Walt Disney World is making a major operational change at Animal Kingdom as the single rider line for Expedition Everest prepares to close forever. Guests will no longer have access to this dedicated queue starting next week, marking the end of a long-standing tradition for the park.
Fans had already noticed strange changes to the attraction throughout the summer months. The physical single rider sign disappeared several times, and Cast Members frequently posted temporary notices stating the queue was unavailable, ultimately foreshadowing this permanent shift.
Why the Single Rider Line Is Ending
Disney successfully tested a brand-new loading process earlier this year that changed everything. By utilizing a smart pre-sorting system in the queue to pair guests into odd and even groups before boarding, ride vehicles filled much faster and average standby wait times dropped significantly, making separate backfill queues obsolete.
What This Changes for Animal Kingdom
This permanent closure brings a major milestone to the property, leaving Disney’s Animal Kingdom with zero single rider lines anywhere in the park. While attractions at Epcot and Hollywood Studios keep their single rider offerings fully intact, Animal Kingdom now stands alone with this strict standard, meaning visitors must rely entirely on standby queues and Lightning Lane entrances.
Looking Ahead at the Future
Crews will officially remove all physical signage starting September 21, and digital apps will reflect the update immediately. Guests visiting the mountain should prepare for standard wait times moving forward, while fans eagerly look ahead to other long-awaited improvements, such as Disney’s recent promise to finally fix the iconic Yeti animatronic.
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