Are Hair Ties on Expedition Everest a Ritual or Litter? A Disney Legend Has THOUGHTS

If you’ve ever taken a spin on Expedition Everest in Disney’s Animal Kingdom, you may have noticed something peculiar.

Expedition Everest

Expedition Everest is Animal Kingdom’s only rollercoaster and takes guests on a tour of the fabled Himalayan mountain, but that tour is disrupted when you encounter the mythological Yeti. But, some guests have developed an odd tradition for the ride.

The next time you’re taking a spin on Expedition Everest and you get the top of the mountain, look to your right and you’ll likely spot dozens of hair ties. Guests started the tradition of throwing a hair tie onto the mountain when they rode the rollercoaster, and while no one really knows why, many guests do it, the tradition continues. Joe Rohde, a former Disney Imagineer recently commented on the hair tie phenomenon.

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For those who don’t know, Joe Rohde was the lead designer for Animal Kingdom, and a big part in the creation of Expedition Everest. About the hair tie tradition, he says “The hair tie thing at the top of Everest is weird but also ritualistic.” He goes on to talk about how it is similar to a tradition climbers partake in at the top of the real mountain, which is to leave a rock.

Expedition Everest

It’s an interesting look at human behavior because, of course someone had to start it, but so many others have followed suit since then. Rohde says that despite disrupting the illusion of the ride, “it creates a very real interactive ceremony at the actual top of the highest point of the ride.” He does go on to say, however, that he does not condone the behavior because, of course, a Cast Member will have to occasionally go up to that point to remove the hair ties.

If you’ll be in Animal Kingdom soon and are looking to ride Expedition Everest, it is currently available as a Genie+ selection. It is ordinarily an Individual Lightning Lane purchase, but until August, it is part of the regular Genie+ service that you can get for $15.

Theming around Expedition Everest

And if you’re looking for other things to do in Animal Kingdom, the reimagined Finding Nemo show, Finding Nemo: The Big Blue… And Beyond recently opened, as well.

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Have you ever thrown your hair tie onto this ride? Let us know in the comments!