(SPOILERS) (Ride Review).
Well, just came home from riding Everest half a dozen times. Don't be hatin!
First off: night rides: verrrry recomended. Some people were beeyotching about how you can't see the yeti (on that rogue video) -- trust me, even in the day you have sooo much more time than that video gives you, and at night, with your eyes adjusted to the tunnel, you really can focus on the guy (gal?).
So, can we put aside all these concerns over the video -- its crap, leave it be, it doesn't do the ride justice, it doesn't give you the crazy G forces (different in different parts of the train mind you) that you experience on the ride.
Lets see. After my first ride, my initial reaction was 'perfect'.
Its literally the perfect ride, in that every detail is taken care of. The gap between walkway and train -- none -- seamless access.
The transition between village to trainstation, seamless.
The path around the village to the ride, perfect.
The 'Yet-Tea' tea, the little toy abominable snowman with mickey mouse ears, the Nepalese pseudo , the scat collection and the architecture of the que right before you get on the ride (totally feels like you are in a train station). All these details are accounted for.
The masks, the bells, the lights (and yes, the animal smells) all add up to a pretty detailed attraction.
The actual ride:
The trains themselves have little bags/nets to put your crap in. I took no video because I was told not to on the ride (queue area not off limits btw, look for that video soon). The seats are nice, not too snug and the lap bars are great and work even for the large and youngins (and have a nice little plastic attachment that's readily accessible for cast members to pull up on).
There are no LIM, LSM on the ride, its all wheel based and you coast out of the station very nicely and take a quick right up the first (minor) lift hill. NOTE: there is foliage EVERYWHERE. You are surrounded by bamboo and it is very lush. The first lift hill is very quick, and soon you are over the hill and very quickly round your way up to the main lift.
Now, for the most part the lift was smooth and it didn't catch very violently at all (a little rougher than the first). They are also relatively quiet on the ratches (granted you are outdoors, not like BTMR).
You zoom up to the top and well...you've seen the video.
There is one thing that's a bit odd up top track wise, I'll have to model it out or something, its very odd, and rough if you are in the wrong car (but considering how its lining up with the rotating segment, I understand the necessity).
Rolling back is a lot smoother (you head straight back, then into the double enclosed helix) and the helix is insane, and more insane depending on which car you are in (back car is crazy).
You actually can see stuff, mostly construction stuff when you look around...so you get some bearing that way.
Popping out into the large cavern area you have the movie which is great, and looks a lot better in person (remember there might be issues with the scan rate of the camcorder vs. the display rate of the projector). So the projection looks fine...and most people don't see the ape swing out btw.
The drop is great and again, if you are in the back is awesome, front its a bit different, middle its more tame if I remember correctly.
Coming through the mountain you dive into the double helix outside which is soooo cool at night and great during the day.
After the double outdoor helix (a blur) you run over a break run and you head into the lair of the yeti.
Now, the video does not do it justice. You see the yeti coming for a long time (its a straightaway there after a nice corner which is after the break run). The straightaway allows you to see the yet from far away and you zoom right up to him and the track (this I hated, in a good way) lifts you up closer to him than bang you avoid him heading back down over a final break run which actually slows you down.
At night this segment is amazing because your eyes are adjusted to the darkness and you really can see the Yeti for a looong time (and see a safety cable there holding him up!?)
Anywho, you slow down nicely after you see the Yeti and turn a corner into a final break run and take a quick right turn (quite the G forces!) into the unload area (man, THAT stop can hurt though! lol).
Over all, like I've said, its a technically perfect ride and it begs to be ridden over and over (the first ride seems too short, but the more you ride, the longer it seems and satisfies).
I guess the compliment can be seen as a criticism as well -- there is little heart in the ride as its simply a (cold) coaster encounter with an angry heartless (don't tear up our track!) beast.
So in that sense, its an empty thrill with not a story, but an argument: man vs. beast, religion vs. technology and tradition vs. contemporary realities.
But who cares -- its just a thrill ride, and an EXPENSIVE one at that.
Its going to be a must see. Its got me into a park that I'd normally never visit.
J.
(how do I post this in the ride review section?)
TECH addendum:
The bonus of sitting up front is you get to see the track spin -- which is fun...but to me the cool part is the mechanics of the banked holding areas before/after the rotating track. These wheels are powered in that they break and accelerate and numerous. The entire track is lines with tonnes of wheels.
The load/unload is great in that the cars come to a complete stop in one smooth swoop.
The chain lifts are speedy and fairly smooth.
I will say though that after riding the last car, it does smack of Vekoma tech. Very rough back there.
