Expedition Everest

[Arkiegirl]

So I was reading in the Unofficial guide that Expedition Everest was scheduled to open in sping 2006--which should be Jan/Feb of 2006, HOWEVER rumors were it should be opend Sept/Oct 2005. Has anyone heard if or when it will open? We will be there Oct/Nov and I hope it is!!!

I remember when Mission Space opened--it was months before its announced opening and they would have random openings for I guess something like a "preview".

 

[PIRATEGIRL007]

Someone posted pics of the progress the other day (i think saturday), there is no way they could get it open Oct/Nov this year. The "mountain" hasn't even been plastered in and finished yet. Sorry it looks like it will definately be spring of next year.

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

So I was reading in the Unofficial guide that Expedition Everest was scheduled to open in sping 2006--which should be Jan/Feb of 2006, HOWEVER rumors were it should be opend Sept/Oct 2005. Has anyone heard if or when it will open? We will be there Oct/Nov and I hope it is!!!

I remember when Mission Space opened--it was months before its announced opening and they would have random openings for I guess something like a "preview".

Spring in January/February?!? Don't know how you guys roll in Arkansas, but around these parts, Spring doesn't begin until March 20th.

That being said, I also hope it will open early, but October/November is early!

 

[TinkerTracy]

I was down there in august/september and as my family and i where walking over the bridge to dinoland all of a sudden we saw the ride in action! We saw the train swerve in and out it was AMAZING we where there at the right moment! Actually when we walked by it i said i think it's going to start up and we waited and it did!

 

[Luv4Disney]

Someone posted pics of the progress the other day (i think saturday), there is no way they could get it open Oct/Nov this year. The "mountain" hasn't even been plastered in and finished yet. Sorry it looks like it will definately be spring of next year.

Yeah...I'd have to agree. Although the pictures look incredible, they're no way close to being done. A few months at least.

 

[lentesta]

I think we'd be pleasantly surprised if it was open to the public in April 2006. There's some new technology (the "backwards" parts), but that doesn't seem to be as bleeding edge as, say, Test Track or Mission:Space.

Len

 

[cdpa4d]

I've seen posted on another website that the unofficial opening will take place April 8th. Their are two reason for this date.
1. This is Animal Kingdom's 8th B-Day
2. April 8th is Earth Day

If it does open on April 8th I'm sure they would have some sort of soft opening prior to that date, maybe the end of March for a soft opening.

 

[Arkiegirl]

Well spring in Arkansas doesnt come in Jan/Feb either--I was simply quoting the Unofficial guide 2006 book that said it was scheduled to open in general terms "spring 2006" but the author felt is would be Jan/Feb---However at press time they had gotten word that it could be earlier--like soon. I am at work and do not have the book with me but when I get home I will reread and quote the book.

 

[kelleigh1]

I have my 2006 Unofficial Guide right in front of me and I just looked it up. I don't see anything stating Jan/Feb of 2006. It simply says "scheduled opening Spring 2006". I checked the index and the only listing for anything regarding Expedition Everest is pages 565-566 and that's where I just looked, so unless there was something elsewhere in the book that's not listed in the index, I don't see any mention of it opening earlier.

I do remember reading something several months ago which indicated that the planned opening was around April sometime.

 

[Bob P]

Mouseplanet.com has been reporting for months that they expect EE to open on April 22. That means there will likely be previews in the Feb/March time frame.

Disney has not confirmed this date and is still officially sticking to "Spring 2006."

Bob

 

[Bob P]

I've seen posted on another website that the unofficial opening will take place April 8th. Their are two reason for this date.
1. This is Animal Kingdom's 8th B-Day
2. April 8th is Earth Day

If it does open on April 8th I'm sure they would have some sort of soft opening prior to that date, maybe the end of March for a soft opening.

Sorry, I don't men to nitpick, but it's April 22 that is Earth Day and the AK's birthday! This is the quote from Mouseplanet.com:

Expedition Everest – scheduled to open in Spring 2006. The likely official opening date is April 22, which is both Earth Day and the park's birthday, but previews may start as early as February 2006.

 

[kelleigh1]

Oh wait...I found what you were refering to. It's listed in the Touring Plans section. And I quote:

Expedition Everest, the new super-headliner attraftion at the Animal Kingdom, will open in 2006, but nobody (including Disney) is sure when. Its targeted for opening in January or February but project insiders say sometime in the August to October period is more realistic...

Now, I take that to mean August to October 2006...not 2005.

 

[Uncle Servo]

I was down there the day before yesterday. The mountain looks incredible, but there is still a considerable amount of scaffolding still up. They also looked to have just started landscaping/sodding the riverbank facing Tarzan Rocks.

I have not heard of any reports of 'sandbag tests' as of yet (where they run the trains through at regular speed using sandbags in the seats), which I'm told would indicate that Disney's within 90 days of the ride opening. Since it's October now that would logically pretty much rule out the ride opening this year... and given the accidents at Big Thunder Mountain and Mission: Space one would have to believe they're not going to rush E:E until they're absolutely certain it's safe and ready.

April 22nd sounds good for a Grand Opening date -- but I wouldn't be surprised if they give it an unannounced 'soft opening' before that (we chanced upon AK doing exactly that with Primeval Whirl and therefore were among the first 200 riders).

 

[Lorelai]

Does anyone know exactly what type of ride this will be? Maybe rollercoaster with a theme? Or is it supposed to be less intense than a roller coaster?

 

[Servants of Evan]

My impression is it'll be a kick-butt rollercoaster worthy of three 'E' tickets matched with Disney decor...

Servants of Evan

 

[nowellsl]

Does anyone know exactly what type of ride this will be? Maybe rollercoaster with a theme? Or is it supposed to be less intense than a roller coaster?

From the looks of it I'd say it will be the most intense roller coaster at Disney! No way will I ever ride it......

 

[Bumbles]

It will be intense by Disney standards, tho it won't have any inversions. The theming will be fantastic. They've been spending a lot of time in the Himalayas to get all the details down pat. The storytelling in this attraction will be some of the best WDW has ever seen

 

[Uncle Servo]

From what I understand it'll be a roller coaster that will have both forward and backward motion and there will be an audio-animatronic Yeti... but I don't know anything more than that.

I do remember seeing the AK special on the Travel Channel -- they mentioned that the 'Yeti Shrine' (wherever it is on the ride) was actually created in Nepal/Tibet, and simply shipped/re-assembled on-site.

 

[Dznefreek]

All were taken on 9/5/05.

 

[dgaston]

Thanks for the great pictures!