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This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.

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Matterhorn or Expedition Everest?

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While all news, Disney, points towards the impending death of Disneyland's Tom Sawyer's Island, we got a chance to scale Expedition Everest at Disney World's Animal Kingdom (okay, we rode it five times in a row). Theme Park Insider calls it original; we call it competition for Matterhorn.

And what's better?

Matterhorn is classic, but Expedition Everest kicks snow with Yeti's pee in its face. Beyond this point of reading, we warn there are ride spoilers. The ride only goes about 50 miles per hour, but at one point, it goes backwards... and in the dark. The use of traditional animation of the Yeti was nice to see, the animatronics were unreal (other than that really badly done vulture at the spot where the track breaks) and there's nothing better than seeing a bunch of people screaming their heads off in anticipation of when the big drop would happen.

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ON A SIDE NOTE: If you really wanted to see people scream, you had to be at Disney World's Magic Kingdom a few years back before they closed ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter, which was refurbished for the current Stitch's Great Escape! We can't understand why Disney would take away a "ride" where a "ride technician's blood" was dropped on your face after his spine was cracked in half (or whatever that cracking noise was) by a huge winged alien. Just doesn't make sense.

But we digress. Matterhorn or Expedition Everest? Oh, and pictures after the jump...

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