7 Fun Facts About Animal Kingdom's Expedition Everest At Disney World

2. Fast Facts About Track and Speed

Before Expedition Everest, Disney had never created a rollercoaster that travels both forwards and backwards in a single ride. The feat was accomplished by switching between two sets of tracks—one before the rear segment and one after. Rubber tires hold the train in place as the automatic switch rotates the track pieces behind. The ride reaches high speeds of 50 mph (up to 40 mph backwards) and takes riders through a series of twists, turns, and dips, up hills, within caves, and beyond. The initial climb rises to a zenith of 118 feet and the most intense drop plummets at 80 feet. The overall track spans 4,424 feet in length, with six train cars in all that contain 17 rows of seating available for up to 34 passengers at a given time.