Rode Expedition Everest - Oh Wow!

[LibertyLover]

DH, DSD25, DD3 and I just returned from 8 days at WDW. Last Saturday evening when we got back to the Poly from dinner (at Marrakesh - yum!) there was a voice mail on the phone telling us that EE would be open the next day until 2 pm for guests of the resorts. So the next day, while DSD went to GF Spa, DH, DD3 and I went to AKL, got on the line for EE and waited. At the entrance I got an untimed FastPass since we were doing the babyswap thing and settled back to wait. 45 minutes later DH came back with a wide grin on his face. All he would tell me was: Eyeballs in; eyeballs out. I got on the FastPass line and after about 20 minutes got on board the train as a single rider filling in a group of 3. The ride is fantastic! It starts slowly with the first curve being interesting, but not particularly wild or stress inducing. Then you go up into the mountain, looking down at the visitors on the ground that seems a long ways down and that's where the eyeballs in; eyeballs out comes into play. You probably know that your forward trip comes to an abrupt stop with the tracks having been pulled up by the yeti and that you go backwards in the dark. What nobody really mentions is that you are stopped, looking at the ripped up tracks for a good 20 seconds. Long enough to realize that the only way back down is backwards. The anticipation gets to build. Then, bam, back goes the train and you wonder when your eyeballs will catch up with you. It's definately not as rough as Mission Space, nor are there any drops, but the curves are well done and the downhill runs are exciting. It is a first class E-ticket ride.

The theming is fantastic too. I've been to Nepal and the buildings and flora really look authentic. All in all EE is great and I can't wait to ride it again.

 

[ncbyrne]

No drops? I've been watching them build this from a distance over the past two years and it always looked as if there was a major climb.....do you not go backwards at that point? I'm not so sure I have the guts to even try this ride - looks pretty intimidating to me.

 

[Laurajean1014]

Do they have t-shirts about EE? Do they sell authentic Nepal stuff as they do in Africa? The town around it looked great back in December....

 

[hogwartsdropout]

I thought there was a 80ft drop?

 

[2angelsinheaven]

There is defiantly a drop... =o)

 

[LibertyLover]

Sorry - I should have clarified that by drops I meant the drops as in ToT. You definately go up and down at EE. As for merchandizing, they do sell EE t-shirts, stuffed yetis (both a cute kiddie version which DH bought for DD3 and a scarier version of the ride's yeti) and some generic AK merchandise. I have to be very honest and tell you that I didn't spend a great deal of time in the shop as DD3 decided to throw a temper tantrum because I wouldn't buy her a stuffed yeti (which DH did the minute I was on the ride). They may have had a few items from Nepal, but I truthfully can't recall details. I am sorry. Perhaps someone else who has been there can answer that.

 

[JulielovesDisney]

I rode it 2 weeks ago, and I have to agree with you. It's an amazing ride! The only part I don't like is the lift hill up. There is nothing around you, and that got me a little scared. But I'm sure I'll get used to it by our next ride on it in August. I love the big drop!! It's so awesome!! And the themeing is incredible! I went through the FP line, so I didn't get a chance to see everything, but from what I saw, they went all out. It reminded me a lot of Kali River Rapids, that ride is really detailed too.

Glad you had fun!! And to everyone else planning on riding EE, enjoy!!

 

[NJBlackBerry]

We rode it (twice) three weeks ago, and I had to slow DS11 down so I could check out the themed queue area. The theming is awesome, and the ride is even better. And I don't like roller coasters. But EE is truly amazing.

 

[__disneygirl]

I can't wait to ride it.. 38 days until i'm at WDW

 

[NMAmy]

We rode it three times last week and it was fantastic! Did anyone else think it felt like you were going upside down when you were going backwards? I think it was because it was so dark, I got disoriented. DD and her friend who are both 15, cracked up everyone in our general area after the ride. They were both freaked by the idea of the yeti so we ride and they're sitting behind me screaming the whole way. We pull back in to get off and they both asked me, "What did the yeti look like?" I was puzzled and said, "You guys were on the ride, right?" The guy behind us was . They'd kept their eyes closed for the whole ride!

I'll post some pictures of the queue later--I'm downloading them right now.

I got a really great t-shirt that says "Himalaya Expeditions." It's red and has a cool designs on it. I spent some time in the gift shop--it was mostly t-shirts, stuffed yetis, and stuff related to the ride. They even had like a little play ice pick which was kind of a weird idea for a souvenir but whatever. I did get some cool stickers for my scrapbook along with t-shirts for the girls.

 

[2angelsinheaven]

I also felt like I was going to go upside down when we went backwards. I believe you may be going up a hill backwards hence the feeling but am not sure. The backwards part was pretty long. I loved the ride!

 

[sandraB]

So is the ride open most days??

We are there next friday, just one day before our cruise, and would really like to do this ride.....

What are the chances it will be open???

 

[disneyfanfamily]

How dark is it? Pitch black? Dark like Space Mountain? Dark like Dinosaur? I am not terribly fond of pitch dark. But my kids are even less fond....

 

[ryley26]

Its dark like old space mountain no light at all But this ride is a must. Rode it with DB's this weekend we all loved it.

 

[Pixiedust34]

It sounds like such an awesome ride! Thanks for the review.

 

[jlawall]

Sorry, I'm a nervous coaster rider............how does it compare to Big Thunder....I love the speed, but don't like drops, can i handle this??

 

[orljustin]

I think Big Thunder is better. The dark backwards portion in EE is different than anything else, and very dark. However, the climax of the ride, the Yeti room, is not currently working, or at least wasn't last weekend, and is very disappointing.