"Expedition Everest: Legend of the Forbidden Mountain."
Although the name of the village is made up, Disney went to great
lengths to give the attraction an authentic feel. Disney employees
traveled all the way to tiny Nepal in Asia to experience the real
Mount Everest. As a result, the architecture of the attraction is
based on pictures of actual buildings in the Himalayas.
Almost all of the scenery—nearly 2,000 carvings, pictures, artifacts,
and decorations—was brought to Lake Buena Vista from Nepal.
Prayer rugs, carved animal heads on doors, and totems are just
some of the things that make guests feel as if they are actually in
the Himalayas. As guests make their way through the line to get
on the ride, they walk through a museum displaying artifacts that
reflect the Nepalese culture and history of the Himalayas.
BEWARE OF THE YETI
The story goes something like this: Deep in the Himalayas resides
a mythical creature that is both respected and feared.
Always told of, but never found, the creature is described
as a huge apelike creature with a pointed head and white
fur. The Nepalese people believe that this creature, the
Yeti, guards both Mount Everest and their villages.
Come face-to-face with this legendary creature. At the start
of the roller coaster ride, guests will board a mountain
railway car bound for the foot of the mountain. The train
will travel through forests, waterfalls, and fields, until the
track comes to a sudden end. This is where the adventure
begins, and it all leads to a showdown with a legendary
creature—the Yeti.
Because the Yeti, known to some people as the abominable
snowman, has never been captured, no one knows how it
really looks. Photographs have been made, but all are
hoaxes based on an age-old interpretation of the Yeti.
Many Himalayan people carve, draw, and paint fantastic
images of the worshipped creature, but Disney needed a
little more than that to create its new exhibit and ride.
Disney equipped the ride with an audio-animatronic
[robot that moves and makes noise] Yeti. To create
this as accurately as possible, Imagineers got their
inspiration from a Himalayan native—the golden
monkey. (An Imagineer is a Disney employee who
develops ideas and attractions.)
Disney's Yeti is based on the features of the golden
monkey. Living in a cold climate, the golden monkey
has adaptations similar to what the Yeti is thought to
have. It is hairy, with long shaggy fur. It also has a
bluish-white skin color, perfect for the climate. The face
itself is not hairy, and is pushed inward, safe from frostbite.
Also, like the golden monkey, the Disney Yeti was made
with large, fierce canines.
While riding through Expedition Everest, you will see big
dark shadows of the Yeti, known as the guardian of the mountain. And as you try to escape danger, the Yeti towers over you in a face-to-face encounter.
Though slightly intimidating, the ride is still family friendly, even for the little ones.
Height Requirement: 44 inches
