Who went to the E:E preview and what did you think???!!!

[AdventurerKat]

We went Saturday. I have NEVER seen crowds like that at AK.

We were looking at a huge line (2 hours standby, 1 hour single rider) and I was pretty tempted to throw in the towel and try to come first thing on Sunday when, as my son, niece and I exited Dinosaur, my MIL showed us Fast Passes for the ride! Someone who had gone on Dinosaur prior to us had their child end up sick from it and decided to go back to their room and these wonderful folks gave my MIL their three FPs for the ride which were for a time just 20 minutes away. We literally walked on the ride when it was the time for the FP. And to share the pixie dust, we only needed two of the FPs, we gave one to someone standing in that long line for E:E.

So if the person who gave us these FPs is one of us DISers, I just want to say I am so sorry that your child got sick from Dinosaur and you were unable to ride E:E but you made me and my niece's day by passing on those FPs. Thank you for throwing some pixie dust around.

And my personal thoughts on Everest. I loved it! I wish it was longer but it was much fun.

 

[lillygator]

we went and it was awesome!! Thursday was perfect with the way everything was handled I thought and crowds were not that bad. Yesterday was a madhouse although we still ended up with 4-5 FP's a piece. I think they were out of FP's by the time we left the park. The standby line was crazy! We rode it multiple times with no wait in the FP line although we did wait an extra 10-15 minutes to ride up front.

 

[nowellsl]

We went Saturday and it was packed! We weren't going to ride anyway, but the fast passes were gone and standby was 2 hours! We just went to get the free pin/lanyard. Everything was more crowded this weekend, including Pop Century. The preview really brought in the crowds!

 

[Miss Jasmine]

We went yesterday, got there right at park opening and it was handled well. We got in line stand-by (was about 15-20 minute wait) and we sent one person from our party to get Fast Passes. We eneded up riding it three times yesterday (once stand by, twice fast pass). It was awesome. I recommend trying the back AND the front. The front row is a whole different experience!

 

[JessiMommy]

We were there this weekend. Friday was great! We had a 15 minute standby wait and then got fastpasses. We rode twice first thing that morning, then we went on the safari came back and rode twice more. We had another set of fastpasses but never used them before we left. When we went back the last time around 3 pm the standby wait only said 20 minutes. Now Saturday was a totally different story.... I've never seen AK that crowded. We were able to get fastpasses to ride 2 more times but WOW what crowds!!! All the parks were busy the rest of the weekend. Thursday & Friday were great though! The ride is everything it's hyped to be... AWESOME!

 

[sodaseller]

I recommend trying the back AND the front. The front row is a whole different experience!

How close do you get to the Yeti in front? I ask because my DD9 said no way after I told her the Yeti takes a swipe at the train and the vids and pictures online last week made him look close. She loves roller coasters but hates scary creatures.

I only got to ride once Saturday in the last seat and it didn't look like he was closer than 15' - told my DD9 that she would have been OK as she would have time to close eyes.

 

[lillygator]

I rode in the front several times, I am not good at judging distance but I thought he was pretty close. Also I had my hands up but at that point it looks pretty close to be able to touch and I put them down. I heard CM's and Imagineers talking about telling people to put their hands down as well but never got the full story.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

How close do you get to the Yeti in front? I ask because my DD9 said no way after I told her the Yeti takes a swipe at the train and the vids and pictures online last week made him look close. She loves roller coasters but hates scary creatures.

I only got to ride once Saturday in the last seat and it didn't look like he was closer than 15' - told my DD9 that she would have been OK as she would have time to close eyes.

Pretty close, but I wasn't any more scared that time than I was the two other times. Each time I thought he hit the top of my head and screamed.

We tried to get a picture of the Yeti from the front row. But our stupid digital camera was too slow.

 

[Park Hopper]

We went on Thursday and intentionally didn't arrive at Animal Kingdom until 3:30, hoping that any crowds would have thinned out by then. Sure enough, there wasn't a crowd at all and we rode three times in succession with absolutely no waiting at all.

As for the ride, it's tremendous -- the best attraction WDW has come up with in a long time. You can read my review if you'd like.

 

[addicted2disney]

We went on Thursday too. Got to Animal Kingdom around 9:15 and headed straight to EE. It was very crowded there, and seemed very confusing trying to get fast passes, and then the tickets for the free lanyard and pin, and then to yet another person to get a ticket for the limited special pin to buy. But after all of that, we rode with fast passes, and then again with the child swaps. Then we could get more fast passes. By the time we all rode 3 times, the lines were rather short for standby 15 & 20 minutes. The kids rode it 8 times and I personally got on it 5. I thought it was an awesome ride!! Very different. Cant wait until its open all the time.

 

[CarolA]

I rode Friday, Saturday and Sunday!!!

Friday I went straight from the airport to AK. Landed at 3:10 and and was in line by 4:30 Got my lanyard and did three walk ons! Saturday was CRAZY!!! I got to the park at 8 am acting on tip from a CM at checkin and headed straigt to Fast Pass when we got in at 9. The machine BROKE!!!! I got a FP for 10 after wasting several minutes and then ran inot a couple I had met in line. They told me there were VERY few DVC and AP special pins left so I ran in and got them.. SCORE! (I later heard there were only 22 AP and 60 or so DVC pins YEAH!) By the time I finished there was a wait estimated at TWO hours!!! I went and rode Safari and then came back and used my FP.


Sunday I did the whole routine over again!!! Only this time DIsney had the FPs printed and I was pretty much able to grab one and do the standby line. Went out and got a snack and came back for FP.

I left the park and went to the pool. At about 4:00 I came back to AK. I did the Safari twice (Great animals just before the 5 pm Safari closing) and then walked onto EE three times.

Personally I have sat in both the front and back and I don't see any way you can touch the Yeti (and I saw folks try, no one came close) The CMs never said anything to me on any of my 9 rides about keeping my hands down. That Dino in the Dino ride comes MUCH closer IMHO

All in all it's a great ride (SORRY this is so long!)

 

[sodaseller]

Pretty close, but I wasn't any more scared that time than I was the two other times. Each time I thought he hit the top of my head and screamed.

We tried to get a picture of the Yeti from the front row. But our stupid digital camera was too slow.

Thanks. That likely nixes it for her - she'd have nightmares for weeks. He really didn't look close to me, but that could be my aged eyes.

One other lament about EE, really mixed feelings. I live the look of the mountain itself - it is perfectly framed on the bridge from Camp Minnie-Mickey to Africa. It really is beautiful. There must be some forced perspective at work, as it appears far taller than 199'.

Now the mixed feelings. First, it will bring heretefore unknown crowds to AK. Though we realize it is a minority opinion, my family loves AK, especially it's serene pace and serious thematic bent - conservation, ecology, biology, etc. IMO, AK was fine even without an "E" ticket. That said, if they had to pick one, this one is ideal. Everest is a true mountain, long an intellectual interest, with tremendous stories out there of interest such as, at the most popular level, Krakauer's "Into Thin Air", and my personal favorite, Sir Edmund Hillary's election to include Tensing Norgay in the record.

The Mountain is a beautiful scale rendition, down to the famed Hillary Step. And the fictional Yeti may yet tie into the rumored "Beastly Kingdom" (my hope), and as myth, touches on some excellent themes (Christopher Moore did a really interesting treatment of the Yeti from a theological perspective in "Lamb")

So I have some mixed feelings, but loved the ride

 

[kfeuer]

Now the mixed feelings. First, it will bring heretefore unknown crowds to AK. Though we realize it is a minority opinion, my family loves AK, especially it's serene pace and serious thematic bent - conservation, ecology, biology, etc. IMO, AK was fine even without an "E" ticket.

I know what you mean. My family also loves the serenity of AK, so it was very odd to hear screaming as we were walking through the park (during the cast member preview).

 

[Miss Jasmine]

Here's a pic that I really like:

 

[oxfordcircus]

Standby was only about 20 minutes. I had a FP and walked right on. I thought the ride was great, but I still enjoy Tower of Terror more. I'd probably rate it in the top 3. I'm glad to see improved effort from Disney. I'm glad Stitch is not the future of Disney.

 

[theSurlyMermaid]

Thanks. That likely nixes it for her - she'd have nightmares for weeks. He really didn't look close to me, but that could be my aged eyes.

One other lament about EE, really mixed feelings. I live the look of the mountain itself - it is perfectly framed on the bridge from Camp Minnie-Mickey to Africa. It really is beautiful. There must be some forced perspective at work, as it appears far taller than 199'.

Now the mixed feelings. First, it will bring heretefore unknown crowds to AK. Though we realize it is a minority opinion, my family loves AK, especially it's serene pace and serious thematic bent - conservation, ecology, biology, etc. IMO, AK was fine even without an "E" ticket. That said, if they had to pick one, this one is ideal. Everest is a true mountain, long an intellectual interest, with tremendous stories out there of interest such as, at the most popular level, Krakauer's "Into Thin Air", and my personal favorite, Sir Edmund Hillary's election to include Tensing Norgay in the record.

The Mountain is a beautiful scale rendition, down to the famed Hillary Step. And the fictional Yeti may yet tie into the rumored "Beastly Kingdom" (my hope), and as myth, touches on some excellent themes (Christopher Moore did a really interesting treatment of the Yeti from a theological perspective in "Lamb")

So I have some mixed feelings, but loved the ride

Great post!

I know what you mean about feeling like you are giving up something that was sort of secret in AK to the crazy masses of thrill seekers, but I have to say, I am pleased this will draw more crowds to AK. I get a little sad when I hear people bashing AK and how boring it is and how they always skip it and what a huge disappointment it is for WDW. The park is very young, and it needs time to accumulate attractions...starting with this must-see. Plus, new things give us reasons to keep on returning!

 

[AdventurerKat]

I'm glad Stitch is not the future of Disney.

I'm right there with you on that one.

 

[isyt]

Just got back and went on Friday. It was great we left the airport, checked in at SS and headed over. We waited about 15 min and sat in the front. What a great ride. We than got fastpasses and ate a late lunch. We went back and ride the back and it was a completelt different ride. Seemed alot faster. A wdi person was at the exit and we were talking to him and he told us to try the middle. He gave us a fastpass and oof to the middle. Aother great but different ride. All three rides are awsome. If you want a calm ride sit towards the front , wild in the back. The ride was designed to see the "show" from the middle and it was great. I can't wait to go again!!!

 

[lillygator]

MIss Jasmine - isn't that by Flame tree? We ate there both days and took pics from this spot as well!! Cool!

 

[Sylvester McBean]

here's 2 more from flame tree:

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it's the best attraction WDW has put out in years. we only got to ride twice, but we love it.