Expedition Everest - Legend of the Forbidden Mountain

Careen through the Himalayan mountains on a speeding train while avoiding the clutches of the mythic Abominable Snowman.

Updated: 2025-12-27

Composite Review (4.8 / 5)

Expedition Everest - Legend of the Forbidden Mountain is one of the most highly praised and immersive attractions at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Guests consistently rate it highly (4.8 stars), calling it an excellent blend of strong storytelling, elaborate theming, and genuinely thrilling roller coaster action.

Here is a composite review and a summary of the experience:

Overview: An Expedition into the Forbidden Mountain

Expedition Everest is a massive, mountain-themed steel roller coaster that takes guests on a perilous journey to the top of Mount Everest to find the legendary Yeti. The attraction is notable for its intricate theming, including a world-record-setting Yeti animatronic, and for its unique track elements, most famously the lengthy section where the train travels backward.

The Immersive Queue and Theming

Reviewers consistently praise the queue as a major highlight, setting a standard for immersive storytelling. Your expedition begins in the fictional village of Anandapur, where you pass through the booking office of Himalayan Escapes – Tours and Expeditions.

• Museum Walkthrough: The line winds through an old tea warehouse converted into a sprawling museum. This area is filled with over 2,000 real artifacts and props sourced from Nepal and Tibet, providing a captivating look into Himalayan culture, the history of the region, and the mystery surrounding the mythical Yeti. Many guests note that the queue’s engaging environment makes even a long wait time feel manageable.

The Thrill Ride Experience

The ride itself is often described as having a compelling three-act structure. It reaches speeds of up to 50 mph and features a significant drop, though many guests find it approachable for a “thrill ride.”

• The Build-up: You board a seemingly old and beaten-down “Anandapur Rail Service” train. The journey begins with a scenic climb, offering great views before you enter the mountain.
• The Plot Twist (and Backwards Section): The first major moment of suspense is encountering a section of torn-up track at the peak of the mountain. With nowhere to go but down, the train suddenly begins to plunge backward through a dark, curving tunnel. This dark, backward section is a major source of thrill and surprise for first-time riders.
  • As one user review notes, “The suspense of plummeting through total darkness while a Yeti trails your cart keeps you vigilant and excited for what comes around the next bend.”
• The Climax (and the Yeti): After the backwards portion, the train speeds toward the climactic 80-foot drop and a final encounter with the Yeti. The massive animatronic is the ride’s central figure, appearing to roar and swing at your train. While some guests acknowledge that the animatronic has had technical issues over the years (often running in a strobe light “B-mode”), it remains a spine-chilling and memorable element of the ride experience.

Guest Reviews and Consensus

The ride is a park favorite, earning strong recommendations:

• High Praise for Thrill and Theme: “Expedition Everest is, hands-down, one of Disney’s best rides. This coaster features thrilling drops, turns, and soars—both forward and backward!”
• Approachable Intensity: The drops and dives, while intimidating from a distance, are described as not “nearly as intense in practice as they look,” making it an excellent choice for those who are on the fence about high-intensity coasters.
• Tips for Visiting: Guests recommend utilizing the Single Rider line if available, as it can drastically cut down the wait time, or riding early in the morning or just before park closing.