Expedition Everest is the new attraction in animal kingdom, eclipsing the tree of life as the new visual centerpiece. As you approach the parking lot, you can see the mountain from a quarter mile away. It is a masterpiece of Imagineering, with the use of forced perspective; it is the same view explorers see when they approach the real Everest. If there is one thing that any rabid Disney fan knows (including my wife and I) is than any Disney attraction has in my opinion three major attributes: 1- detail 2- atmosphere 3- believability

This has them all! If you chance to ride, look at the incredible detail that the Imagineers put into the buildings, the totems and the Sherpa Village Serka Zong. From the queue lines to Tashi's general store, and the yeti museum, detail abounds. This creates the atmosphere and you actually believe you are ready to board the aging Anandapur rail train to see the Yeti. In the queue lines, there are displays of Nepalese life and lore and many other artifacts depicting the Yeti, ruler of this mountain domain.

With much excitement and anticipation, my wife and I went to the park on Saturday, January 28th, to see if we could get a sneak peek ride as passholders. Knowing what the crowds would be, we arrived at 9:30am, 45 minutes after the park opened and it was a three hour wait at standby! Since we have been going to Disney for years, we usually get fastpass for most attractions, as we went to the fastpass booths, there was hardly anyone there! It was amazing no one was taking advantage of it, so we got our tickets and in fifteen minutes, we were on our way to see the yeti!

The attraction starts out slowly, winding its way toward the mountain's first small rise, as it descends, there is a short swift ride to the main mountain, the tracks running through a Sherpa temple on the way up. Again, inside the temple, check out the details and as you exit the temple. Observe out the mural of the yeti just above the archway. This is the start of the adventure!

As you reach the top of the rails, here you would think a large drop is coming, but no! A short descent through an ice cave and a big surprise at the end, you come up to torn up track the yeti destroyed. With nowhere to go, you sit for a few moments, and then the train begins it's backward decent through a darkened channel, cold mist in places, blowing around, twisting and turning which seems forever, then the train stops in a huge dark cavern, up on the rock face in front is a huge animation of the Yeti tearing up the tracks! From there the train moves forward and that's when the 80 foot drop occurs!, it takes your breath away! Your continue around the mountain, all while hearing the yeti growl and roar twisting and turning until the trains roars by yet another cavern, where the most realistic animatronics creation Disney has come up with, the yeti, tries to grab you as your train roars by, the ride coming to an end back at the train depot.

This attraction is all that was anticipated and more! It is visually stunningly, as i stated before the detail is incredible and the ride through the mountain is intense! If anyone wants to ride, some advice, get fastpass. The shortest time I saw in the weeks i have been riding it was 45 minutes and that was during the parade! Also, later in the day, it seems to die down, or try during the lunch times, 11:30am to 1:30pm. But it is worth the wait. Disney had a winner, and one that all others will be judged by.