Disco Yeti - Expedition Everest, and New to the Forum Hello

[Chef Mickey]

I am new to the forum, but just logged my 25th trip to WDW in 26 years of being alive. I was there 8 days, 7 nights (never long enough) and stayed at the Dolphin. I am an enormous Disney supporter and huge fan of Disney World.

That said, I am disappointed that the Yeti is still not fixed and seems to be doing less than ever. EE is a top 10 attraction for me. Despite riding 5 times on 2 different days, I saw nothing but darkness and half hearted strobe lights on the 25 foot climax to the ride.

I know he has broken his base and is costly to fix, but come on!! I have not seem him work properly since late 2008, if memory serves. He was also broken on my last trip in May 2010.

Is there ANY new news on when he'll be fixed?

I'm sure 90% of guests don't notice, but the old Disney wouldn't have let this go so long. Am I wrong? This oversight really takes away from the attraction for me and makes me question Disney's commitment to remaining the highest quality theme park in the world.

As a DIS shareholder and hardcore fan, I do not want to admit they have screwed this up...but too much time has gone by. What are your thoughts?

Thanks for listening

 

[stphnbogert]

There isn't any news on him getting fixed. I believe the last time he was in A mode was a few months after it opened in 2006.


but there are A LOT of threads of the Yeti and people on here feel VERY strongly about this. and welcome to the forum. =)

 

[Chef Mickey]

Sorry for posting yet another thread on a beaten issue, but I mainly wanted to say hello.

Some other gripes (of the few) I have:

1) Controlling tour groups better...It's a mystery how they'd do this, but these 100 person tour groups can take over an attraction or section of show.
2) Walking the rides after hours to clean up messes made by vulgar guests (Spitting on windows, trash, throwing drinks, etc). I am a pretty observant guest, but they need to clean this stuff up more diligently.
3) Flash photography on dark resides like Pirates.

I'll look around the forum a little more to find the thoughts on Yeti.

However, I can confirm he was operating in full A-mode much later than 2006...perhaps even as late as early 2009.

 

[SeaBase86]

I'm sure 90% of guests don't notice, but the old Disney wouldn't have let this go so long. Am I wrong? This oversight really takes away from the attraction for me and makes me question Disney's commitment to remaining the highest quality theme park in the world.

Remaining high quality is not "cool" anymore. Putting out half a***** attractions and not fixing things is the new fad that's in. Oh and new attractions are not cool anymore either.

Welcome to the forums btw :wave:

 

[Lee]

However, I can confirm he was operating in full A-mode much later than 2006...perhaps even as late as early 2009.

Sadly, no.
The last A-mode was April, 2008 if I remember correctly. And that was just for the park's 10th anniversary day. Prior to that it had been in B-mode for quite a few months.

 

[GrumpyFan]

Sadly, no.
The last A-mode was April, 2008 if I remember correctly. And that was just for the park's 10th anniversary day. Prior to that it had been in B-mode for quite a few months.

Agreed. I believe this is true, as I visited that month. I think the only reason he was in A-mode was due to Joe Rohde visiting the park.

 

[wizards8507]

The Yeti will never be fixed. It is prohibitively expensive. The whole challenge of building EE was that each piece of the three independent structures had to be assembled in an exact order. You cant just "go inside" the mountain to fix the yeti. The mountain, track, and yeti structure itself would all require disassembly and reassembly.

 

[cheezbat]

The last time I recall riding Everest and seeing the Yeti working as he should was back in mid-2007. This issue is VERY POOR show on Disney's behalf, but of course since they feel they can't close Everest because of LACK of another headliner attraction, this goes to show just how badly AK needs more.

After DCA's billion dollar facelift is over, I think TDO needs to spend a billion dollars to add and fix up some stuff at Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios. BIG TIME.

And as for you comment of WDW being the highest quality resort in the world...that's not true anymore. That honor has to go to the Tokyo Disney Resort. :animwink:

 

[Buried20KLeague]

The Yeti will never be fixed. It is prohibitively expensive. The whole challenge of building EE was that each piece of the three independent structures had to be assembled in an exact order. You cant just "go inside" the mountain to fix the yeti. The mountain, track, and yeti structure itself would all require disassembly and reassembly.

And what is the source of this info? Our insiders have said just the opposite.

 

[Skipper Dan]

The last time I recall riding Everest and seeing the Yeti working as he should was back in mid-2007. This issue is VERY POOR show on Disney's behalf, but of course since they feel they can't close Everest because of LACK of another headliner attraction, this goes to show just how badly AK needs more.

After DCA's billion dollar facelift is over, I think TDO needs to spend a billion dollars to add and fix up some stuff at Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios. BIG TIME.

And as for you comment of WDW being the highest quality resort in the world...that's not true anymore. That honor has to go to the Tokyo Disney Resort. :animwink:

WHAT IS TDO?! :brick:

 

[Chef Mickey]

The Yeti will never be fixed. It is prohibitively expensive. The whole challenge of building EE was that each piece of the three independent structures had to be assembled in an exact order. You cant just "go inside" the mountain to fix the yeti. The mountain, track, and yeti structure itself would all require disassembly and reassembly.

Source? I have no doubt it's expensive and I do know they built the ride in 3 stages. However, you can't tell me Disney can't get in there and attempt a fix without disassembling the entire mountain and track. It would take some clever maneuvering, but there is actually space in there to work. I honestly just think they are too cheap and can't afford the biggest attraction at AK to be down for a significant amount of time. It speaks to the need for AK to have another big draw.

I love the park, but can knock it out in a little over half a day on a slow day.

Tough to be a bug
Festival of the Lion King
Everest
Kali Rapids (you get too wet on this, IMO)
Safari
Dinosaur
P. Whirl
A few walking trails

I mean, that's about it besides a ho-hum bird show and a Pocahontas show for kids. That said, I can understand their reasons, but I don't think it's as much to do with the expensive and difficulty as it is to having significant down time.

 

[wizards8507]

And what is the source of this info? Our insiders have said just the opposite.

Source? I have no doubt it's expensive and I do know they built the ride in 3 stages. However, you can't tell me Disney can't get in there and attempt a fix without disassembling the entire mountain and track. It would take some clever maneuvering, but there is actually space in there to work. I honestly just think they are too cheap and can't afford the biggest attraction at AK to be down for a significant amount of time. It speaks to the need for AK to have another big draw.

YOUR insiders never have to cite THEIR sources, but since I haven't earned that kind of respect:

John Vandemore, CFO of Walt Disney Imagineering, at a recruiting event for finance positions within parks and resorts.

 

[Chef Mickey]

Source? I have no doubt it's expensive and I do know they built the ride in 3 stages. However, you can't tell me Disney can't get in there and attempt a fix without disassembling the entire mountain and track. It would take some clever maneuvering, but there is actually space in there to work. I honestly just think they are too cheap and can't afford the biggest attraction at AK to be down for a significant amount of time. It speaks to the need for AK to have another big draw.

I love the park, but can knock it out in a little over half a day on a slow day.

Tough to be a bug
Festival of the Lion King
Everest
Kali Rapids (you get too wet on this, IMO)
Safari
Dinosaur
P. Whirl
A few walking trails

I mean, that's about it besides a ho-hum bird show and a Pocahontas show for kids. That said, I can understand their reasons, but I don't think it's as much to do with the expensive and difficulty as it is to having significant down time.

YOUR insiders never have to cite THEIR sources, but since I haven't earned that kind of respect:

John Vandemore, CFO of Walt Disney Imagineering, at a recruiting event for finance positions within parks and resorts.

Of course the CFO is going to say its cost is prohibitive.

Again, I'm not saying the cost would be low, but I think it's more about shutting down the biggest attraction at AK than it is about an impossible fix.

Don't get ruffled...I'm sure your source said exactly that. I'm just discussing...

 

[T-1MILLION]

Either way it all comes down to the same thing.

A cop out by not fixing it.

 

[gamblepsu]

I love the park, but can knock it out in a little over half a day on a slow day.

Tough to be a bug
Festival of the Lion King
Everest
Kali Rapids (you get too wet on this, IMO)
Safari
Dinosaur
P. Whirl
A few walking trails

I mean, that's about it besides a ho-hum bird show and a Pocahontas show for kids. That said, I can understand their reasons, but I don't think it's as much to do with the expensive and difficulty as it is to having significant down time.

What is this Pocahontas Show you talk about???

You can add Nemo to your list in place but your point is still taken; It's a half day park for us as well.

 

[Todd H]

I was lucky enough to ride it when the Yeti was in A mode. It definitely gave the ride an extra dimension. When we rode it last October it just wasn't the same.

 

[RSoxNo1]

Pocahontas and her forest friends closed over a year ago. As for Flights of Wonder, it's probably the most underrated show in Disney World.

 

[zooey]

Pocahontas and her forest friends closed over a year ago. As for Flights of Wonder, it's probably the most underrated show in Disney World.

I agree, I love this show. I don't think most people know it's there.

 

[Monty]

WHAT IS TDO?! :brick:

Team Disney Orlando

 

[Chef Mickey]

Pocahontas and her forest friends closed over a year ago. As for Flights of Wonder, it's probably the most underrated show in Disney World.

You're right. My visits tend to run together because I go so frequently.

Still, Flights of Wonder is solid, but does not generate enough buzz to be anything more than just a nice addition with little repeat value, for me anyway. AK needs a lot more punch. It feels too much like the Fort Worth Zoo, and that's not Disney.

Don't get me wrong, it's still a young park with some fantastic attractions. However, it's easily my 4th favorite park at WDW and needs some additions to give it a more finished feel. It really doesn't feel like a Disney park, yet. The yeti malfunction just really disappoints me and sums up their effort on the park.