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Is Expedition Everest Scary?

Yes 88/100 Extreme fear

Yes, it hits 50 mph, drops 80 feet, and sends you a long stretch backward in the pitch dark while a yeti waits.

Big drop In the dark Goes backward

The short answer

Yes. Yes, it hits 50 mph, drops 80 feet, and sends you a long stretch backward in the pitch dark while a yeti waits.

The moment the train stops at the ripped-up track, then rolls backward into a dark you cannot see the end of.

What it does to you

  • Big drop
  • In the dark
  • Goes backward

The numbers

Height to ride
44 in (112 cm)
Top speed
50 mph
Biggest drop
80 ft
Structure height
199.5 ft
Ride length
About 3 minutes
Inversions
None

How it scares you, broken down

Scary is not one thing. These four bars are our editorial read of where the fear comes from, zero to ten.

The drop 7/10
The speed 8/10
The dark 8/10
The spin 7/10

The moment people brace for

The moment the train stops at the ripped-up track, then rolls backward into a dark you cannot see the end of.

The track ahead is torn apart, the yeti is somewhere behind you, and the only way out is in reverse.

Is Expedition Everest scary for kids?

The 44 inch gate keeps the smallest riders off, and that is the right call. This is a real coaster with a real backward section, not a family train.

Height to ride. You must be at least 44 in (112 cm).

How to make it less scary

There are no inversions and the daylight sections are gorgeous, so ride it once knowing the backward stretch is short and ends fast. The yeti is a statue.

Where it sits on the scale

Every ride below is scored on the same fear index. Yours is highlighted. Tap another to read it.

See the full ranked list of the scariest rides at Disney World

Questions people ask before they get in line

Is Expedition Everest scary?

Yes, it hits 50 mph, drops 80 feet, and sends you a long stretch backward in the pitch dark while a yeti waits. The moment the train stops at the ripped-up track, then rolls backward into a dark you cannot see the end of.

Is Expedition Everest scary for kids?

The 44 inch gate keeps the smallest riders off, and that is the right call. This is a real coaster with a real backward section, not a family train.

Does Expedition Everest go upside down?

No. Expedition Everest has no inversions and never turns you upside down.

How big is the drop on Expedition Everest?

The biggest drop on Expedition Everest is about 80 feet. The moment the train stops at the ripped-up track, then rolls backward into a dark you cannot see the end of.

How fast is Expedition Everest?

Expedition Everest reaches about 50 mph. The track ahead is torn apart, the yeti is somewhere behind you, and the only way out is in reverse.

Is Expedition Everest in the dark?

Yes, Expedition Everest runs partly or fully in the dark, which is a real part of how it feels.

How tall do you have to be to ride Expedition Everest?

You must be at least 44 in (112 cm) to ride Expedition Everest.

Does Expedition Everest go backward?

Yes. About halfway through, a switch track sends the train racing backward into the mountain at around thirty miles per hour for roughly twenty seconds. It is the ride's signature moment and happens in the dark, which is what makes it feel so intense.

Does Expedition Everest go upside down?

No. There are no loops or inversions. There is a backward helix that can make you feel like you are looping, but the train always stays upright.

The four fear scores are Rope Drop News's own read of what frightens riders, never a measured stat. Every speed, height, and drop figure is a published Disney or attraction number.