| Expedition Everest Construction Archive and News - 2005 |
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For 2006 construction info and news click here
31 December 2005: Joe Rohde
interview
There is a new interview with Joe Rohde on the Official Walt
Disney World podcast at
http://www.disneyworld.com/podcast.
29 December 2005: New testing
video
New night time testing video
29 December 2005: Annual
Passholder preview dates
Annual Passholder preview
dates announced
14 December 2005: DVC member
preview dates announced
Preview dates have been
announced for Disney Vacation Club members. See the opening dates
page for full details.
9 December 2005: Expedition
Everest: Journey to Sacred Lands
"Expedition Everest:
Journey to Sacred Lands" the TV documentary announced.
1 December 2005: Expedition
Everest: Mission Himalayas-The Collection auction
Disney announce Expedition
Everest: Mission Himalayas-The Collection auction
30 November 2005: Night photos
New section devoted to
Expedition Everest by night.
16 November 2005: Expedition Everest drop is 80ft
Further to the 8 November update below, Disney have now revised the figure for the height of the drop. Since early 2003, it has been rumored that the height of the main drop was to be 80ft. On 8th November 2005, Disney officially announced to the press that the figure was infact 112ft. Members of WDI associated with the project, also spoke of the 110ft plus drop. It isn't clear how that figure was calculated, whether it was some creative number crunching (possibly using the total height of the track, which would be accurate, but wouldn't really be a figure for just the main drop) or something else. However, it seems to avoid mis-leading anyone, official Disney channels are now describing the drop as 80ft, which returns us back to our original information from 2003.
11 November 2005: Construction
video
Latest construction video is now available on the
Expedition Everest video page on
WDWMAGIC.
9 November 2005: Expedition
Everest logo confirmed
See the Ride System, Concept
Art and Story page
8 November 2005: The story
unfolds
Expedition Everest
storyline walk-through
8 November 2005: Facts and
Figures
Some new details have been released about Expedition
Everest. A BIG surprise is the main drop, which is not 80ft as
rumored since 2003, but 112ft!
Go to our Facts and Figures page for more details and information.
8 November 2005: Expedition
Everest Grand Opening Press Event
Details on the opening
date page
7 November 2005: Latest construction photos (Thanks to ScottJ)
/
Above: Everest as seen from the approach to the new
area
Above: The mountain viewed from
across the lake
Above: The main lift hill leaving
the fortress on the left, and heading into the mountain
Above: The 80ft drop leaving the
mountain
Above: Some construction markings
remain on parts of the mountain, presumably ready for some fine
tuning
Above: The mountain viewed from
the Dinoland bridge
Above: Walking along the pathway
to the newly lowered construction wall
Above: Views of Serka Zong, the
village that surrounds the base of Expedition Everest
Above: More of the incredible
details that Imagineering have put into the village
Above: A warning for visitors to
Serka Zong
Above: The FASTPASS collection,
and ride entry areas
Above: Some of the final remaining
areas of scaffolding
Above: More of the extensive landscaping that is
going in around the base of the station. More than 900 bamboo
plants, 10 species of trees and 110 species of shrubs are being
nurtured and planted to create an authentic environment around the
village and mountain
Above: The view from the bridge
leading from Dinoland to the new walkway
Above: Expedition Everest as seen from the
parking lot on arrival to Animal Kingdom
30 October 2005: New concept art
New concept art released
by Imagineering
30 October 2005: Opening team
recruitment underway
Disney will be recruiting the opening team cast members
in mid-November 2005. The opening team will be responsible for
cycling the attraction during the test and adjust period, and
preparing for operational duties once Imagineering hand over the
attraction. The assignment of an opening team is one of the major
steps needed prior to any soft openings. The latest information
seems to suggest that WDI and the opening team may be riding in
December 2005, with an outside chance of guest testing in December
2005, with more wide-scale soft openings taking place in January
2006, leading to a full official opening in Spring 2006.
30 October 2005: Latest
construction photos (Thanks Imagineersrock)
The walkway infront of Everest has now reopened, and the
construction wall has been lowered to allow a better view of the
village and the mountain. New signage has also been installed,
giving an overview of the attraction. A CM is also on standby at a
stand, ready to answer questions from guests.
29 October 2005: Latest construction photos (Thanks KevinB)
The walkway remains closed, as more of the wall is being
removed. It isn't clear yet if the wall is being removed
permanently, or to allow large items to be delivered to the site. In
the photo below right, you can see a flatbed truck with a large log
set piece on board being delivered. The planting of trees still
seems to be underway, the area around the drop is now very densely
planted.
27 October 2005: Interview with
Joe Rohde
Coasterradio.com talk to Joe Rohde about the development of
Expedition Everest. For a sneak preview,
check out this special clip from
the interview, specially for WDWMAGIC.COM readers.
27 October 2005: Latest construction photos (Thanks KevinB)
The walkway leading in front of Everest was closed
yesterday, amongst some rumors that the wall infront of the
attraction is due to be further pushed back, to give guests a better
view of the Everest area. Also notice from the photos of the
mountain that practically all of the scaffolding is now removed, and
a considerable amount of trees have been planted around the base of
the mountain.
14 October 2005: Latest
construction photos
Everest is now running multiple trains on track at
once, whilst testing is continuing. The photos below (Thanks to
Dr_Teeth90210) show the trains with sandbag dummy riders (used to
add weight for testing purposes), entering and exiting the mountain.
13 October 2005: Latest
construction photos
Thanks to SeanR for the photos below.
18 September 2005: Latest
construction photos
Thanks to SeanR for the photos below.
Thanks to Jeffs10 for the photos below.
9 September 2005: Construction
video
Latest construction video is now available on the
Expedition Everest video page on
WDWMAGIC.
6 September 2005: Latest construction photos (Many thanks to ScottJ)
Above left: Backlit Everest at
night
Above right: The view from Harambe
Above left: The Fortress on the
main left upto the mountain
Above right: The entry into the mountain
Above: The ice capped mountain
with much of the scaffolding now removed
Above: The peaks
Above right: The view of Everest
from the parking lot
5 September
2005: Twisted remains
The photo below left shows the end of the track,
ending in a twisted mess. The yeti is near.
In the photo below right, you can see a depiction of the yeti by one
the villagers inside the Fortress (the ancient building on the main
lift).
2 September 2005: Height Requirement
Expedition Everest is currently set to have a
height requirement of 44". As always with pre-opening information,
this is subject to change.
23 August 2005: Latest construction photo
This photo shows the approach to the decent into
the snow tunnel, taken from the top of the main lift.
23 August 2005: Latest construction photos
These photos show the ride building from behind the
mountain (a view which will normally be out of guest view, hence
it's plain beige exterior). Notice at the peak, you can see the
twisted remains of the track, after a visit by the Yeti.
20 August 2005: Latest construction photos and Everest from the air
Above: The main lift (Lift B)
Above: Expedition Everest shot
from across the water (Thanks to kevin7crash)
Above: Expedition Everest from the
air (notice the way that only areas visible to guests are themed.
The rear of the mountain that is out of guest view resembles a
warehouse-type structure). Thanks to kevin7crash.
13 August 2005: Testing confirmed and testing
video
It is now confirmed that ride testing is well
underway. The video below shows a full ride through of a train, shot
from the pathway in front of Everest. Notice the train rising up the
lift hill on the left, and then a few minutes later exiting from the
mountain through the helix, before rising back into the mountain.
Expedition Everest ride testing video
(Right click the link above, and select SAVE TARGET AS..)
(WDWMAGICPass Required)
High Resolution, WMV, 1.5mins duration,
21MB, thanks to Volker
for the video.
Above left: The train on the lift
hill
Above left: The train on the helix
Above right: The train heading back into the mountain
6 August 2005: Testing underway
While the show scenes and external structure still
have much work to be done, there are reports that vehicle testing is
now taking place in the evenings.
23 July 2005: Train on track for pull through
tests
One of the trains is on track and being used to
check clearances and passage through the attraction. (Thanks to
JerryS for the photos)
25 June 2005: Latest construction photos (Thanks to ToddM)
12 June 2005: Latest construction photos (Thanks to ScottJ)
6 June 2005: Latest construction photos (Thanks to KevinP)
18 May 2005: Latest construction photos (Thanks to SeanR)
The snowy and ice covered peaks are now becoming clearly visible on
the mountain.
11 May 2005: Latest construction photos (Thanks to Goofyfan13)
Above: One of the peaks (left most) is now showing some of the snow covering.
Above: The construction walls have been replaced following the partial removal for the recent press days.
10 May 2005: Interview with Joe Rohde
There is a great interview with Joe Rohde about Expedition Everest
over at the official WDW site:
http://www.disneyworld.com/podcast
7 May 2005: Its Not A Ride... Its a Story
Yesterday saw the media day for Expedition Everest. This was a chance
for Disney to show the world the incredible detail, story and scale
of the project.
Above: The construction walls were removed to allow the press to get an up-close view of the construction progress. Lead Imagineers were on hand to give first had descriptions of Imagineering's latest masterpiece.
Above: Joe Rohde, Executive Designer and Vice President, Creative, Walt Disney Imagineering talks to members of the media for their tour of Expedition Everest.
Above: Imagineers Mark Mesko and Dan Jue brief press on elements of Everest.
Above Left: Dan Jue - Principal Production Designer
Above Right: Mark Mesko - Technical Director, Show Ride
Engineering
Above: Close up views of the fantastically themed Steam Donkey trains that will take the guests through Everest on their expedition. Notice the incredibly authentic ageing process that has been applied to this finished version.
Above: The Steam Donkey with the mountain looming behind.
Above: Parts of the queue area
Above: Members of Imagineering were actively working on the buildings infront of the press.
Above: The huge 80ft drop straight down into what will be thick bamboo, turning into a helix and darting back into the mountain.
Above: Some concept art showing some renderings of the internal track structure
Above: Members of the media interview Imagineers
Above: Joe Rohde and Jay Russulo announce Expedition Everest: Mission Himalayas -- an extraordinary expedition to the mountains of the Himalayas to explore the legendary "realm of the yeti." Conservation International and Discovery Networks will join Disney in the search for new species and ancient legends on this scientific and cultural journey to China and the eastern Himalayas. More info here
3 May 2005: Latest construction photos (Thanks to Yen_Sid1)
This latest set of photos show some more of the incredible detail that
is going into Everest. Also of interest, is the news that the
construction wall infront of Everest is being removed, most likely
to allow for some degree of touring for the reporters arriving in
the next few days for the press days.
Below: Some of the tunnel areas leading out of the mountain, and a view of the first mini-lift hill.
Below: The entry area to the queue leading from the existing walkway area.
Below: Parts of the intricately detailed queue area.
2 May 2005: Latest construction photos (Thanks to DeborahS)
Below left: An overall view of the current state of the
mountain
Below right: Themeing is underway on the emergency staircase
running around the edge of the helix.
Below: The helix area will ultimately be covered in dense
bamboo, giving the impression of the ride vehicle plummeting into
thick bamboo, and then re-emerging on the other site out of the
bamboo. To ensure ride safety in a heavily themed landscape, the
large poles being installed around the track will carry suspended
steel cables to prevent any falling bamboo blocking the track. The
poles will be cleverly themed as abandoned telegraph poles.
8 April 2005: Inside Everest (Thanks to Yen_Sid1)
One of the Everest trains is now onsite.
A couple more photos of some unfinished interior caverns.
5 April 2005: Inside Everest (Thanks to Yen_Sid1)
This photo shows some of the interior rockwork and track working its
way through the cavern interior.
5 April 2005: Latest construction photos
27 March 2005: Latest construction photos
13 March 2005: Latest construction photos (thanks to Yen_Sid1)
The photo below left shows part of the wonderfully detailed queue area. Below right shows a close up of the mountain and the lift hill, this picture really gives an impression of the sheer size of the structure.
4 March 2005: Latest construction photos (thanks to Yen_Sid1)
This series of photos shows the mountain from a new angle inline with the lift hill and near to the station.
Above: the lift hill
Above: The rear of the mountain
Above: The station and lift
Above: The queue area
22 February 2005: New concept art, ride vehicle imagery and more
Copyright 2005. THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY
Joe Rohde, executive designer at Walt Disney Imagineering and lead
designer of Disney's Animal Kingdom, explains the legend of the
fearsome yeti that will menace guests among the snowy peaks of the
Himalayas on Expedition Everest when it
opens in early 2006.
Copyright 2005. THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY
Walt Disney Imagineering's Rick Daffern (seated), senior show
programmer, and Larry McAfee (standing), principal animation
designer, review a computer model of Expedition Everest that allows
Imagineers to program the thrill ride "virtually" before
construction begins.
Copyright 2005. THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY
Model builder Mark Bishop of Walt Disney Imagineering applies
delicate details to a miniature version of the "steam donkey" train
cars that will transport guests to a thrilling encounter with the
legendary yeti in Expedition Everest.
Copyright 2005. THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY
One of the "steam donkey" train cars.
Copyright 2005. THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY
Above: Stefan Hellwig, senior concept designer and in-field art
director with Walt Disney Imagineering, describes the unique
architecture at Expedition Everest that will convince guests they
are trekking through the Himalayas en route to a high-speed train
adventure.
14 February 2005: Latest construction photos (Thanks to RandallJ)
7 February 2005: Topping off
As reported in late January, the 1 ton peak was hoisted 20 stories in the air to be installed on the top of Everest. The photo below records this milestone - January 20, 2005.
Copyright 2005. THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY
31 January 2005: Latest construction photos (Thanks to NemoRocks)
23 January 2005: Expedition Everest construction update (Thanks to goofyfan13)
Everest was topped off on Thursday, complete with the United States flag! Work is underway at a fast pace on installing the remaining rock work around the mountain, along with continuing work on the queue and entrance areas.
10 January 2005: Expedition Everest construction update (Thanks to Speck76)
Some new track work is now visible, along with a lot more of the rockwork covering the structure.
9 January 2005: Expedition Everest by moonlight
