The towering Expedition Everest at Disney's Animal Kingdom is one of the most thrilling roller coasters every created by Disney's Imagineers. It's also stunningly detailed, and packed with little details.
Dominating the Asia area of the park, Expedition Everest was opened in 2006. Designed to fill a thrill ride-shaped hole in Disney's Animal Kingdom's line-up, it has proven to be immensely popular.
The ride's storyline revolves around guests embarking on expedition to climb Mount Everest. However, in order to reach the mountain, they must first head to a base camp on the Forbidden Mountain. Legend says that the mountain is guarded by the mysterious Yeti - and that he doesn't take too kindly to intruders.
The queue line begins in the village of Serka Zong, with the first building that guests enter being the booking office for Himalayan Escapes, a local adventure travel agency run by Norbu and Bob. Guests then pass through a replica temple, a tea garden and a Yeti Museum owned by Professor Pema Dorjay. Finally, they board one of the ride's trains to begin their journey up the Forbidden Mountain.
Expedition Everest is packed full of tiny details, with around 8,000 artifacts on display in the museum alone. Next time you ride, look out for these 17 hidden secrets!
17. Authentic materials
All of the buildings in Serka Zong were made using "rammed earth" bricks, which are created by mixing water, dirt and straw together and hammering the mixture until it becomes rigid.
16. A significant color
Throughout the village of Serka Zong, notice that many of the corners of buildings, doorways and other elements are colored red. This is considered by Himalayan locals to keep evil spirits away.
15. Extensive landscaping
To recreate the lowlands surrounding Mount Everest, more than 900 bamboo plants, 10 species of trees and 110 species of shrubs were planted.
14. An unusual height restriction
Even if you know that your kids meet the height requirement, have them measure themselves at the entrance to the ride anyway. The requirement? Guests must be at least one "Yeti foot" tall to ride (44 inches).
13. The totem poles
Take a look at the totem poles in front of Expedition Everest. These were hand-carved by Nepalese craftsmen.
12. Authentic memorabilia
The queue line for Expedition Everest is intricately detailed. Many of the items in the queue are authentic, with climbing gear being taken from the base of Mount Everest and computers and ladders being purchased from Nepalese stores.
11. A familiar beverage
Coca-Cola has spread across the world, and there's evidence of this in Expedition Everest. Nepalese coke bottles are visible thoughout the queue line.
Comments
If you were in fact a cast member, you would know she has always been brown. I worked there as an attractions cast member, I worked there with the people who opened the attraction, and I know every nook and cranny of that mountain. Why would the Imagineers build the yeti white then turn around and make her brown? That's ludicrous. If you view footage of the attraction's development and opening, what color is she? Brown.
Linds I think you dont know nearly what you think you do. Want me to send you the vacation planning DVD from the year the ride opened? Because they show this gigantic white yeti swinging its arm down at the Everest cars. It was certainly a white yeti plain as day in that video. ANd a few videos after as well.
this is a little late to the party(just found out about this site this year{2017}) but i believe linds is correct, albeit very abrasive, about the color of the yeti
if you google expedition everest yeti moving 2006, and click the machinedesign(dot)com link they have a picture of the yeti there