Everest Leaves a Lot To Be Desired.

[iAmJacksDLand]

Today was Animal Kingdom cast member preview and I had the priveledge to ride three times.

The ride suffers from fundamental flaws. It really is just a roller coaster that weaves through an elaborate mountain. Beyond the massive size of the mountain, it's color, and texture, it really isn't themed. The lift is awkwardly placed and incredibly contrived.

There really isn't a story. The ride has minimal audio. I thought I heard whoosing noises being played inside the caves, but I could've been imagining them. The only other audio is a tinkling charms when you go up the first lift and the Yeti's growling. There is no narration or explanation as to what is happening to you.

It's clear after you complete the backwards portion that what is happening to you is occuring because of the Yeti, but the shadow projection of the Yeti looks fake and isn't timed right.

Then I get super confused. If the vehicles are supposed to be a train service to Everest, why are there triple helix's placed behind the mountain, right next to the main lift? I understand these are needed for thrill - but the reason is not explained in true Disney fashion.

The Yeti is admittedly cool, but how much did he cost? I heard estimates in the millions being thrown around. You zoom by him and witness his desruction for about 4 seconds. That's sad.

Unfortunately, I was very unimpressed. It reminded me of a Big Thunder Mountain that was built in a bigger mountain with better technology. There is no real story and no real problem or conclusion. The ride is quick and the ending is anti-climatic.

Tragically, people will ooh and aah over this new "e-ticket". What ever happened to the incredible story telling that Disney used to combine with amazing technology? What has become of the days of Orlando's Tower and Anaheim's Indiana Jones?

I knew Everest was going to be a coaster, but I really thought it was going to be an ADVENTURE and not just... timid thrils with a pinch of theming.

[iluvstitch]

Bah... I'll see when I get there...

[Dustysage]

OMG - I'm so sad.

It just looks so cool from all the pictures. I hope that it goes over well with the guests. DAK needs something to pack the people into this beautiful park.

[Fantasmico!]

I am disappointed. I was hoping for a ride that had a lot of story to it plus coaster thrill. Sounds like you get more yeti at DL Matterhorn. *sigh* Bet that it does go over well with coaster fans because of the backwards feature.

[Mr D]

Well that justs cancels our future WDW vacation!

I guess this ride is just a bigger SuperstarLimo?

Another total failure of creative design?

A souped up carny ride?

EXXXcuuuse me but I'll decide for myself!

[BigPigletFan]

Okay all. One CM gives this attraction AMAZING reviews, Bill gives a good review and this DAK CM gives a questionable reivew and you all side with him. Remember each attraction isn't for everyone and we all have our open opinions on things. So thank you iAmJacksDLand for your opinion, but I'm just asking the rest of MC to wait and see it on their own before you jump to predicting a failure with E:E.

[EpcotServo]

Anyone who says E:E has a bad story must've not paid too much attention while waiting in line. I've been on Everest around 8 times and for me It gets better each time!

[Ride Warrior]

{BigPigletFan Quote} Okay all. One CM gives this attraction AMAZING reviews, Bill gives a good review and this DAK CM gives a questionable reivew and you all side with him. Remember each attraction isn't for everyone and we all have our open opinions on things. So thank you iAmJacksDLand for your opinion, but I'm just asking the rest of MC to wait and see it on their own before you jump to predicting a failure with E:E. {Quote}

I couldn't agree with you more, BPF.

[Ride Warrior]

OMG - I'm so sad.

It just looks so cool from all the pictures. I hope that it goes over well with the guests. DAK needs something to pack the people into this beautiful park.

Judging by the following ride video. Dusty, it is an action packed cool experience...

http://www.boingboing.net/2006/01/16...verest_co.html

There are actually two films in the above link. They should allow people to judge for themselves to a degree as to how exciting the ride is. Expedition: Everest appears to be around 2:40 seconds long. Even with DSL, it takes a few minutes to load. The two videos utilize Quicktime.

Prior to this new ride experience, those who compare Everest to Big Thunder Mountain Rail Road might expect a pioneer barkers voice, and zippy music throughout. This would spoil the raw drama and mood. Others might contemplate narration and entertaining songs as with the Haunted Mansion, Pirates and other rides. If all Disney attractions incorporated the same elements, that really would be bor-r-r-r-ing.

What you can expect is a coaster that is very much like Disney's first true E-ticket - the Matterhorn. It doesn't get any more Disney than that. Only, EE is more elaborate in terms of it's gorgeous scenery and elaborate technology. The first time one takes the trek, they likely will not notice all of the sounds and sights that embody the rich fabric of the ride - and this is the nature of a great adventure.

The purpose of the ride is obvious - you are in search of the Yeti. Desolate wind is in your ears almost the entire time. In several places, the sound of shifting metal and distant moans are audible. At one juncture, birds can be heard singing. How authintic the green scenic vista; the icy, snowy mountain, and it's caverns appear to be. The train whistle can be heard in one spot during the video. The "natural" sights and sounds are all the narration and music that one needs.

My favorite part is when the train comes to a stop and dangles, with what appears to be a string of marker flags waving in the air. Talk about a lonely, helpless feeling! Then, you fall backwards and speed toward the Yeti's shadow. He dramatically destroys a piece of track with quickness and violence that could not have been accomplished with an actual animatronic - but you see the animatronic destroyed toward the end. This would all terrify many kids - and some adults.

Allow yourself to believe, and the fantasy will become more vividly real each time you embark on this magnificent journey in the Himalayas. This ride ROCKS. I think it will go a long way toward improving attendance. A traditional dark ride, EMV, straight up simulator, or Test Track based experience it is not. Though, I'm sure those will be coming to Animal Kingdom later on.

A +... meaning Beyond Amazing!

[Blackie Pueblo]

Still can't wait to try it myself. I think a lot of expectations are up on this thing and it's leaving a lot of people disappointed. After all the hype they feel it doesn't deliver. It's not like this hasn't happened before. Um...can we say Stitch's Great Escape?

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http://www.newlineagefilms.com

[pyrateslife4me84]

I think this is a fantastic ride, but you are right on a few of its imperfections. I was really hoping for some on-ride audio for this ride--it would have been a great candidate for it, though I'm not sure how it would have held up being an outdoor coaster (would it be something along the lines of California Screamin's audio?). Maybe more audio has yet to be added. I also have a problem with the outside helix near the end, not because it's on the ride (it's a really fun helix...), but because you can see it from the start of the ride, which should not be the case. Hopefully, they will fix this. I also think the few seconds you see the yeti at high speed is not worth the millions they spent on him. With the amount of enjoyment you actually get from him, I would have been happier with multiple yetis, as in the Matterhorn. I still think this is a fantastic ride, but every time they have one of these projects that takes three years to complete, and we are able to watch the entire construction project, our expectations always manage to be greater than the finished project. We still have a great attraction with a queue as detailed as the Tower of Terror's (perhaps more...), roughly the same number of showscenes as the Tower of Terror, and a thrilling finale that doesn't make complete sense (how do those elevators keep rising to the top, only to have their cables snap again?). If I can suspend disbelief enought to think the Hollywood Tower Hotel is haunted and its elevators transport us into the Twilight Zone, I guess I can accept that some magical force dropped a helix on the back of the Forbidden Mountain...and that there would actually be a bird at the summit (I don't know many birds that regularly fly at 30,000 feet...).

Those flags at the top aren't "marker flags," they are prayer flags. You can see them in the villages in the Himalayas.

[iAmJacksDLand]

Okay all. One CM gives this attraction AMAZING reviews, Bill gives a good review and this DAK CM gives a questionable reivew and you all side with him. Remember each attraction isn't for everyone and we all have our open opinions on things. So thank you iAmJacksDLand for your opinion, but I'm just asking the rest of MC to wait and see it on their own before you jump to predicting a failure with E:E.

For the record, Bill is a fellow student with me at the University of Central Florida and his reviews have thus far been based on concept art, stories from other CM's and ride videos. As far as I know he has yet to actually ride the attraction - which is fine, I suppose he is as excited as the rest of us, but there has yet to be any firsthand experience from him.

I never said the attraction was awful. Of course it is going to provide a huge draw for DAK and increase attendance. Yet still I maintain that the ride suffers. As I got off the second time I heard a gentlemen say that it was "the best coaster he'd ever been on". Surely his judgement was flawed as he just got off an exciting new ride that few others have been on, but there is no way this is even close to being a good coaster.

People are saying the experience is incredibly smooth. All coasters are smooth when they first open. Give that baby a few months, and those trains and the engine prop on the back will be rattling like a Southern California earthquake.

The turn-drop that is supposedly 80 feet is the only real roller coaster element. Everything else are simple helix's in one direction or another, backwards and forwards. In fact, I heard a rumor that, in order to keep costs of development down, the helix portion inside the mountain that you go through backwards is identical to the helix portion outside that you go through forwards. That wouldn't surprise me.

Again, the ride is not terrible. Sure, I'll bring family and friends to show it off. I'll ride whenever I'm there. But, to bring my point home, it feels like Everest was already built at another Disney in its FULL and AMAZING concept and then dumbed down to be built at DAK. I feel like an amazing concept was once on the books and costs again were slashed, resulting in an abrupt ride that falls short of it's massive expectations.

[Cmash95]

its a rollercoaster like no other at WDW, it's something that DAK needs and everyone is entitled to their opinion. I remember when mission space and test track first opened, both were hyped to the hilt and there were several people I talked to who didn't like either. There were also several people who loved them both. I wouldn't plan an entire vacation on one ride no matter what it was.. It's an addition to the park and if you are here you will ride it if you like rollercoasters. for me, I am glad it's not a "thrill" coaster, I think there are enough of those throughout orlando.

[tloolgb]

If the vehicles are supposed to be a train service to Everest, why are there triple helix's placed behind the mountain, right next to the main lift?

Why are their helixes on Big Thunder Mountain? That makes no sense either.

I don't know, something about a narration from Paul Freers doesn't seem to fit this mountain, nor does Jean Shepard singing "Theres A Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow". But maybe I am in the minority, I seem to think the ride is going to be more realistic without audio or narration. We don't need a song to blast our way through Everest.

I would have thought we'd have had at least until next weekend before the complaints started coming in but reading around the web today I guess not.

I for one saw the photo of the Yeti on Jim Hill's site and I am now even more pumped. Though I still refuse to watch the videos.

[testtrack321]

I respect others opinions, and know that not everyone likes every ride (I know a few people who think ToT is stupid and pointless), but in response to the fact there is no narrator, remember, this is a tea train expedition to Everest and you get sabotaged by the Yeti on your journey, where would a narrator fit in realistically? Remember, it's AK, realism cannot yeild to story telling, they must work hand in hand, and from what I see of the que, it's working great.