Every remaining trace of the Single Rider line at Expedition Everest has now vanished from Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park, officially closing the book on one of Walt Disney World Resort‘s most popular time-saving strategies.
The Testing Phase Behind the Change
Walt Disney World Resort began experimenting with a new boarding approach at Expedition Everest earlier this year. Rather than relying on a separate Single Rider queue, cast members began sorting guests in the standard line into two groups by party size: evens and odds. This method allowed trains to load significantly faster while ensuring every seat was filled, ultimately cutting down overall wait times for everyone in line.
For years, the Single Rider line had served as the go-to method for filling empty train seats with solo guests or split-up parties. But as the new sorting system proved effective during testing, cast members found they rarely needed to pull individuals from a separate line anymore, rendering the Single Rider option largely unnecessary.
After months of speculation, Walt Disney World Resort confirmed in early September that the Expedition Everest Single Rider line would close permanently, with Sunday, September 20, marking its final day of operation. Just days later, the last physical remnants of that queue have now been removed.
What's Changed at Expedition Everest
On Thursday, WDWNT reported that Walt Disney World Resort had taken down the sign that once pointed guests toward the now-closed Expedition Everest Single Rider queue. The only signage remaining on the building now promotes “souvenirs, film, postcards, and sweets” available at the neighboring Serka Zong Bazaar merchandise location.
Disney also introduced a new safety video in the Expedition Everest queue during this transition.
Bigger Changes Still Ahead
This latest update isn't the final chapter for Expedition Everest. At D23 Expo 2026, Walt Disney Imagineering confirmed plans to finally repair and reactivate the attraction‘s dormant Yeti audio-animatronic. The towering figure once lunged at passing riders before being deactivated and placed into “B-Mode” back in 2007, after Imagineers determined its repetitive movement was causing structural damage within the Forbidden Mountain.
Disney has not announced a timeline for when Expedition Everest might close to allow Imagineers to complete that repair work.
Are you sad to see the Single Rider line at Expedition Everest go? Share your thoughts with Disney Fanatic in the comments!
