Expedition Everest (Updates!) [Warning: SPOILERS]

[Escapay]

Gist, Aaron.

Anyways, I think the only "soft opening" I ever had was Mission: Space in July 2003. We were so naive then, and thought it was opened only for the 4th of July, and that it'd be closed until October!

I've also had the fortunate experience of being a ride-tester for the renovated It's A Small World at MK. We were actually PAID to ride-test the thing for 3 hours (so that castmembers working there would know how to load/unload, work the controls, etc.). And since it was a few weeks before it was to re-open, many of the dolls were...how shall I say it...undressed. And quite a few of them were...headless. I still love the ride, but just seeing them in their bare form kinda...violated me.

So next time someone says that riding IASW once is torture, tell someone to ride it continuously for three hours, viewing half the dolls naked and headless.

Escapay

[Loomis]

Noticed that there are a few updates online:

Mickey news has this article:

Disney Conquers a New Peak of Storytelling Thrills With Debut of Expedition Everest in Spring 2006

http://www.mickeynews.com/News/DisplayP ... 285Thrills

and Mouseplanet has another mention with photos:

http://www.mouseplanet.com/articles.php?art=wd051128mg

(scroll through a bit)

Sounds like it is going to be one of the greats!

[Loomis]

I was just listening to the WDW Podcast here:

http://www.disneyworld.com/podcast

Some of the highlights mentioned include interview previews with Joe Rohde:

- First and foremost about the Legend of the Yeti story
- Carved images of Yeti everywhere
- Imagineers went to Himalayas to research
- FIVE TIMES the volume of the Matterhorn (in size)
- Realist design and complex story to keep in line with Animal Kingdom
- forces involved in moving are equivalent to 747 jet!
- one of the most complicated structures ever built

However, next week (29/12) they will do a FULL interview with Imagineer Joe Rohde on the attraction.

[Grunches]

If I was to go towards the end of March do you think I would be able to get on? Also there is still no official set date right? We just know that it will be opening in April?

[Loomis]

If I was to go towards the end of March do you think I would be able to get on? Also there is still no official set date right? We just know that it will be opening in April?

A quick look around the Interweb tells me that April 7 is the 'official' opening day. I've cross-checked this date with a number of online sources, and it seems to be the consensus.

You can always hope for a 'soft' opening to the public. After all, the new Monsters Inc. ride has been open to some members of the public (and, of course, Cast Members) for a week or so, and it doesn't officially open until early January 2006.

The official site launches on January 16, by the way:

http://www.disneyeverest.com

[Loomis]

The new Podcast (29/12) is up:

http://www.disneyworld.com/podcast

Expedition Everest is discussed in more detail, with an interview with Joe Rohde. It's great, and there is even some construction noise going on in the background.

Rohde describes story as an adventure that takes us up Everest so we can get a start on the climbining seasons. We start in a 'made up' country that takes us through Forbidden Mountains on the way to Mt. Everest.

We then hop aboard a train that has been refurbished by the natives that will take us to Mt. Everest. Of course, this will take passengers through the Forbidden Mountains where the Yeti lives. Despite warnings from the villagers the ride proceeds

Details of ride itself include:

- It is a FAST ride for the entire family
- starts out as a slow ride, until you reach the Yeti's grip
- then you begin to fall backwards and forwards
- Pretty good speeds, but smooth - excitement over force
- Yeti tries to tear apart the track and get the train - basis for ride.

Imagineering challenges include the pure SIZE of the Mountain and fitting the ride inside it.

Brought architectural design from Nepal for Village and fitting inside mountain.

Yeti is HUGE, and one of the most complex designs. Forces involved in moving Yeti are equivalent to moving 747 plane!!!

Describes the ride as being 'for everyone'. More thrilling than scary.
----------------------------

Next week's podcast promises more architectural talk on the ride.

[Loomis]

New podcast is up:

http://www.disneyworld.com/podcast

"Get to know the astonishing Expedition Everest™ architecture from the inside out with Disney Imagineer Stefan Hellwig."

He talks about hey they came up with the 'look' for the ride. He disusses the research trip they took to Nepal (!)

We don't learn anything new about the ride, but it is interesting to hear about the ride from an architectural point of view.

[Fidget1234]

i'm going down March 6-12, maybe they will have a preview?
I made the soarin preview last year & that was fun...maybe i'll luck out again!
cant wait for this one

[Loomis]

Another new podcast is up:

http://www.disneyworld.com/podcast

"[M]ore thrills await with Imagineer Mark Mesko for on-the-track details about Expedition Everest and its high-speed trains that take you backwards and forwards through the mountainous mists."

Mesko is the ride manager from WDI. Basically, he is in charge of the ride.

According to Mesko:
- the train is based on a real tea train
- high speed ride
- integrated show mixed with high speed ride. So it slows down, lets you catch your breath and enjoy some of the scenery
- story and pace builds up and up
- Few surprises, including dropping backwards and changing direction

[AwallaceUNC]

Early reviews are being posted on WDWMagic. I merely skimmed so as to avoid spoilers, but it seems that there's very positive reception so far. I can't wait to ride this!

-Aaron

[Disney-Fan]

This is not the time to click the link if you're avoiding spoilers...
Click here.
All I can say is awesome ride. Met my expectations, [mild spoiler] and the shadow effect impressed me, however simple it was.

[chapnearwdw]

Even though I am among the many thousands of former Disney World employees (better known as cast members) and I left on not-so-good terms, I have been and always will be a true Disney fan. In fact, all I ever wanted to do my whole life was work out there, so now that I have, I'm not sure what else I want out of life now...


I am lucky that my father still works for Disney or I might not have been able to go back to the parks for a long time, not to mention I would've missed out on the 50th birthday celebrations! Because I no longer have the luxury of only having to work one job because only Disney really pays well down here (well, unless you either have a Master's Degree and 20+ years work experience or work in construction 60+ hours a week...), I'm not able to go out there much but I do tag along with my dad every once in a while.


We just went to the Animal Kingdom yesterday and we got to be among the first to preview the new attraction, Expedition Everest. I have to say that Disney World has finally got an AWESOME ride that is better than its counterpart at Disneyland!!! It's WAY better than the Matterhorn, both in speed and in content!!!


And just a quick aside while we're on the subject of Animal Kingdom...people are going to be shocked when they hear this: the last show of Tarzan Rocks was yesterday afternoon at 3:45 PM...sigh...

[Loomis]

Article contains images and video:

Disney Gambles On $100 Million Roller Coaster

http://www.local6.com/news/6394400/detail.html

<img src=http://images.ibsys.com/2006/0124/6394465_240X180.jpg align=left>"Disney officials are hoping a $100 million roller coaster thrill ride through the Himalayan Mountains opening to some riders this week will boost attendance numbers at the Animal Kingdom theme park, according to a Local 6 News report.

The $100-million roller coaster called Expedition Everest sends riders on a 4-minute adventure through the Himalayan Mountains in search of the Abominable Snowman. The ride reaches speeds of 50 mph and features an 80-foot drop.

Disney flew creators of Expedition Everest to Nepal in an effort to make the ride as authentic as possible.

"Imagineers actually went over to Nepal and the Himalayan Mountains and did a lot of back story research," Animal Kingdom spokesman Richard Gregorie said. "They went and spent months and months there understanding the culture and the people and the legend of the Yeti. They just learned everything they could and brought it here to Disney's Animal Kingdom."
The last major new rollercoaster added to a Central Florida theme park was in 2000 when SeaWorld Orlando added the Kraken rollercoaster. The ride helped SeaWorld boost attendance totals by 11 percent, Local 6 News reported.

Also, in 2003, the Disney Epcot ride Mission: Space helped turn around the park's falling attendance.

Animal Kingdom hopes to recover from a steep drop in attendance that has plagued the park during the last few years, according to the report.

However, according to a report published by Amusement Business magazine, Animal Kingdom's attendance totals of more than 8 million last year were far ahead of non-Disney theme parks in North America.

"This is going to be that final piece that takes us to the next level," Gregorie said. "Again, we have a lot of great attractions here already but with this with as kind of our signature attraction, it will do Disney's Animal Kingdom almost what Tower of Terror did for MGM Studios."

The ride opens to annual and season-pass holders late this weekend and to other guests next month.

Disney's Animal Kingdom theme park opened in 1998".

[chapnearwdw]

I was wondering if someone could tell me why my previous post which which was supposed to be a "new" thread, got merged into this much bigger thread so that no one will probably ever read it?!?!


What is it, are we not allowed to have multiple threads going about the same topic?!?!

[MinnieMe]

I was wondering if someone could tell me why my previous post which which was supposed to be a "new" thread, got merged into this much bigger thread so that no one will probably ever read it?!?!


What is it, are we not allowed to have multiple threads going about the same topic?!?!

Check out the posting guidelines: http://www.ultimatedisney.com/forum/vie ... php?t=9799

There is no reason to start a new thread when there is one going about the same topic anyway. Also, by merging, others can read old replies that they may not have seen before. It's better to keep all the info about one topic in one place- easier to find and read that way.

If a new topic is posted in the incorrect forum or when there was an existing thread about the exact same topic, a mod will merge it.

And that doesn't mean that people won't read it- it just bumps the old thread with your new info.

[Loomis]

New podcast up:

http://www.disneyworld.com/podcast

I forgot to post last week, and that included a video podcast as well!

This week:

Walt Disney Imagineer Eric Miller talks about creating the dramatic rockwork for Expedition Everest.

Next week:

Audio - The First "Peaks" at Expedition Everest
Join some of the first riders as they experience high-speed Expedition Everest™ fun through the mountainous mists. Will the Yeti strike?
Disney Imagineer Greg Dauberger shares stories behind the meticulous Expedition Everest™ props, set pieces, sculpted creations and artistic designs.

Video - An Expedition Everest™ Ride's-Eye-View!!

[Loomis]

Imagineers traveled far for Everest's details

Walt Disney World hopes thrill-seeking tourists will put Animal Kingdom's Expedition Everest on their must-try lists.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/ ... ws-florida

"The Nepalese Coke bottles, pot-bellied stoves and a few Buddha statues are real, imported from Asia. The tattered handbills and intricate woodwork are handcrafted, in some cases by Himalayan artisans, to meet Disney's needs. The 200-foot-high mountain range and robotic abominable snowman are designers' dreams brought to reality."

MORE...

[Loomis]

Mice Age's Kevin Yee reviews Expedition Everest:

http://www.miceage.com/kevinyee/ky012706a.htm

A great review with LOTS of photos. Warning: contains ride spoilers!

[Loomis]

Walt Disney World Resort Moves Mountains To Celebrate New Expedition Everest Attraction

New York City's famed Times Square will be transformed into the legendary Mount Everest on Feb. 15-16 by Walt Disney World Resort. A 57-story spectacular brings the Himalayas to life, with powerful avalanche effects, daytime pyrotechnics and the ferocious roar of the yeti, plus world-renowned aerialist acrobats performing a never-seen-before display of vertical acrobatics.

http://www.mickeynews.com/News/DisplayP ... 06Mountain

[daflobber]

We'll be at Animal Kingdom this Saturday the 18th. Anyone know if it will be open and running for me?