I am READY to tackle Everest!! (Though I may need a little convincing )

[buzzrelly]

Hi all…eight trips and this is the ONE ride I've never tried. I've been on every mountain in the MK, rode RnRC in DHS (Twice! Though I thought I would die!!), rode ToT in DHS (because my DS who was 4 at the time told me it wasn't too scary…Ack!). And the only ride I feel I've yet to conquer is EE. I usually stand and watch my kids ride over and over again and I love seeing them come down that big hill, but it always looks crazy huge in person. I've been watching you tube videos and it honestly doesn't look that bad from the POV videos.

I think I've convinced myself to ride when we go in April, but I may need some encouragement so I won't chicken out when I get there. If you are like me, I would love to hear your story of how you have ridden it and it wasn't that bad. Or you think I should grab a comfy spot one the wall with my sunglasses and do what I've always done?

Thanks

 

[Bean786]

Do it! So much fun

 

[wdwjeffc37]

Go for it! It is a fun and unique experience. Remember it only lasts about three minutes. You can stand it for that short a time. You might just end up living it. Good luck and have fun!!!

 

[SeilerBird]

I did the same thing and when I finally broke down and rode it I was embarrassed at myself. It was a delight. Not scary at all, just a lot of fun. I only wish I could have ridden it the first time not knowing about the backwards part. I have talked to people who experienced it that way and I love hearing their reaction.

I was in a line on Friday at Epcot and I was chatting with a little girl, maybe five years old on her first trip to WDW. I asked her what her favorite ride was and with giant eyes she says "Everest!".

 

[zianha]

Go for it! You can do it! It's so much fun! I get motion sickness and have trouble with Space Mountain for some reason but Expedition Everest has never given me problems and it's just awesome. I totally think you'll end up loving it!!

 

[yulilin3]

If you could handle RnRC you're good for this one.
If the drop is what intimidates you ask for the front seat and the drop won't feel as fast.

 

[Here4mydisneyfix]

It's totally not that bad! Even our four year old (yes, she is very tall for her age...chalk that up to two tall parents!) LOVES it! You'll be fine, just breath!

 

[DVCcurious]

Here's what to expect:

If you've seen the youtube videos you know what happens, but not how it "feels". Here's how it "feels" from a fellow ride-chicken.

The roller coaster is very smooth, not jerky at all, so that's a good thing. The ride starts off on the ground level and it's faster than I thought but it's fine. I think you go up one small lift hill at the beginning.

Then you start the long trek up the mountain. This is where the anxiety really gets you. Your heart starts racing, you feel like you gotta pee, etc. But if you take a look around it's really quite enjoyable. The lake down below looks awesome, I believe you can see hollywood studios and Epcot, you can see some buildings off to the left and I think one is ToT but I could be wrong. Then you get to the top and the ride kinda curves left to where the track "ends".

The next part is the worst part of the entire ride. Going backwards. You think you're prepared for it, you know it's coming, but it's horrible. All of a sudden you start going backward and it starts to pick up speed, then it makes this huge turn and then you go "up". It's a very disorienting feeling as it's the opposite of how most coasters feel. Going uphill backwards is a very weird feeling.

Then comes my favorite part which is the yeti projection. The rest of the ride is fine. The steep hill is nothing. It's over very fast and there is a large turn up which counteracts your dropping feeling so it ends up being a nothing feeling. Splash Mountain's drop is much worse than EE's drop. There are some twists and turns and the ride does go fast, but it's smooth and the g forces aren't much worse than Thunder Mountain's turns.

So my advice is to do it, but just realize the 15 seconds you go backwards will be really bad and you'll probably hate it.

I hate the backwards part, but the rest of the ride is so enjoyable that I go on it repeatedly and just "get through" the backwards section.

 

[RebeccaRabbit]

I am a major ride wimp and I survived it - you can do it! It's an awesome ride, very worth experiencing. The details are amazing. Very smooth - not jerky at all like Space (which I hate). It did give me motion sickness, but at the same time I enjoyed it. I would say it's something you have to try for yourself - you may love it, you may not... but if a big wimp like me (who would NEVER get on ToT or RnRC!) can do it, so can you!

 

[prudence64]

I found it to be a mild coaster

 

[erinscreen]

I'm the same--I hadn't been on a roller coaster since my mid-20s (I'm mid-30s now), and EE was always one that I wanted to try but couldn't pluck up the courage. In April, I finally decided to do it. I LOVED it! It's prob my favorite ride now. I rode it twice in a row, and more times throughout the week I was there--in fact, it was the ride I rode the most during my trip. Definitely try it, and if you don't like it, you don't have to do it again

 

[ougrad86]

I am building up to big coasters again, after years of not riding. Everest was one I had to ride to work my way up, and I love it. We ride it several times each trip.

Some advise: don't get in the front or back, make sure you are in the middle, it is the most moderate ride experience. They always accommodate me when I make requests. Also, do not put your head against the headrest, lean forward a little. I do this on RnR as well, you feel the vibrations of the ride through the headrest.

It is a fun ride, and if you don't enjoy it, it won't last long, worth at least one ride! Whenever I get on a new one, I just tell myself it will be over soon, at least I can say I rode it!

My DF DD was scared out of her wits, then got off and wanted to ride again! Her last hurdle was ToT, which I practically had to drag her on. She loved that was as well, and now you can't keep her off of any rides!

 

[typhoonlagooner]

...The next part is the worst part of the entire ride. Going backwards. You think you're prepared for it, you know it's coming, but it's horrible. All of a sudden you start going backward and it starts to pick up speed, then it makes this huge turn and then you go "up". It's a very disorienting feeling as it's the opposite of how most coasters feel. Going uphill backwards is a very weird feeling.

When I road with a first timer, he INSISTED the coaster went upside down during this part! It of course doesn't... but that's how disorienting it can feel to some riders! To compare... he also 'struggled' with Mission Space, though had no issues with RRC.

That section is probably the most intimidating section of the ride...

 

[stephm0188]

Oh, it's so much fun! I think RnRC is much more intense.

My favorite seat on EE is the front. There's a moment where you stop before going backward, and the view from the front seat is incredible.

 

[ttfn3]

This ride is one ride I am thinking I will finally ride in on our March trip. Big Thunder Mountain is my FAVORITE ride at WDW. I've watched the youtube videos so the speed looks fine. I have had problems with vertigo in the past - so that's what concerns me the most - especially the backwards part. I am thinking I will take one Dramamine. I just don't want to get vertigo for the trip. And then I will be screaming a lot - so I don't panic I find screaming when I am afraid helps with the nerves.

 

[think-like-tink]

I tackled it in July. And it is now my fave. ride. I was super worried about the backwards part. It was a breeze. No own intend!! It's a smooth ride. Not jerky.
I took someones advice on here to keep your head pressed back. My DS did not and he said he felt funny afterwards, could have been just nerves though.

DO IT.

 

[buzzrelly]

Thanks everyone! I really do want to do it...it sounds like so much fun! And while I have gone on both RnRC and ToT, I should have mentioned I never want to go on them again! But Splash, Space and Big Thunder are absolute favorites and we ride these multiple times each trip! Maybe I can add EE to that list!

 

[Tigerlulu]

I am a huge chicken too. My doc gave me xanax for my flight down in April and I used some to ride RNR and Space. And Splash. RNR was super fun but I was so shakey afterwards for awhile. Space I loved and Splash was fun but it's the drops I have huge problems with. Splash was really hard for me to do. It will be hard to do again. I'd love to try EE but then again, I may need. A double xanax for that!

OP, I hope you do try it and update us on what you thought. Maybe you can help this chicken decide!

 

[canoe86]

The backward portion is terrible.

I knew there was a portion, but was surprised at the length and intensity of it.

ABout 2 hours to recover from that, and it does feel like you go upside down, even though I know you don't.

The rest of my family loves it though.

 

[yankeepenny]

Tea cups, Dumbo , and space mountain make me hurl.

EE will never be on my bucket list. Someone take my place in line!