The End of an Era: Expedition Everest Single Rider Line Is Closing

It is truly the end of an era. Disney World is ending the Single Rider line at Expedition Everest, a popular thrill attraction at Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park. September 20, 2026, will be the final day guests can use the Single Rider line at the popular attraction featuring the Yeti. Beginning September 21st, the single rider line will no longer be an option.

The decision comes after Disney spent several months testing a new boarding process at Expedition Everest. The change allowed Cast Members to load guests from the regular standby queue more efficiently, and the new process has helped lower standby wait times.

You may remember that we’ve tested Expedition Everest’s Single Rider experience a few times since the new boarding process was introduced. In our testing, the Single Rider line moved more slowly than the regular standby queue when more than a handful of guests were waiting.

So while the end of Expedition Everest’s Single Rider line may come as a surprise to some guests, it’s actually the end result of a change that has been underway for several months.

The final day to use the Single Rider line will be September 20, with the new loading process becoming permanent on September 21.

Why Is Disney Ending the Single Rider Line?

The end of the Single Rider line at Expedition Everest follows a change that has been taking place behind the scenes for much of 2026. Disney began using an odd-and-even boarding procedure that allowed Cast Members to more efficiently fill the ride’s rows from the regular standby queue. We noticed the difference when we tested the Single Rider line after the new process was introduced.

Previously, the Single Rider line could be a useful option when we wanted to experience Expedition Everest without waiting in the full standby queue. After the boarding process changed, however, the Single Rider line was not always the faster choice. When several guests were waiting in the Single Rider queue, we sometimes found it made more sense to use the regular standby line instead.

Other Disney World Single Rider Attractions Are Not Affected

It’s important to note that this change only applies to Expedition Everest. Disney World still offers Single Rider lines at several other attractions. Guests can currently find Single Rider at:

Test Track at EPCOT
Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure at EPCOT
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

We’ve put together individual guides for the attractions where we have tested and documented the Single Rider experience, including our guides to single rider at Test Track, the single rider at Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, and the single rider at Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. We also have a complete guide to single rider lines at Disney World that explains how the process works and what to expect when using one.

If you’re preparing for a Disney World trip, our How to Plan a Disney World Vacation guide is a good place to start! Check back with ResortsGal.com for more updates.