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The (Motionless) Yeti of Expedition Everest
When Expedition Everest of Disney’s Animal Kingdom was being developed and built, I can remember reading about the Yeti. That was the main attraction, so to speak. I can also remember watching the History Channel’s “Modern Marvels” before Everest opened and watching Imagineer Joe Rhode talk about the complexity of the attraction and the Yeti anamatronic.
The first few times I rode Everest (actually until the past few times), the Yeti was pretty realistic. He was huge, he clawed at you, and you only saw him for a brief second. Then, there was some talk on the internet a while back about the Yeti not moving anymore – being stationary. A few months ago I went to Animal Kingdom to get my own opinion of this change. It stinks.
This isn’t new news, I just thought to write an article about it now. If you haven’t been on Everest lacking the Yeti’s motion – you should.
I’m sure you can imagine – you’re at the climax of the attraction – you barely escaped the Yeti as he ripped up the track in front of you, you plummet and somehow get back in the mountain without dying (pretty realistic, right?), then you come face to face with him as he tries to rip you to pieces. Except for the fact that he’s not moving.
The Yeti no longer looks like a sophisticated anamatronic. He looks like a big stuffed animal.
I’ve heard things recently from the Yeti is back moving again full-time to only some days he moves. None of these things are confirmed, though.
Have you seen the motionless Yeti? If so, what did you think of it? Why do you think Disney stopped it from moving? Share your thoughts in the comments now!
Emilia, 
Julie, 
Jack, and 7 others are discussing. 
Josh 1:06 am on July 25, 2009 Permalink |
All it takes is a quick Google search to do a bit of research on this subject…
While it’s not entirely clear exactly WHAT the problem is, there is known to be some sort of a problem with the animatronic. I’ve read that the forceful movement of the Yeti has proven to be too much and that it has become damaged. The more common explanation I’ve read is that the Yeti itself is not damaged, but it’s movement has caused too much stress to its foundation and the surrounding area. Regardless of the specifics, there’s a problem, and simply continuing to run the Yeti as intended would worsen the problem.
Knowing that the Yeti was central to the ride, but that it might also occasionally break, the Imagineers programmed a secondary “b mode” in which it remains frozen in a “scary” pose, fans blow on it to move its fur around, theatrical lighting is turned off, and a strobe light effect is turned on to create an illusion of some movement.
I read that recently they’ve been tinkering with it after-hours, seeing if they can safely get it to move in a more limited fashion that doesn’t stress it out too much. But as far as getting back fully to its usual animated “A mode,” I hear there’s no quick fix for it. It’s going to take extended down time. Unfortunately, since Animal Kingdom currently doesn’t have enough other big high-capacity E-ticket attractions, they can’t afford to fully shut the ride down right now, since it would have too negative an impact on park attendance. Not until the ride’s first scheduled mandatory rehab will they have the time to get it back to normal. Given how new the ride still is, its first scheduled rehab is probably still a few years away.
Matt 11:45 am on July 25, 2009 Permalink |
Very good info Josh, thanks! Knowing all that, I wonder if they knew about the structural problems the Yeti would create?
Wouldn’t you think they would’ve known that the Yeti was too much for the structure to handle? It’s possible that they had no way of knowing until years of testing, I guess.
I’ve also heard that they Yeti has now been programmed for a less movement type “C Mode”. Who knows if this is even true or not.
Once again, thanks for the info – I look forward to discussing more with you!
Walt 7:33 pm on March 7, 2010 Permalink |
I rode Expedition Everest for the first time today, and I didn’t see the Yeti at all. I saw the shadow image ripping up track, but not the giant furball. Not sure if I just missed it, but if so, that’s lame. They need to engineer a fix, shut the ride down, and fix it.
What is with Disney these days? The ticket prices are outrageous, they want $31.00 to rent a double stroller, and they can’t even keep the good rides working?
Walt would be sad.
G 9:54 pm on July 5, 2010 Permalink |
Same experience in June 2010. The Yeti has been hidden or bypassed all together. My son and I were disappointed. I noticed afterwards the promotional videos they show on the in-room TV channel show the yeti in one brief shot, and with no coaster in frame. Leads me to believe they edited around a known long term problem. Still a decent ride, but a let-down if you are expecting the monster.
Matt 1:30 pm on July 6, 2010 Permalink |
Yeah I went a couple months ago and the Yeti was still motionless with a simple strobe affect.
Pretty lame if you ask me. Hopefully Disney will figure out that something should be done!
Brooke 10:25 am on July 7, 2010 Permalink |
I’m going to Disney World at the end of July and it will be my last trip as I am going to college and I’ve never had the chance to ride it! The last time we went it had just opened and I didn’t know if I wanted to go on. I was looking forward to this ride more than any other and all I can say is if that Yeti isn’t there or doesn’t move and scare the crap out of me, I’m gonna be reeeeeeeeeeeeally mad and disappointed. If anyone has been there recently, comment and let me know if the yeti is still there. :”(
celestial elf 6:26 am on February 8, 2011 Permalink |
Hi, I think he has move to Michigan USA, see my Deerhunter/Yeti film http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWzVOOisdJ0
Jack 7:40 am on May 26, 2011 Permalink |
Well, I’m an engineer with 30 plus years experience and a PE license. The kind of failure that’s being described is called fatigure, either in the mechanical parts of the Yeti, the parts of the steel structure supporting it or the foundation. (I understood that the Yeti had it’s own support.) If this is true, the engineers who designed it screwed up because they could have made it such that it actually worked.
Julie 7:03 pm on March 11, 2012 Permalink |
I was very disappointed when I rode this ride during this passed November. I knew that the yeti didn’t work somedays, but I had no idea that he was gone all together. Me being the wimp I am, closed my eyes, but when I asked my brother and cousin if either of them saw it. They both said no. I was very upset. I hope they can fix it somehow by the time I go in 2 years.
Emilia 7:18 pm on November 12, 2012 Permalink |
My 11 year old daughter is terrified to ride due to the encounter with the yeti. Should i tell her it is not scary although I haven’t riden it . She has seen pics of it when the lights are on but can’t bear to watch ite. As a rider when it was moving can you see it in depth detail and how long do you see it.