Disney World Preparing to Shut Down Popular Roller Coaster After 20 Years

One of Walt Disney World’s most popular roller coasters is facing some major changes, and guests planning a visit to Disney’s Animal Kingdom may want to pay attention.

Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain has been a favorite among thrill seekers for years. Between its backward drop, towering mountain, and terrifying encounter with the legendary Yeti, the attraction offers an experience that’s difficult to find anywhere else at Disney World.

However, Disney has confirmed that a major update is coming to the attraction, and it could require significant work behind the scenes.

That’s not the only change guests need to know about, either. Another update has already affected how visitors experience Expedition Everest, removing a convenient option that many relied on to save time.

Disney World Confirms Major Expedition Everest Update

For years, Expedition Everest has had one particularly noticeable problem: its massive Yeti animatronic hasn’t worked the way Disney originally intended.

When the attraction opened at Disney’s Animal Kingdom in 2006, the Yeti was designed to move dramatically toward passing ride vehicles. The enormous figure was supposed to create one of the most impressive animatronic encounters ever built for a Disney attraction.

Unfortunately, that experience didn’t last.

Technical problems forced Disney to stop the Yeti’s major movements, leaving the creature in a stationary position. Disney instead relied on flashing lights to create the illusion of movement, earning the figure its famous nickname, the “Disco Yeti.”

For nearly two decades, fans have wondered whether Disney would ever address the problem.

Now, it appears the company is finally preparing to do something about it.

During D23: The Ultimate Fan Event, Disney Experiences Chairman Thomas Mazloum announced plans to bring the legendary creature back to life.

“We’re bringing the Yeti back to life inside Expedition Everest at Disney’s Animal Kingdom!” Mazloum shared.

However, restoring the Yeti might be more complicated than simply repairing its existing components.

Expedition Everest Could Shut Down for Major Refurbishment

Former Disney Imagineer Joe Rohde, who helped create Expedition Everest and played a major role in developing Disney’s Animal Kingdom, recently offered additional information about what Disney might have planned.

During an appearance on the Welcome Home Podcast, Rohde suggested that Disney intends to replace the Yeti rather than repair the existing animatronic.

“They are going to replace the Yeti,” Rohde explained.

He also addressed why Disney hasn’t simply repaired the figure during the many years it has remained stationary.

“If they could fix the Yeti, they would have fixed the Yeti,” Rohde said.

Those comments suggest that Disney could be preparing for a much more extensive project than fans originally expected.

Replacing such an enormous animatronic inside an existing roller coaster would likely require considerable planning and construction work.

It could also mean temporarily shutting down Expedition Everest while Imagineers complete the installation.

However, there’s an important distinction guests should understand.

Disney has confirmed plans to restore the Yeti experience, but the company has not announced an official Expedition Everest refurbishment closure date or confirmed that the existing figure will be replaced.

Rohde’s comments provide additional insight into what might happen, but Disney has not publicly detailed exactly how it intends to accomplish the update.

That means guests shouldn’t assume Expedition Everest is closing immediately.

Still, anyone planning a future Disney World vacation should keep an eye on the attraction’s operating calendar. Once Disney establishes a refurbishment timeline, visitors could find themselves without one of Animal Kingdom’s biggest thrill rides for an extended period.

And with the park already undergoing major changes, another attraction closure would certainly be noticeable.

Disney World Has Already Removed a Popular Expedition Everest Perk

While guests wait for additional information about the Yeti refurbishment, another Expedition Everest change has already taken effect.

On September 21, 2026, Expedition Everest stopped offering its Single Rider line.

For years, this option allowed guests willing to ride separately from their group to enter a dedicated queue and fill otherwise empty seats.

It was particularly useful for solo visitors and guests who wanted to experience the coaster without spending extra money on Lightning Lane access.

However, Disney recently changed how Cast Members organize riders before boarding.

According to Kenny the Pirate, Cast Members began directing even-numbered groups to one side of the final holding area and odd-numbered groups to the other.

This adjustment allows Disney to organize parties more efficiently, reducing the number of empty seats that Single Rider guests would normally fill.

As a result, Disney discontinued the dedicated Single Rider option.

For visitors who previously used that line to experience Expedition Everest multiple times during a single visit, the change could make a noticeable difference.

Guests must now rely on the regular standby queue or purchase Lightning Lane access when available.

That’s especially frustrating considering how much a Disney World vacation already costs.

With theme park tickets, food, transportation, and other expenses continuing to put pressure on vacation budgets, losing another free time-saving option isn’t exactly welcome news.

What Do These Changes Mean for Animal Kingdom Guests?

Expedition Everest remains one of the most important attractions at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, particularly as the park continues preparing for additional experiences.

Disney is already moving forward with its Tropical Americas expansion, which will introduce new attractions inspired by Indiana Jones and Encanto (2021).

Those projects are expected to bring significant changes to the park in 2027.

In the meantime, Expedition Everest continues to serve as one of Animal Kingdom’s biggest draws, alongside Avatar Flight of Passage and other popular experiences.

Losing the coaster for an extended refurbishment could place additional pressure on the park’s remaining attractions.

Of course, a temporary closure could ultimately be worthwhile if Disney manages to restore the Yeti to something resembling its original form.

For longtime Disney fans, seeing the massive creature move again would be a significant moment.

The attraction has operated with its stationary Yeti for so long that an entire generation of visitors has never experienced the animatronic as originally designed.

For now, though, Disney hasn’t provided a timeline for when those changes will happen.

Guests visiting Animal Kingdom can still enjoy Expedition Everest, but they’ll need to adjust their plans now that the Single Rider line is no longer available.

And while a future refurbishment appears increasingly possible, Disney has yet to confirm when the coaster will shut down for the Yeti project, how long any closure might last, or when the updated experience will debut.

Until those details arrive, Expedition Everest fans will have to wait a little longer to find out when the legendary Yeti finally comes back to life.