The History of Expedition Everest and The Troubled Yeti: Disney's Most Expensive Roller Coaster

Join us on Expedition.. Expedition Everest: Legend of the Forbidden Mountain as we look through the history of Walt Disney World's most expensive roller coaster ever. Now 15 years old, this Vekoma roller coaster at Animal Kingdom turned the theme park into more than just a zoo. As one of the best rides anywhere in the world, it only had one large problem. The Yeti would break shortly after opening and be put into a mode of Disco.

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#animalkingdom #expeditioneverest #disneyworld

[ExpeditionThemePark]

Do you think the Disco Yeti needs fixing? Let me know!

I also know that the switch track on Everest cost more than the whole of 13 at Towers. I just wanted to show that clip 😁

[ailem]

I definitely wasn’t expecting that many High School Musical puns in an Expedition Everest video

[GoetiaTV]

I wish Disney would make more rides based on the Society of Explorers and Adventurers. It's the perfect setup for so many different styles of theming.

[PoseidonEntertainment]

Expedition Everest stands as a testament to the idea that well thought-out attractions are what bring people in, not IP. A project that is creatively ambitious, marketed properly, is just as enticing, if not more so, than sticking a "brand" into a park wherever one might feel like. Everest stands as a sad reminder of the creativity allowed to flourish under the Eisner era (despite a lot of obvious problems like DCA though) and makes me wish that the company took that direction again. What makes the parks "Disney" to me, is the signature level of creativity and thought that used to go into their attractions. Iger and Chapek don't understand that the Disney signature is quality, and not cartoons.

[Mokujo]

Watching the yeti in the preview videos is honestly awe-inspiring. It's so large and well-animated that it looks like CG. What a shame that one of the coolest engineering marvels ever is in such a state.

[tallman]

I worked in the Everest gift shop for a time years ago and I've ridden the ride countless times and love it. I was lucky enough to have one of the ride's managers walk me into the mountain to see the yeti up close and it is extremely impressive to see in person and not flying past it. She told me that back when it worked that when giving new Everest cast members their tour of the ride that when looking at the yeti someone in the tower would turn it on to scare the new person.

Some interesting facts about the decorations of the area: most if not all of the gear that decorates the inside and outside of the different buildings is actual gear that was abandoned on Mount Everest. Also, the staircase cut from a log in the standby queue that goes from the office (can't remember if it's Bob's or Norbu's) to the loft was bought from an old lady in Nepal, they built her a proper set of stairs in its place.

[shaggytallboy]

You had me at, Expedition... Expedition Everest

[AngelJD]

I was a CP in 2005 and in 2006. I watched the Forbidden Mountain being built and was fortunate to experience it before the Yeti discovered disco. Even with the Yeti not moving like before it's still a wonderfully themed, storied, and well built attaction that's fun to ride and experience.

[annabelcrescibene]

“You were rubbish but I still miss you”
Iconic

[DocZFlux]

Ever see the irony in that both this and the Matterhorn are cases in which, despite being decades apart in technology, in order to fix a significant problem each have (the yeti here and the rough old track in the Matterhorn), they would have to effectively demolish them and rebuild them since they’re problematic elements are built into their support structures?

[TheGamezRevolution]

been 15 years since a non ip based attraction opened at disney damn :(

[bryantsteury]

"surrounded by hair ties". no joke, the amount of scrunchies there is absurd

[lauracoles]

That Th13teen clip is like what Kermit said in the muppets: I think this is what you call a running joke

[justinc.]

I’ve never been to Disney world, but I always assumed the mountain in this ride is Mount Everest because of the ride’s name. I guess it’s kind of like when people call Link Zelda.

[Adulese]

I was one of the primary kids during the promo filming when the ride was 99% done. It was one of the best experiences I have ever had, even better having gotten to see the yeti move in A Mode. It was absolutely terrifying and while Disco mode works well, I can say it really is a different experience. Someday, they'll get him back and working ... someday ...

[themisfitowl]

This became a true learning experience for Disney. Any other animatronic figure they have made after this has been able to be, either completely removed from it's station when it requires maintenance, or have some kind of reliable B mode to fill in while the animatronic is out of commission. Good example here is the figure of the Navi priestess in the Navi River Journey. If her animatronic is malfunctioning, she is removed and a screen projection of her goes up instead.

[TracksideViews]

It’s amazing how a massive company as Disney has had to scrap so many things due to budget constraints.

[juliagoodwin]

Anyone else bitter about Beastly Kingdom being scrapped?

[hermanpesina]

When Joe retired the first thing I thought was wtf man you made a promise !

[fastpassfacts]

Harold is times better than the disco yeti (Betty)... Change my mind! Great video Sam!