The Yeti is a legendary creature and just about as famous in Walt Disney World as it is in the real world. After the popular animatronic Yeti figure on Expedition Everest stopped working only months after debuting, everyone wants to know: “When is Disney going to fix the Yeti?”
At this point it may seem like a fairytale, but according to Joe Rohde Disney is still working on fixing the Yeti problem on Expedition Everest in Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park.
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What is the Yeti?
The Yeti is one of the most complex audio-animatronics that Walt Disney Imagineering has ever built. It stands 25 ft (7.6m) tall and its “skin” measures 1,000 square feet (93 m2). But just as impressive as its size is its movement.
When operating in “A-mode” the massive Yeti animatronic figure can move 5 ft (1.5 m) horizontally and 18 in (46 cm) vertically and the potential thrust in all its hydraulic cylinders combined gives 259,000 pounds of force, more instantaneous power than a 747-400 airliner.
The Yeti is suspended above your head, and as riders on the Anandapur Tea Company roller coaster train is passing by, the figure is supposed to reach out and seemingly grab riders on their way by in the pivotal scene of Expedition Everest.
The problem is Disney Imagineers made a crucial mistake when installing it in Expedition Everest. Only months after opening in 2006, the stress caused by the Yeti’s movement split the figure’s framing which would cause a catastrophic malfunction if continued running in “A-mode.”
It has remained closed since then and has been operating in “B-mode.” Imagineers have since installed a strobe light behind the Yeti giving it the appearance of movement and causing him to be affectionately called: Disco Yeti by fans.
Latest Yeti News
Joe Rohde is one of Disney’s most famous Imagineers and was the lead designer for the Animal Kingdom and Expedition Everest. Since the Yeti animatronic has stopped working, fans are always asking him when Disney is going to fix it and if it’s even possible.
One of the theories behind Disney not being able to fix the Yeti is maintenance access to the figure being impossible. Joe Rohde recently rebuffed that idea in a Tweet responding to a Twitter post claiming access is the problem:
“It’s not an issue of maintenance access, they were part of the design team and set the standard. In fact, it was seen as a model collaborative process. It’s an unexpected and unforeseen set of issues, very complex, with no easy or timely solutions as of yet.”
He then responded to another tweet that the Disney Imagineers all “messed up”:
“Not “messed up.” These guys did not ignore something or botch it. Innovation is like physical exploration of unknown spaces. There is stuff out there that you didn’t know, and you only encounter it by exploration. But then….there it is.“
Previous Comments on Fixing the Yeti
In 2018, Joe Rohde again talked about the possibility of fixing the Yeti on Expedition Everest. He responded to a comment on Twitter reminding him of his previous comments about fixing the Yeti.
His response to that comment was: “Yes. Still on it.”
Rohde swore at a D23 event that even though the Yeti isn’t working, they are still working on fixing the problem and getting him back up and operational. If you go to minute: 48:29 of this video, you will see where Joe Rohde says he personally will make sure the Yeti gets fixed:
The Yeti animatronic on Expedition Everest has had problems basically from the attraction’s opening in 2006, and stopped working roughly one year after that.
Supposedly, it was seen working for a brief time in 2009, so it’s been at least 11 years straight, and the better part of 13 years total.
So When Will Disney Fix It?
At this point in time, Disney has no immediate plans to fix the Yeti animatronic on Expedition Everest. In the past, Joe Rohde has described the complexity of the figure:
“You have to understand, it’s a giant complicated machine sitting on top of, like, a 46-foot tall tower in the middle of a finished building. So, it’s really hard to fix, but we are working on it. And we continue to work on it. We have tried several ‘things’, none of them quite get to the key, turning of the 40-foot tower inside of a finished building, but we are working on it… I will fix the Yeti someday, I swear.”
Even with Rohde’s most recent comments, only Disney Imagineering knows exactly what the problem even is. Even though Rohde says accessibility isn’t the problem, its position certainly can’t help.
It’s been speculated that the damage caused was to the figure’s concrete base structure, which would require major disassembly of the superstructure before being able to repair the Yeti’s foundation.
For now, that’s why Imagineers installed a strobe light to give the impression the Yeti is moving, even though he isn’t. Disney has since learned from their mistake with the Yeti and for example with the Shaman of Songs AA figure on the Na’vi River Journey, they installed it on a moveable track which allows easy access to the figure any time maintenance needs to be done.
The only way to fix the Yeti is to close down Expedition Everest for a lengthy refurbishment where he can be accessed and worked on. Up until recently, that seemed impossible due to the attraction’s huge popularity. However with Flight of Passage now holding the title of the Animal Kingdom’s most popular ride, it may do-able eventually.
While it would be great to get the Yeti back up and running again soon, Disney hasn’t officially commented on it and even though Rohde says he’s fixing the Yeti, who knows how long that will actually take…
For now, we can put it in the cautiously optimistic section and see what else develops in the next few years. We’ll keep you posted…
Your Thoughts
I want to know what you think about Disney fixing the Yeti Animatronic on Expedition Everest
- Would you like to see it fixed even if it means a lengthy refurbishment?
- How should Disney avoid more situations like this in the future?
Let us know in the comments section below!
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My name is Ziggy and I love Disney, everything Disney! I grew up on Disney and it has and continues to be a huge part of my life. I started young when my parents took me to Disney World when I was 18 months old. Little did they know that would be the first of an uncountable number of trips we would take. I have so many amazing memories going to Disney with my family and friends and it has been interwoven into my DNA.
David Czajkowski
Saturday 7th of October 2023
I was looking forward to seeing the Yeti, but I just road the ride and didn’t see the Yeti at all! Did they remove entirely? The only thing I saw was a small Yeti figure flashing on a wall. It that looked like cavemen drawings and heard a roar. The coaster was great, but that was really disappointing. There just seems to be a disconnect with the whole theme of the ride without the Yetti. They need to just mount him over the tracks at a different point of the ride, or create a smaller one. All the ride needs is the light to come on for a split second during the zipping through the caves and a have a unanimated Yetti in your face. I say fix it, create a new one or move it and have it be still, or scratch the Yetti theme of the ride.
John The Invisblemn
Sunday 27th of August 2023
Not aware the yeti wasnt working. Dont care either, Disney isnt the only place to ride roller coasters but it may be one of THE most expensive. Last visited Disney 2011 and probably never afford to return.
Rob
Wednesday 17th of August 2022
I don't think they need to fix the Yeti. You are moving so fast anyway and don't really see much of the Yeti. I think they should just leave the lights on the Yeti. You would be able to see it better. Maybe try some different colored lights on it to see what would work the best. When you pass by it, you are moving so fast you don't really get to see it with the strobe light.
Sue
Tuesday 5th of April 2022
No wonder Disney tickets cost a fortune. Either shut the darn thing down for however long it takes to properly repair it even if the whole thing needs to be dismantled or shut it down permanently and use the space for other things. This diddle and diddle to fix on the cheap is bound for disaster.
Bill
Thursday 15th of July 2021
Joe Rhode retired from Disney in January 2021. He works for Virgin Galactic now. The yeti is still not fixed.