Walt Disney World Announces Permanent Closure of Expedition Everest Single Rider Line

Walt Disney World has confirmed that the Single Rider line at Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain is permanently closing. The final day for the service will be September 20, 2026, with the change taking effect on September 21, 2026.

The decision follows testing of a new loading process at the Animal Kingdom attraction. Earlier this year, Disney began experimenting with pre-sorting standby guests into odd and even numbered groups within the queue before reaching the loading platform. According to Disney, this system proved successful in lowering average standby wait times and increasing overall efficiency.

Because the updated loading procedure provides cast members with a ready supply of guests to fill gaps in ride vehicles, the Single Rider line no longer offers the specific time-saving experience guests expect. As standby efficiency improved, the separate queue began moving noticeably slower, leading to the decision to eliminate it entirely.

Beginning September 21, all single rider signage will be permanently removed from the attraction, including the sign located on the exterior corner of the Serka Zong Bazaar gift shop. The attraction will also be removed from the single rider listings on the official Walt Disney World website and the My Disney Experience app.

Disney has emphasized that this change is specific only to Expedition Everest and does not indicate a wider removal of single rider services across the resort. Single rider lines will remain operational at other select Walt Disney World attractions where they continue to serve as a useful tool for cast members to fill remaining seats.

The current attractions that continue to offer a single rider line include Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure and Test Track at EPCOT. There are currently no plans to remove the single rider option from any of these other locations.

Guests planning a visit to Disney’s Animal Kingdom who wish to experience Expedition Everest following the change will need to utilize the standard standby queue or purchase Lightning Lane Multi Pass or Lightning Lane Single Pass.