Yeti down for “a couple of weeks” for extended repairs
Expedition Everest became one of my favorite Disney World attractions from the minute I stepped off the train for the first time. I can ride it over and over again, but this past trip was very disappointing for an Everest junky like me. Each time we tried to ride the Forbidden Mountain throughout the week, the Yeti was not working. It was more than a little frustrating.
Finally, I asked a cast member what was going on. Why is this happening every time I ride? Has this been going on for awhile? Can I expect to see this amazing creature in action soon, hopefully before I go home? What she told me was that the Yeti has been down for a “couple of weeks” and that she was not aware of when it would be fixed or even if the work was going to be done anytime soon. According to her, they were waiting on a part to be sent in from…wherever one buys parts for a giant mechanical creature.
Expedition Everest opened to an awesome array of fanfare, and mostly great reviews. Those who thought less of it often pointed out that it was prone to these moments when the ride worked fine but the Yeti simply stood frozen amidst strobe lighting that gave the illusion of movement. This was the first time I saw the Yeti in this state, and I must admit it does really make the ride a letdown. All the buildup you get before seeing the Guardian of the Mountain only to not see much of anything but some fur flapping in the breeze is more than anti-climactic.
The thing that bothers me here is that after months and months of service this is still happening. Did Joe Rhode and his Imagineers bite off more than they could chew when they built this amazing audio-animatronics beast?
DJ said,
October 28, 2007 @ 4:34 am
The first time that I rode Everest I was amazed. But, the second time on it made it one of the best attractions I’ve ever been on, as this time the Yeti was working (I know, it’s great when stuff works…). It makes what was already an incredible ride un-freaking-believable. I hope that it can be kept in good repair, and working all the time, as it is spectacular.
Raidermatt said,
October 29, 2007 @ 6:00 pm
That’s unfortunate. I’d been reading some recent accounts about the Yeti not working.
Just a thought, if the reason really is that they are waiting for a part, they might want to think about ordering 2, given how important the Yeti is to the Show.
Really though, this is how most of corporate America works. If something isn’t going to cripple you, you wait until it breaks and then you deal with fixing it as priorities allow.
I know the figure is complicated and issues are bound to arise at times. But we aren’t dealing with a fledgling company here. They really ought to be able to figure these things out, if this is indeed a priority for them.
Mike said,
February 17, 2008 @ 5:02 pm
I rode Everest during the 2006 “soft opening.” At that time the Yeti was working and moving and looked amazing. I just rode the ride last week during which time the Yeti was not working. Barely seeing the Yeti amidst a few strobe lights was HIGHLY disappointing. It’s like riding Splash Mountain without any working audio-animatronics.