This is a blog that almost didn’t happen. I made an assumption (I know, a dumb thing to do), that what was obvious to me was obvious to everyone else. But when I would mention this upcoming fact to others, they had no idea what I was talking about. So I finally realized that I should share this interesting bit of Disney trivia with the world.
In the Animal Kingdom we find Expedition Everest sitting majestically on the shores of Discovery River. Across the river is a shrine built to pay homage to the mountains and the Yeti.
If you examine the shrine carefully, you can see all sorts of details. Offerings such and fruits and carved animals, incense burners, and chalices are all on hand.
But the real magic of this shrine is in its shape. (Okay, here comes the good part.) If you stand back and position your line-of-sight so that the shrine is situated directly in front of the Himalayans, the temple exactly silhouettes the peaks in the distance.
Cool, huh?
By the way… Did you know that the tallest peak in this recreation of the Himalayans is not actually Everest? Everest is the mountain on the right.
It was the Imagineers desire to create a mountain “range” and decided to put Everest further back to add to the illusion of distance and majesty. And in reality, there is another range of mountains in front of Everest. So it would be correct to see other peaks in the foreground.
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One of my readers, Rob, shared the following information with me:
The tallest visible peak is the "Forbidden Mountain" (hence the "Legend of the Forbidden Mountain" subtitle in the ride's name), which is guarded by the Yeti. Also note that the tallest peak of the shrine (that matches up with Forbidden Mountain) is the one with the Yeti figure inside.
Posted by Jack Spence on February 22, 2009 5:00 AM | 
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The previous post in this blog was Disneyland Paris - Frontierland – Part 4 – Phantom Manor.
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Comments (15)
Hi Jack,
I always look forward to your interesting blogs. Do you think this was by accident or some very clever imagineer planned this out hoping someone would notice someday?
Answer: Whenever I stumble across something like this, it makes me wonder how many other details the Imagineers have hidden away, just waiting for someone to discover them.
Posted by cathy mullen | February 22, 2009 9:27 AM
Posted on February 22, 2009 09:27
Wow that's so cool! Just show's how the little details make Disney so complete and incredible.
Posted by Pat | February 22, 2009 10:06 AM
Posted on February 22, 2009 10:06
Very Interesting as usual! I love your blogs! I really love your parks from around the World Series! Great pics and great info! Thanks Jack! : )
Posted by Kathy | February 22, 2009 10:52 AM
Posted on February 22, 2009 10:52
I've heard of this before and took the picture too. However I didn't know that Everest is the one on the right. I love finding out these cool little extras that the Imagineers put in, that's what makes Disney so magical. They care enough to add those details. And it keeps us coming back over & over to find more ;)
Posted by valerie | February 22, 2009 12:24 PM
Posted on February 22, 2009 12:24
Awesome blogs, Jack!!!!!
I didn't realize that about Everest.
Posted by Callie | February 22, 2009 7:50 PM
Posted on February 22, 2009 19:50
Jack, I'm glad this blog DID happen because I never knew this! Now I'll stop and take a minute to look at the mountains and the shrine. Thanks for all the fun info!
Posted by Heather | February 23, 2009 1:20 AM
Posted on February 23, 2009 01:20
Yep, most of the time when walking in the parks i'm concentrating on not running into the person in front of me that i don't notice details like this!
thanks for the insight!
Posted by Sarah | February 23, 2009 11:52 AM
Posted on February 23, 2009 11:52
The tallest visible peak is the "Forbidden Mountain" (hence the "Legend of the Forbidden Mountain" subtitle in the ride's name), which is guarded by the Yeti. Also note that the tallest peak of the shrine (that matches up with Forbidden Mountain) is the one with the Yeti figure inside.
Posted by Rob | February 23, 2009 2:15 PM
Posted on February 23, 2009 14:15
Jack, this is very cool -- I had no idea, and I've looked at that shrine a hundred times. Thanks!
Posted by Deb | February 23, 2009 11:20 PM
Posted on February 23, 2009 23:20
You know in the photos I have of this spot I saw that something was similar in the shrines and the mountain but I never lined them up the way you did. The imagineers strike again! Very cool!
Posted by Jennifer | February 24, 2009 8:59 AM
Posted on February 24, 2009 08:59
I didn't realize that about the shrine. NEAT! Disney is amazing in it's attention to detail and that's why I love it so much.
Posted by Disney pup | February 24, 2009 10:49 AM
Posted on February 24, 2009 10:49
Was the shrine there last year? And I also think it is cool.
Answer: Yes, the Everst Shire has been there ever since the attraction opened (maybe even before).
Posted by Colin Christenson | February 25, 2009 3:42 PM
Posted on February 25, 2009 15:42
wow! this is very cool indeed. I actually watched a television programme on the discovery channel about the making of expedition everest, and it wasn't pointed out on there!
Another think like this I love is the fact that Tower of Terror is themed to fit in with Morocco in EPCOTs World Showcase.
Pure Disney Brilliance!
Posted by vicki hayes | February 27, 2009 7:41 AM
Posted on February 27, 2009 07:41
On which bridge is the shrine located?
Answer: The Everest Shrine is not located on a bridge. It's located on the edge of Lake Discovery, shortly after passing the DVC sales booth in Asia on your way to Expedition Everest.
Posted by Robert Royce | March 4, 2009 6:37 PM
Posted on March 4, 2009 18:37
Cool stuff.
Posted by Keith Salwoski | March 22, 2009 8:12 AM
Posted on March 22, 2009 08:12