How intense is Expedition Everest?

[WVParkfan]

For those of you who have ridden EE, how would you compare the ride to Rock n'Roller Coaster? Our DS11 isn't sure about whether or not he wants to ride it. He talked himself into riding RnR with me last summer, and Space Mountain with his mother. He liked both rides, but is worried that EE is much more intense. None of us are thrill seekers, but I thought RnR was pretty tame. Thoughts?

 

[ehsween]

I am wondering the same thing. My youngest child will be four months past 7 yrs. old when we go next January. He is already 46 inches so he's tall enough right now. Last time we went to WDW, he was 2, so he's never really ridden any big rides. He's ridden some small coasters at an amusement park here in Michigan and loved them. He really wants to try the big coasters at WDW (even RnR and EE), but I guess I'm just afraid of them scaring him. Although, my gut tells me he'll do fine.

Just how intense are these rides? We didn't even do RnR or ToT when we were there last time because our kids were just too small. Hubby and I can't wait to focus more on the "big" kid rides. Although daughter who will be 9 at the time says she doesn't want to to try any of these. I think she's afraid she'll get on it, feel sick or afraid, and then she's stuck on them until the bitter end. She's bound and determined not to try any of the "big" kid rides. We're not quite sure how to handle this scenario either.

Please definitely answer the original posters question first, but then feel free to add comments to help answer my questions about DS and DD too. Thanks so much. I love the DIS boards!!!

 

[rlovew]

EE is different from both of the roller coasters you mentioned, for one it has the most breathtaking views on your way to the top and it is not very dark. Everest does not do loops although you do go backwards and are in the dark for part of the ride. It's seats are more like Thunder MT in that they have no shoulder harness. One of its draws are the amzing features of the attraction itself, the huge Yeti that reaches down at you, the owl that pops out ae\s you see the broiken tracks ahead, the cartoon of the yeti breaking the tracks. If he enjoyed the others, than he will probably enjoy this one too, one of my friends who finds Space and RnR too intense loved Everest.

 

[rlovew]

ehsween- I think the important thing for your daughter is that she be comfortable as you visit but let her know that you and your son will be doing these rides, have her come along in the queue if you are waiting, she can always be shown through and go out a seperate door but don't make your vacation miserable by pushing her. That being said many people begin loving these rides after they get over their fear of them. To help her out at MGM start with Star Tours before RnR and ToT. At the MK start with the Barnstormer and Big Thunder because they are the less intense rides. If she wants specifics have her look at pictures and informationm about the rides at allearsnet.com.

 

[BeNJeNWaFFLe]

OP- Sorry, wish I could help but I have not ridden EE yet.

I am wondering the same thing. My youngest child will be four months past 7 yrs. old when we go next January. He is already 46 inches so he's tall enough right now. Last time we went to WDW, he was 2, so he's never really ridden any big rides. He's ridden some small coasters at an amusement park here in Michigan and loved them. He really wants to try the big coasters at WDW (even RnR and EE), but I guess I'm just afraid of them scaring him. Although, my gut tells me he'll do fine.

Just how intense are these rides? We didn't even do RnR or ToT when we were there last time because our kids were just too small. Hubby and I can't wait to focus more on the "big" kid rides. Although daughter who will be 9 at the time says she doesn't want to to try any of these. I think she's afraid she'll get on it, feel sick or afraid, and then she's stuck on them until the bitter end. She's bound and determined not to try any of the "big" kid rides. We're not quite sure how to handle this scenario either.

Please definitely answer the original posters question first, but then feel free to add comments to help answer my questions about DS and DD too. Thanks so much. I love the DIS boards!!!

Your dauther can always take the "chicken exit" if she doesn't want to ride the bigger rides. She should at least try to walk through the queue with you because some of them are really worth it. Like RnR and ToT, the queues and preshows are great. If she doesn't want to ride then, tell the CM and they will escort her to the end of the ride to wait for you.

Now, for your son. If he wants to try the bigger rollercoasters RnR is a good choice. You go upside down but you are in the dark so it isn't very noticable. Also it is a very smooth ride. It is a short ride so if he doesn't like it, it is over quickly. The initial acceleration isn't bad. I went on another rollercoaster with the same initial burst and hated it. But RnR doesn't bother me at all. I used to be deathly afraid of rollercoasters. Some friends forced me on one years ago and I have been addicted ever since. I find that if you scream a lot, it makes the ride seem better.

 

[ehsween]

Last time she went, she was 4. She did Star Tours and screamed through the whole thing. She remembers it very much and swears she won't go on it again. Before that ride, we all went on the Barnstormer and she wouldn't go on it. She stayed behind with her Grandpa.

I felt so bad for her (during Star Tours), but also I realize that she'll be 5 years older this time around and I'm hoping to get her to try something with a slight thrill and possibly work her up to bigger thrills depending on how she does with the smaller thrills. At the smaller amusement park I spoke of, she did go on some small coasters over and over again and enjoyed them, so I think I can get her on the Barnstormer and Big Thunder and see how she does with them. I just don't know how she'll do with anything bigger than those, especially if she knows they're in the dark. The thought of that alone will scare her.

It's so hard for me to understand her fears simply because I was always such a thrill seeker as a kid (my hubby was too), but we do try very hard to be understanding. It's just that we can't help but think if she just tries it, she might like it. It was a lot of work to get her try the smaller coasters at the Michigan amusement park, but when she did, she liked them.

I think I have a good handle on what she'd like and what she won't. Anything dark, she'll probably be fearful. Any loops, no way. Any really high hills, probably not. Anything somewhat scary (as far as something reaching for you) probably not. That is why I was hoping for any info about Expedition Everest.

 

[ehsween]

About this chicken exit.... Does this mean she's standing off somewhere on her own? The sound of that makes me uncomfortable. The thought of abduction comes to mind. Where do they have people (children) who take this exit stand?

 

[ehsween]

...for stealing your thread. I hope people continue to answer your question as well.

 

[bgdiznee]

We are just back from WDW and rode EE three times The one additional comment I'd like to add is I notice a huge difference in intensity dependent on which train section you sat in. We sat in the first section on our first ride and I felt very little "G force" pushing on you in the turns or drops. But the further back you sit the more you "feel" the ride. So you may want to try for the first train section (not the front seat of course ) Hope this helps.

 

[Mystic7070]

We road EE feb 8, 2006 and really enjoyed the experience. It was not as intense as Aerosmith and your head doesn't bounce as much. I compare it to an old fashion wooden rollercoaster ride. For those of you old enough to remember.

 

[erikthewise]

The WDW ride it is most similar to is Big Thunder Mountain.

Expedition Everest is somewhat more intense than BTM, but nowhere near as intense as Rock'n'Roller Coaster. If you ride Big Thunder Mountain and feel you could do go up a notch from that, you'll be fine on Expedition Everest. It is kinda scary, but very smooth -- you don't get knocked around as much as on Space Mountain. On the grand scale of coasters, Expedition Everest is still an "intermediate" coaster. There are no loops and no BIG drops. It's designed for fun rather than extreme thrills.

I was a little concerned before I rode it for the first time last week, as I don't like big coasters. But I figured Disney hadn't yet made a coaster I didn't like, and they still haven't!

 

[Savsmommy]

My DD who turned 6 on our trip rode EE with me. She gets scared easy so I was surprised she went on it with me. She wouldn't ride Aerosmith or Splash Mountain, although I didn't check the height requirements on those two so I'm not sure if she even could ride them. She loved Big Thunder Mountain. She did great on EE, although she said she will never ride it again. She calls it The King of All rides I think your son will be fine on it and wont be scared.

 

[Stacy_C]

If you don't mind having some of the surprises ruined, try doing a search on the dis for a video of the ride. I know there are a few floating around that would really help any nervous rider make their decision about going on.

 

[jennyl772003]

I think it is less intense ride-wise then RnR. The theming is more intense, but the ride itself is much more tame.

 

[TinkGirl]

My kids are 9, 11, and 13, and they loved EE. They rode it 10 during the sneak peek in Jan. My husband and I rode it 8 times before we got jelly legs. The ride itself is less intense that RnRc. The only thing I found a little disconcerting is climbing up, up, up to the top. You can see the tall landmarks from the other parks! The ride is very smooth, and there are nice, snug lap bars that are separate from the other person you are riding with. It's a lot of fun! For the other poster who was unsure about intensity of TT--that one still scares my 9-year old a little. She's not afraid of the drop, she's freaked by the preshow and the ghosts/effects you see before you reach the 13th floor. RnRc is so much fun--I think it's the most intense of the Disney coasters. You start very fast and go through some corkscrews. My kids do love it, though.

 

[aal]

To the OP: I just rode EE and RnR for the first time last week, as did my 13 year old daughter, who has neverbeen a fan of roller coasters. She was finally ready for them this trip.

Like other posters said, I think that EE is most similar to Big Thunder Mountain. I thought RnR was fairly terrifying because it is so fast and dark. I'm not too crazy about Space Mountain either, because it's a rough ride. if your son could handle those, he'll have no problem with EE.

 

[Tiffer]

I haven't ridden it myself, but am going C-mas 06. Have been told that it is most like the Matterhorn in DL, an updated vresion of course.

You can also usually tell whcih rides are most intense by the height requirement. If RnR is 48" (hypothetically) and EE is 46".....

Also, unless there is an over-the-head shoulder harness is is never upsidedown or too extreme.

FYI- I hate RnR only b/c it is so jerky and your head bangs all around. I love California Screamin in CA Adventure.

 

[lauralana9]

Somewhere else in the thread somone mentioned a chicken exit for EE. There is one right? An how about for RnR? I love roller coasters, would spend the whole day on the RnR. My DB on the other hand is a different story. From what I've read I can probably get him on EE but there is a snowballs chance I can get him on RnR. I'm assuming there will be an escape route for him but you know what they say about assuming.....


Bean

 

[darlene9947]

So there are NO big drops on EE?? I might be able to try this one. I just can't stand big drops. I went on ToT a few times and I'm OK with it now. I even did RnR last year and was scared but it wasn't that bad. The pics of EE look like they have a huge drop and that is what freaks me out. I can handle the dark parts (ya can't be scared of what ya can't see!!) I would definately like to try EE in August and December.

 

[erikthewise]

So there are NO big drops on EE?? I might be able to try this one. I just can't stand big drops. I went on ToT a few times and I'm OK with it now. I even did RnR last year and was scared but it wasn't that bad. The pics of EE look like they have a huge drop and that is what freaks me out. I can handle the dark parts (ya can't be scared of what ya can't see!!) I would definately like to try EE in August and December.

There are drops, and some might consider them big. But there are no long nearly vertical drops. They are on a sufficient slant so you don't experience the near-weightlessness that traditional coasters aim for.