Expedition Everest...I just don't get it!

[agent86]

I have no doubt I'll be in the minority on this, but I have never understood why so many members of these discussion forums seem so impressed by Expedition Everest. I just don't get it. I think that as a coaster it's pretty boring, and from a show standpoint, it is extremely lacking. People always refer to the "amazing theming" and the "effects". Am I missing something? What is "amazing" about the theming on this ride? The part where the track is all broken is boring. You're sitting there for what seems like an eternity while they switch the track. You would think the Imagineers would have put in something interesting here to keep people's attention while they wait. What a missed opportunity. The part with the "shadow" of the Yeti is stupid. The Yeti in this part moves just like a cartoon character, and not like a real animal would move (especially one that size). It is not at all believable. When you see the "real" Yeti, you only get a glimpse of him for like half a second (and he definitely isn't moving with the same fluidness that the "cartoon" version is moving).

The other thing I've noticed is that it seems to just be the hardcore Disney fans who revere this ride so much. It seems to be on the top 5 list of nearly every member of this site, even those of the most critical of fans. But any time I hear of a friend or co-worker returning from a trip to WDW, I never hear any remarks about Everest that indicates they were impressed. Usually, people will rant and rave about things like Mission Space and others. But any time they have comments to make about Everest, it's things like "waste of time", "boring", etc.

So what gives? Why is it that it seems to be only hardcore Disney fans that seem to think it's so great?

 

[primetime52]

I think EE is a great ride. The only minor complaint I have is that I wish it was a little bit longer, but I always feel like that when it comes to a ride that I love.

When people refer to the great theming, much of that is in the ride's cue, which perhaps you havent seen if you are accustomed to using fastpass or the single Rider's line for this attraction.

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. I'm sure you aren't the only person out there who dislikes EE. I personally can't stand Mission: Space, and I can't understand why anyone in their right mind would find it to be an entertaining attraction. However, I'm in the minority on that so I just accept it.

 

[dolbyman]

I've never been on it but ..

The part where the track is all broken is boring. You're sitting there for what seems like an eternity while they switch the track. You would think the Imagineers would have put in something interesting here to keep people's attention while they wait. What a missed opportunity.

I guess the fact that this part is under unprotected from wind/sun and rain that this is hard to equip with any kind of animatronic or effect. So they just used an audio effect (and a stupid bird on a stick)

The part with the "shadow" of the Yeti is stupid. The Yeti in this part moves just like a cartoon character, and not like a real animal would move (especially one that size). It is not at all believable. When you see the "real" Yeti, you only get a glimpse of him for like half a second (and he definitely isn't moving with the same fluidness that the "cartoon" version is moving).

maybe the yeti moves this way .. Joe Rohde must know :ROFLOL:

only thing I always though was kinda waste is a hughe animatronic .. with lotsa hype around it .. that you only see for a glimpse second ..

 

[WDWBlaze]

You are not alone in this feeling. I am not a fan of EE myself. In fact I find it boring. My SO felt the same.

When I rode it the second time I thought to myself "Maybe I am expecting too much" but no, I just found the ride boring. I the line was themed very well and I thought it was fun to look at the little touches. But the ride itself put me to sleep.

Sadly my DS7 loves the ride and I have to ride is anyway.

 

[AndyMagic]

I wouldn't say you are alone in thinking it is lacking. My big issue with the ride is that the structure itself and the queue is such a marvel of themeing and execution and yet the ride itself has few effects and nothing particularly memorable. It's as if they spent all this time researching what the mountain should look like and the setting for the queue and then just sort of placed a very generic coaster in a dark room and added a shoddy shadow effect and a buggy AA figure that doesn't work 50% of the time and said, "that's good enough." It's sad. I wish they put as much effort into the ride as they did into everything surrounding it.

 

[Gepettotrevor]

I can't stand how light from the worklights inside the mountain leaks into the dark caves while going backwards. I am a fan of EE, however, like primetime52 says, i just wish it was a bit longer.

I do see what all of you "non EE fans" are saying. Every time Disney builds something new, expectiations are always high and the bar raises higher and higher with every new attraction built. Sadily, budget and money limit the potential ideas.

Haha we all have atleast one ride we absolutely hate....I for one like SSE's renovations yet am bored by Soarin. After the first several times, that ride can surely put me to sleep. I do like seeing it atleast once every trip just because it is so unique with the ride system.

 

[Timekeeper]

I guess the fact that this part is under unprotected from wind/sun and rain that this is hard to equip with any kind of animatronic or effect.

Most of Jaws (at Universal Studios) takes place outdoors, with the effects being subject to wind/sun and rain. The technology to incorporate "weatherproof" show elements exists, just as it has for decades. Remind me, how old is Jungle Cruise again...?

 

[SanFrancisco]

:shrug:
I think EE is pretty fierce.

 

[Doombuggy13]

Although I admit that the roller coaster aspect of EE is only moderate, I've been on many that were bigger, faster and scarier. However the theming and the Yeti make the experience. Part of the whole experience for me is "feeling like I'm there" and EE delivers. The Yeti (in A mode) to me is just amazing.

Hey I bought the shirt and the ride photo too! So I guess they got me huh?

 

[C&D]

It is the synergy of the attraction. If you were just looking for an outstanding roller coaster, go some place else. The approach, the que, the coaster, the themeing, the attention to detail; well now, that's what Expedition Everest is.

 

[Spike-in-Berlin]

I have no doubt I'll be in the minority on this, but I have never understood why so many members of these discussion forums seem so impressed by Expedition Everest. I just don't get it. I think that as a coaster it's pretty boring, and from a show standpoint, it is extremely lacking. People always refer to the "amazing theming" and the "effects". Am I missing something? What is "amazing" about the theming on this ride? The part where the track is all broken is boring. You're sitting there for what seems like an eternity while they switch the track. You would think the Imagineers would have put in something interesting here to keep people's attention while they wait. What a missed opportunity. The part with the "shadow" of the Yeti is stupid. The Yeti in this part moves just like a cartoon character, and not like a real animal would move (especially one that size). It is not at all believable. When you see the "real" Yeti, you only get a glimpse of him for like half a second (and he definitely isn't moving with the same fluidness that the "cartoon" version is moving).
So what gives? Why is it that it seems to be only hardcore Disney fans that seem to think it's so great?

Hmmm...Agent86. Agent? You're not an agent of Universal Studios are you?
Just joking!


Partially I have to agree with you although it REALLY hurts.

Although I love EE (I never bought more attraction merchandise than at Serka Zong), I am a little disappointed by it after I saw the design sketches and original ideas. To make this clear, I NEVER expected an extremely thrilling ride with inversions, extreme speeds etc. Disney coasters are fascinating due to their theming, not the thrilling, they are always more gentler rides.
It was (again, like so many other plans in the last years) downsized quite a lot and I think it DEFINITELY needs some strong plussing. The ride takes about 2 min 50 sec, which is already a little short and the first 50 seconds of it nothing happens at all, you go a little around the lower bamboo forest where NOTHING happens, no AA (e.g. Tigers or other animals), no special FX, nothing. It's really boring, I can't believe, that they didn't include at least SOME interesting ideas. It improves when you climb up through the deserted monastery of course but look at what they planned originally! The train should have run through deep chasms inside the mountain range, not outside where the immersion in the attraction is diminished. And the Yeti? You are right. You see the biggest AA they ever built for less than half a second. I think EE could have been SO much better, not to mention the problems they have with several SFX. They announced that EE would feature SFX to simulate the height, temperature drops by cold air streams should give you the feeling that you really go up to the mountains. I never felt anything. The movie part is really disappointing. Why do we see this movie for several seconds instead of the extremely elaborated AA? And the coasterride through the mountain goes through completely dark tunnels, not even ice caves as at the Matterhorn.
I like EE but I wanted to adore it. Everytime I look at the old design sketches I have to admit, they chose the weakest. Oh yes, and the actual Mt. Everest is not even very good in the landscaping of the surface.

 

[DisneyEverest]

I personally think that Expedition Everest is a great ride and yes there are some things that the Imagineers could have done better on...

 

[Kelsybelle]

I liked it! However, I agree with an above poster that it should be longer. My Husband didn't like it as much as much as I did, he thought there should have been more Yeti.

 

[daliseurat]

I have no doubt I'll be in the minority on this, but I have never understood why so many members of these discussion forums seem so impressed by Expedition Everest. I just don't get it. I think that as a coaster it's pretty boring, and from a show standpoint, it is extremely lacking. People always refer to the "amazing theming" and the "effects". Am I missing something? What is "amazing" about the theming on this ride? The part where the track is all broken is boring. You're sitting there for what seems like an eternity while they switch the track. You would think the Imagineers would have put in something interesting here to keep people's attention while they wait. What a missed opportunity. The part with the "shadow" of the Yeti is stupid. The Yeti in this part moves just like a cartoon character, and not like a real animal would move (especially one that size). It is not at all believable. When you see the "real" Yeti, you only get a glimpse of him for like half a second (and he definitely isn't moving with the same fluidness that the "cartoon" version is moving).

The other thing I've noticed is that it seems to just be the hardcore Disney fans who revere this ride so much. It seems to be on the top 5 list of nearly every member of this site, even those of the most critical of fans. But any time I hear of a friend or co-worker returning from a trip to WDW, I never hear any remarks about Everest that indicates they were impressed. Usually, people will rant and rave about things like Mission Space and others. But any time they have comments to make about Everest, it's things like "waste of time", "boring", etc.

So what gives? Why is it that it seems to be only hardcore Disney fans that seem to think it's so great?

You sound like me after my FIRST visit to Disneyland. Nothing lived up to my expectations because I was looking for all the wrong things. My second visit I looked at everything for what it was and have been in love with the parks ever since.

EE is not a great COASTER. But, frankly, none of the Disney coaster are great, taken just as a coaster. But when you add in that great Disney THEMING, it just becomes so much more than a coaster ride. EE has amazing theming in the queue. It immerses you into the world that EE exists in. The ride itself has amazing theming. You are on a MOUNTAIN, going in in and out of caverns. You go frontwards and backwards. And there are visuals of the YETI's path all over. Footprints, wrecked track. And the AA when it works is hands down the most amazing thing.

I think you are just looking at individual pieces of the attraction and not the whole experience.

I hope you try it again and just try to go with it. Maybe I'm wrong and you just don't like it.

 

[sublimesting]

I suppose you either "get" Disney over all or you don't. Not sure how big of a fan you are but my friend went recently and announced "I just don't see how it was as thrilling as Six Flags or Cedar Point." He doesn't like Disney and sees it as weak because he is after thrills. A Disney nut, however, I think has just as much fun walking around in the parks and experiencing the environment.

 

[RiversideBunny]

It is the synergy of the attraction. If you were just looking for an outstanding roller coaster, go some place else. The approach, the que, the coaster, the themeing, the attention to detail; well now, that's what Expedition Everest is.

Yes.

 

[vwayfan123]

I have no doubt I'll be in the minority on this, but I have never understood why so many members of these discussion forums seem so impressed by Expedition Everest. I just don't get it. I think that as a coaster it's pretty boring, and from a show standpoint, it is extremely lacking. People always refer to the "amazing theming" and the "effects". Am I missing something? What is "amazing" about the theming on this ride? The part where the track is all broken is boring. You're sitting there for what seems like an eternity while they switch the track. You would think the Imagineers would have put in something interesting here to keep people's attention while they wait.

did you not notice the view when you are up there? you can see all of disney world. you must not have noticed the first minute or so of the ride. i think its pretty good themeing. if you want to talk about a boring ride, lets talk about test track, or soarin'

 

[CAPTAIN HOOK]

I don't suppose you "get" Space Mountain either - cos its all dark and nothing to see. What a wasted opportunity, now if someone were to turn on the lights..............

 

[Fade_to_Blah]

EE is a good ride. And for Disney, its pretty thrilling. However there are a few things that need to be fixed or could have done better:

• I like the tame beginning. I really dont need anything new there and im fine with what it is up until the lift hill
• Bird on a stick is just ridiculous and stupid. Something needs to be done there.
• Why are all the tunnels pitch black? I wish it looked more like the Matterhorn inside. We are not on space mountain...everything being pitch black is annoying
• Need to see the yeti longer, and it needs to actually work properly. Dunno how they would accomplish this, but its not my problem
• Get all the original effects (mist, waterfalls) working properly.

I think its a great ride now, but it does have its problems.

 

[XaiChai]

The Yeti in this part moves just like a cartoon character, and not like a real animal would move (especially one that size). It is not at all believable. When you see the "real" Yeti, you only get a glimpse of him for like half a second (and he definitely isn't moving with the same fluidness that the "cartoon" version is moving).

It isn't believable? I mean you're right, it doesn't look anything like the ones we see in the zoo.