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Today in Disney History: Expedition Everest Marks 10 Years of Adventure at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Jennifer Fickley-Baker

by , Editorial Content Manager, Walt Disney World Resort

Exactly 10 years ago today, Expedition Everest – Legend of The Forbidden Mountain opened its doors to offer a wild race through adventure for park guests.

 Today in Disney History: Expedition Everest Marks 10 Years of Adventure at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Today in Disney History: Expedition Everest Marks 10 Years of Adventure at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Arguably one of the most visually stunning attractions at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, a guest’s journey to Mount Everest really begins the moment they enter the queue, which offers a treasure trove of cultural and historical detail. Along the way, guests pass a small temple, a general store and a museum that showcases past investigations into the yeti’s existence. Finally, they arrive at Himalayan Escapes – Tours and Expeditions office and board a train for a tour of the famed Mount Everest. But after climbing rocky cliffs and racing through narrow caves, the plan goes awry when the train encounters a twisted piece of track, and suddenly sends the group plunging backward in the darkness to encounter…well, you’ll have to experience it for yourself.

Thanks to Disney Photographer Courtney Di Stasio and Photographer Tom Bricker for these images.

Comments

  • Animal Kingdom is my favorite park. The queue is great, but it is only paid off if you see the Yeti. On two of my visits I just got a black tarp. On the third I saw a glimpse of something, but I didn’t time the strobe light right and missed any detail. It could have been King Kong, for what I saw. Please fix the Yeti!

  • I was fortunate enough to have seen the Yeti in his full glory!! I didn’t realize at the time how lucky I was………. I also have pictures from my trip in 2004 where you can see the steel beams and coaster track of the ride at the beginning of construction. We had no idea what they were building at the time, but I knew that I would be happy that I had pictures!!

  • This is my favorite attraction in Disney Parks but it’s been almost 10 years since I’ve been able to ride in its full glory. PLEASE fix the yeti. How can you create the world’s most advanced animatronic in the world and then leave her to hang there?! Thousands of guests see the “Disco Yeti” and don’t know what they are missing but the original A-mode yeti was absolutely amazing. Please bring her back for all of us die hard Expedition Everest fans!

  • Hope the Yeti gets fixed so the attraction can return to what it was when it first opened ten years ago!

  • Such an amazing ride!!! Love it!!! (Ps, please fix the yeti)

  • Time to fix the yeti

  • But we still have Disco Yeti

  • Incredible theme and back story. The queue is like a museum exhibit. The build up is great. Kudos to Joe Rhode on a job well done. Too bad the climactic ending is still broken.

  • Love this ride but disappointed that the audioanimatronic yeti is still broken. With all the amazing improvements to Animal Kingdom coming, do you think the yeti will move again?

  • that picture of EE at night looks amazing, I wish I would get to experience that for myself in 2 weeks!

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