Theme Park Insider

Expedition Everest reviews

Theme Park Insider readers offer their ratings and reviews for Expedition Everest, a roller coaster in Asia at Disney's Animal Kingdom. (The minimum height to ride is 44 inches.)

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Posted: August 5, 2010

Expedition Everest is a high-speed roller coaster through Disney's version of the Himalayan mountains. From base to peak, guests will reach a max speed of 50 mph, moving forwards--and yes, even backwards--all while being pursued by the fierce guardian of the mountain, the Yeti (A.K.A The abominable Snowman)

Expedition Everest's coaster design uses a Vekoma track that was originally used for smaller roller coasters, with the rails on the outside of the track ties rather than on the inside. The trains carry 34 passengers and are designed to look like old steam-engine tea trains, with the mock engine in the rear of the coaster. A rig built under the loading area makes it appear the train is steam powered when it comes to a stop at the loading dock.

Needless to say, something goes wrong on your mountain tour as the train careens through cold fog, the screams of its passengers mixing with ominous howling sounds from the beast.

Expedition Everest has no inversions and uses a simple lap bar system to keep its riders in place. The train seats two people per row, but each guest has his or her own lap bar to ensure a snug fit. Riders must be at least 44" tall and there are the standard ride restrictions for coasters.

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Readers' rating:

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
98 votes, so far

Such an amazing ride! From the atmosphere to the themeing, just everything is great! They just need to fix the stupid disco yeti, then I can give it a 10. 9/10 - Eric Cartman

The ride would be better with the A-mode Yeti but this is still my favorite Orlando coaster. The backwards section is great and the ride is fun overall. - Andrew Carrieri

Best rollercoaster ride I have been on ever. Excellent tension: it starts very slow, you get to think, is this another boaring mine ride. Then after the stop, when you go backwards, the speed intensifies, and after the second stop gets even higher. Theming is excellent and fits in perfect. One big thrill! - A. P.

As a coaster its a fun ride but not the best but the theming is THE BEST out of ANY coaster I've ever ridden! Best ride in DAK, but with Primeval Whirl this coaster could have afforded some universal or Six Flags style thrills - travis traymoore

The drop gets me every time..Ride single riders for a faster wait..9/10 - Arianna Griffel

My favorite ride in all of Disney! The setting is unbelievable and the ride is an extreme adventure through Mount Everest! Look out for the Yedi! - Matthew Harackiewicz

I love this coaster everybody in the family will love this ride is the Best theme coaster ever - Giovanny Cruz

I always enjoy this rides more than I expect... the initial drop is faster than it looks and there's always parts of the ride that I forget about... Brilliant fun. Essential to get a fastpass... - Lauren Hayhurst

Best rollercoaster I have been on personally and I have been to Busch, Universal etc. Love it because of its personality. Great twist, great drop and great theming. Just brilliant fun! - James McGee

An excellent attraction (the level of thought and detail in the queue is worth sacrificing FastPass). Unfortunately let down by the ongoing situation with the Yeti, representing in many ways all that went wrong with the Disney parks in the 1990s. - Man-Eating Sharks

Excellent, did it twice. - steven boudreault

I would love to see this one getting a perfect 10 but it won't if that Yeti isn't going to work. Strobe lights won't fix it Disney!! Great ride for beginners but the queue can be unbelievable. 9/10 - D H

If the Yeti is working, it's a perfect 10. If not, it's still a fantastic attraction. - Mostly Anonymous

Great fun. Surprises and twists. Just beautifully executed. - Heather Olson

No need for fastpass unless you have to sit with your friends on this, its easier and faster to use the single rider line. - Arianna Griffel

I really liked the drop!! THe yeti effect was cool, and that suspense when the rail was ripped off was really awesome! - Brendan Harrison

My favorite ride at all of Disney World! Excellent theming and a great overall coaster!!! - James Singleton

Great ride, awesome theming, would be a 10/10 if they could ever get all the effects working properly (mostly the Yeti--I know the average guest doesn't even know anything is wrong, but for the diehards, it's just shameful how long that thing has been broken). - Abagail Bloodworth

10/10. Best thing to do at the Animal Kingdom. Contemplating whether or not this is my favorite roller coaster at Walt Disney World... - Nick Dakuginow

cool ride! - Reggie Templeton

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