From the Archives - New Peak of Storytelling

Tomorrow is the twelfth anniversary of the opening of Expedition Everest. Disney's Animal Kingdom may have been a rebirth of storytelling through environment for the Imagineers, but Expedition Everest raised that bar to a whole new level. The attraction isn't without its problems, but there is a lot to love and explore when it comes to the details and stories presented throughout Serka Zong. It is one of my favorite areas to explore, and I'm always finding a new story to excavate and share. Today, let's look back on one of our first exploration of the attraction's press photos, from research to reality.

New Peak of Storytelling - Originally Published 6 September 2009

It should come as no surprise that Expedition Everest, through its queue, surrounding area, and attraction itself, has completely captured my imagination. Even more so, the story of its creation and the research that went into the area’s design enthrall me. Stories such as these are the reasons I love Disney and hope that one day I will be able to help create my own magic.

Personal thoughts aside, however, I thought that many of us out there would like to journey back to the early days of Expedition Everest and see some of the first photographs released from Disney in 2006. These photographs range from the attraction itself, to Serka Zong, and even beyond to the true life adventure Joe Rohde and his team ventured on in search of their Everest and yeti.

Personally, the photograph of Everest at night, using a white light rather than the current color scheme, is one of the best night shots I have seen of this mountain.

All images ©Disney