5 Reasons We Love Expedition Everest in Animal Kingdom

Disney’s Animal Kingdom is the newest of the four theme parks found in Walt Disney World and is home to amazing experiences paired with an important theme. The park aims to teach guests about the importance of conservation through informative and enjoyable experiences. While there are plenty of entertainment, dining locations, and shopping locations in Disney’s Animal Kingdom, it is the attractions that really draw guests in. Some of the attractions in the park are serene or relatively mild like Kilimanjaro Safaris and the Maharajah Jungle Trek whereas others are more thrilling and adventurous like Dinosaur and Kali River Rapids. One attraction in particular packs some big thrills while drawing guests in with an extensive and immersive story. Expedition Everest can be seen from many different vantage points around Disney’s Animal Kingdom and features its very own mountain range. The attraction brings guests into the foothills of the legendary mountains and introduces them to the history and legend of the fabled Yeti. With big thrills, surprises, and one monstrous encounter, Expedition Everest is one attraction that guests should definitely not miss out on when spending time in Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Since the attraction is so popular, guests should also plan on booking FastPasses or using the single rider line since the standby wait times can be lengthy on busy days in the park. Here are the top five reasons why guests love Expedition Everest in Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

5. Detailed Queue

Expedition Everest is home to one of the most beautifully detailed queues in all of Walt Disney World. Guests enter through a crumbing stone archway and find themselves in outdoor courtyards with plenty of relics and temple ruins. While moving through the extensive queue, guests can observe statues, relics, and beautiful details like prayer bells above which actually ring. Once inside on the queue, guests move through a series of different rooms which are home to the offices and supply areas of a company that operates on the various mountains. Different rooms of the queue serve different functions including one that is home to many different types of gear and food supplies. Sharp eyed guests can spot a unique brand of tea for adventurous travelers dubbed Ye-Tea! With so many amazing details, many of which are authentic and were brought from Asia, guests love becoming immersed in the story and location of Expedition Everest.

4. The Yeti

The entire experience of Expedition Everest is based around the existence of one character. The Yeti is first introduced to guests in the final portion of the attraction’s queue which is home to a museum dedicated entirely to the beast. Different exhibits throughout the museum showcase ancient artwork of the Yeti, supposed proof through photographs and items from a doomed expedition, and even the believed origins of the creature. Guests might think that an encounter with the Yeti is slim, but they soon find themselves face to face with a piece of broken track that could have only been destroyed by one thing. Once deep inside the mountain, guests catch a glimpse of the beast in shadow before beginning a desperate race to escape the Yeti who can be found looming down trying to scoop them out of their seats.

3. Beautiful Views

Before the chaos of the Yeti deep inside the mountains, guests can enjoy some of the most breathtaking views in Walt Disney World. While going up the steep and very high lift hill on Expedition Everest, guests should be sure to take a moment and look all around them. Off to the right of the track, guests can spot the construction on the new Avatar themed area of Disney’s Animal Kingdom. To the left are Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios and behind in the distance guests can spot Disney’s Contemporary Resort and the Magic Kingdom.

2. Big Thrills

Sure escaping the clutches of the Yeti is thrilling, but there are also some other big thrills found along the way on Expedition Everest. Guests experience a portion of the attraction which features the train plunging into the darkness of the mountain at high speeds while traveling backwards! There is also another thrilling moment where guests find themselves at the top of a steep drop which they soon go careening down.

1. Souvenir Photo

Many guests love the fact that Expedition Everest offers a souvenir photo of guests enjoying the attraction. The photo is taken just as the train passes over the top of the massive drop and often times guests are usually screaming with terror and glee! The photo can be viewed after disembarking the attraction and guests can either purchase it in the gift shop or have it linked to their Memory Maker or PhotoPass for future purchase or download. There’s no better way to remember the big thrills and fun of Expedition Everest than by having a photo capturing the bets moment of the attraction!