EE isn't anywhere near ready for such a dry docking. I can't see a year-long dry docking for a special effect. (And so far, neither has Disney, apparently.)

 

[APiratesLifeForMe2]

As I recall from the other threads, fixing the Yeti would require almost a complete tear down of the mountain. Now that the Yeti is turned off it poses no safety risk. If they had left it turned on it would be a safety issue. Since EE is one of the top rides in AK, most people suspect it will not be fixed until Avatar Land is opened. I don't think Disney wants to close a major headliner for such a long period of time if it isn't posing a safety risk.

 

[cygnusx1jg]

If there is indeed a structural integrity problem, why couldn't they use similar technology from Celebrate the Magic to make it look like the Yeti is moving.

I mean if they can project so many different things on the castle, couldn't they do a repeated, well animated Yeti for EE?

 

[The Hub]

I posted about it in this thread: http://disboards.com/showthread.php?p=50242892

Below is a copy of the post.

There won't be any changes with the Yeti until after Avatarland is completed and there is an additional "headliner" in the park. The yeti is not broken, the animatronic is just disabled. The strobe light was added to allow for a forced perspective to make guests assume the yeti is moving, when it is stationary. If you have ever seen Expedition Everest while it is E-Stopped in that zone via track walking or just an automatic emergency stop and/or evacuation, you will see that the track has been slightly damaged from the yeti. In order to fix this, they would need to take apart some areas of the mountain and have an extended refurbishment. As the strobe light temporary fix does not impact our show greatly because of the forced perspective, the attraction can continue to operate without the animatronic working to its fullest abilities.

I hope this helps and answers your question!

 

[jrjankowski8]

If you've ever watched the Discovery Channel piece about Disney World, they explain it as a new ride that is actually 3 different structures. The tracks for the ride, the structure of the mountain, and then yeti. So those things are all intertwined and intricate that they'd have to take out pieces of something that is working to fix something that isn't. I think the anamatronics were too fast for the hardware and it bent it completely out of shape. It's definitely a major overhaul if they decide to do it. Honestly, while it was cool...I still think it's not the end of the world. The ride is still great.

 

[hedberg1661]

Joe Rhode recently said that the intent is to fix it. I would guess within 1+ year of Avatar opening.

I agree it would have to be after Avatar...they can't afford to shut down the largest thrill ride in the park without having a "temporary filler" and with something new this will be the ideal time.

 

[Bullseye]

In the meantime, a retired NBA center in Wookie costume... it could work.

 

[hedberg1661]

In the meantime, a retired NBA center in Wookie costume... it could work.

 

[detroitdad]

I'm glad I had the opportunity to see it when it was completely functional. It was very impressive. In the meantime, we will have to settle for Disco Yeti.

 

[kenny]

When did it stop working?

I know I have seen disco yeti but can't remember if I ever saw it working

Thx

 

[DVCcurious]

I'm the Disco Yeti expert so I have answers to your questions.

Expedition Everest opened in January 2006 for the soft opening and the grand opening was April 2006.

The Yeti was fully functional through the end of 2006 but then it went into "Disco" mode.

There are people who claim to have seen the Yeti working as recently as 2008 so it's possible Disney tried to make it work a few times after they originally shut it down.

The Yeti has definitely not operated within the past 5 years (2009-2014).

The Yeti is fine, the problem is the structure the Yeti is standing on can't handle the force the moving Yeti puts on this structure (I think it's concrete, but not 100% positive). This structure supporting the Yeti has cracked and the big fear is that the Yeti would topple over onto the track and cause massive injury to passengers, most likely death to an entire train of people. Therefore Disney just can't take the risk of operating the Yeti until it's foundation is fixed.

Now, Expedition Everest is actually 3 separate structures. The Yeti, the Coaster, and the Mountain are all independent of each other. To fix the Yeti Disney has to remove the track around the mountain and part of the mountain itself to even get to the Yeti. Time estimates are approximately 9 months to remove and rebuild the track and mountain. So you're looking at EE being closed for 9 months.

Disney will fix the Yeti as soon as Animal Kingdom can operate successfully without Expedition Everest. The best estimate is that once Avatar land is complete Disney will probably schedule a time to shut down Everest between Sept and June so it won't miss a Summer season. My best guess is 2020 or later.

 

[DVCcurious]

Hello hello sorry baby I can't move a thing
I haven't been serviced in a while you see see
But but it's OK there's a flashing light on me
Sorry if you wanted more it's only Disney
It's only Disney, it's only Disney
What more than a strobe would you expect at Disney?

Disco Yeti is my name this mountain's where I stay
I used to be ferocious now I'm just a display
They said they had some plans for me they'd put me on TV
Then they hung me on the wall like Mickey's hunting trophy

Stopped moving, not proving Disney's expertise anymore
Imagineers build what engineers ignore
Bob Iger's got Tigers, Rhinos, and Giraffes by the score
So what's he need a working mythical beast for?

I'm Disco Yeti
Come fix me

So ride if you want but there's no more motion
You're just going to find a mannequin
Been fried since they ended my promotion
Left me behind a mannequin
More meets and greets and some brand-new suites
So that no one will mind the mannequin
Cause I'm stuck up above and I'm getting no love
An expensive kind of mannequin

Oh Disney when you built this park you used to be the master
Themed it's like a master, fixed it so much faster
But Stitch and Zazu took over and it turned to disaster
Off the scale of stellar, Wizarding World has passed ya

Pleasure island died when they took down the fences
Imagination's now a ride about the senses
But soon you won't be bothered by my disco dancin'
They'll block my moves by building a Pin Trading station

Inside my ride they'll build a new pin trading station