Four Fast Facts About Expedition Everest
Walt Disney World is home to some of the biggest thrill attractions around the globe and Expedition Everest is no exception! Located in the Asia area of Disney’s Animal Kingdom, guests can find this one-of-a-kind mountain coaster complete with all the theming. For me, Expedition Everest is a must when I’m in Animal Kingdom, so today I’m sharing a few fast facts about this iconic attraction!
Steep Price Tag
Did you know Expedition Everest is the most expensive rollercoaster in the world? According to the Guinness Book of World Records in 2011, the Forbidden Mountain is the most costly coaster around! For the low, low price of $100 Million, Disney Imagineers brought this record-breaking attraction to life. With the second most expensive rollercoaster’s price at almost half ($52 Million), I think it’s safe to say that no expense was spared on this Disney masterpiece! Considering this attraction is a fan favorite for Disney’s Animal Kingdom, I’d say this hefty investment paid off. *This record was broken in 2019 by Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure when it opened at Universal’s Islands of Aventure. That coaster cost $300,000,000 to create.
Great Heights
Expedition Everest also boasts the title of tallest attraction in Walt Disney World! The Forbidden Mountain stands at 199.5 feet, only a half of a foot taller than Walt Disney World’s second tallest attraction the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. Why 199.5 feet? Disney Imagineers built this man-made mountain as tall as it could be without requiring a flashing red light to alert airplanes of the structure. In an effort to avoid a compromise in theming, Disney kept the mountain below the 200 ft height requirement. (Right below!)
Forbidden Mountain
Aside from being Walt Disney World’s tallest attraction, Expedition Everest’s height holds a few other titles! This monstrous coaster holds the title of the tallest mountain in any Disney park. It is also the tallest artificial mountain in the world! Talk about some pretty sweet views. Despite popular belief, the attraction is not a replica of Mount Everest. It is instead known officially as the Forbidden Mountain!
Disco Yeti
Did you know one of the most expensive aspects of this iconic attraction isn’t even working anymore? That’s right, it’s broken! Expedition Everest’s Yeti is one of the largest and most complex Audio-Animatronic figures ever built by Walt Disney Imagineering. (Second only to one of their most recent Audio-Animatronics featured in Pandora’s Na’vi River Journey attraction.)
At 25 feet tall this Yeti is larger than life. In its prime the Yeti had the ability to move 5 feet horizontally, lunging down toward the riders almost able to grab riders from the train! This setting was considered “A-Mode” meaning that the animatronic was on and working. The Audio-Animatronic was spectacular. After a thrilling ride through the mountain, this iconic Yeti was the ultimate surprise leaving guests speechless at his sight!
Unfortunately, a few months after the attraction opening in 2006, the yeti’s framing split due to the extreme force of the Yeti’s strong lunging motion. It’s been said that the forces of the Yeti actually caused the foundation of the mountain to crack. The Audio-Animatronic was so massive that it needed its own compartmentalized area to ensure the longevity of the costly attraction. With this attraction being the most popular in the park at the time, Disney couldn’t chance the lengthy refurbishment that may keep guests from visiting the park.
Their solution? Disco Yeti! The Yeti animatronic was put in “B-Mode” until further notice to try and preserve the attraction. (B-Mode consists of the Yeti standing static with a strobe light flashing to make up for the lack of movement.) Hopefully, with the recent opening of the widely popular Pandora, Disney will plan for the major refurbishment of Expedition Everest in the near future! (Making Disco Yeti a thing of the past!)
Expedition Everest is one of a kind. Guests 44 inches or taller have got to take a trip to the Forbidden Mountain at least once! (Even if it’s just to see the Disco Yeti with their own eyes.) So next time you’re in Disney’s Animal Kingdom, be sure to venture over to Asia and experience this iconic attraction!
What was your favorite Expedition Everest fact?