When Will Everest CLOSE in Disney World? We Have a CLUE
Disney made a litany of announcements at the 2026 D23 Ultimate Fan Event, revealing new details on upcoming theme lands, a new class of Disney Cruise Line ships, and even some major surprises. However, few could be described as more “long-awaited” than the confirmation that the Yeti on Expedition Everest was FINALLY going to be fixed.
Expedition Everest
When the Animal Kingdom coaster first opened in 2006, the Yeti animatronic was hailed as the largest and most advanced Disney had ever built. The massive free-moving animatronic Yeti in the center of the “Forbidden Mountain” was one of the ride’s main promotional points teased in commercials and being discussed in Travel Channel documentaries. However, within months of opening, the Yeti was stuck in B-Mode. The animatronic was unmoving, with strobe lights pulsating to give the illusion of movement, hence the nom de plume “Disco Yeti”). This was allegedly due to structural damage the powerful animatronic was doing to the mountain when fully operational over the years. Disney officials, including Joe Rohde himself, made numerous claims that the Yeti was going to be fixed, but nothing came of them officially… until NOW!
During the D23 Horizons Panel, Disney announced that the animatronic would finally be fixed, complete with new concept art and a performance from legendary Disco artist Gloria Gaynor, who was brought out to bid a tongue-in-cheek adieu to the so-called “Disco Yeti” version of the figure.
While the announcement and performance were met with a massively positive reaction, Disney didn’t confirm many major details of the project, including whether the Yeti animatronic was being fully replaced, or even a timeline for when the project was set to begin. However, for the latter, we can extrapolate an estimate.
©Disney
Whether the Yeti is being fully replaced or simply reworked, it stands to reason that Expedition Everest is going to be closed for some period of time during the refurbishment. That seems unlikely to happen right now, since the coaster is one of only 5 rides currently operating at Animal Kingdom during the construction of Tropical Americas.
Cranes!
That new land – – complete with the new rides Antonio’s Fiesta de Encanto, Indiana Jones and the Myth of the Jade Serpent, and El Carrusel de los Animalitos (AKA The Little Animals’ Carousel) – – is scheduled to open in 2027. Once those three attractions are up and running in the faux village of Pueblo Esperanza, it will be much easier for Disney to close Expedition Everest for even a semi-extended period of time to fix the Yeti.
We’re so excited for this to open!
While Disney has confirmed that they’ll finally be fixing the star animatronic on Expedition Everest, you’ll likely still be able to boogie down with the “Disco Yeti” through sometime in 2027. Stay tuned to DFB for more on Disney’s latest projects.
YIKES. This Animal Kingdom Expansion News Is Going To Upset Some Folks
Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe!
WE KNOW DISNEY.
YOU CAN, TOO.
Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation.
Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever!
Are you excited for Disney to finally fix the Yeti? Let us know in the comments below.
from the disney food blog https://ift.tt/IEfanbS
Post a Comment