Guests who rely on the single rider line to shorten their wait on Expedition Everest will need a new plan. Starting Monday, September 21, 2026, Disney’s Animal Kingdom is permanently closing the single rider option on the Asia thrill ride. Here is what is changing, why Disney made the call, and where you can still find single rider lines around Walt Disney World.
What Is Changing at Expedition Everest
Expedition Everest, the roller coaster that sends guests racing past the legendary Yeti in the Asia section of Animal Kingdom, will no longer offer a single rider line as of September 21. On that date, the single rider signage will be removed for good, and the change will be updated online as well.
Going forward, guests will have two ways to board: the standby line or Lightning Lane. The dedicated single rider queue simply will not be part of the mix anymore.
Why Disney Is Making the Change
The decision traces back to a test Disney ran earlier in 2026. The company introduced a new loading process, and it worked well enough to lower average standby wait times across the attraction.
That improvement changed the math. As the standby line grew more efficient, the single rider line stopped delivering the shorter wait that guests expect from that kind of queue. In other words, single riders were no longer saving much time, which took away the main reason the line existed. Around the same time, the queue also picked up new screens showing an updated safety video.
The Signs Were There
If you follow Animal Kingdom closely, this news may not come as a surprise. The single rider sign, posted on an exterior corner of the Serka Zong Bazaar gift shop, had been coming and going for weeks.
It first disappeared in late July, then returned a few days later with a note that the line was “not available.” Cast Members indicated at the time that the dedicated single rider queue would close before long. The September 21 announcement makes that closure official.
Where Single Rider Lines Still Exist
The change is limited to Expedition Everest. Disney has confirmed that single rider lines remain a useful tool at other attractions, helping Cast Members fill seats that are not taken by standby or Lightning Lane guests.
You can still use a single rider line at these attractions:
- Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
- Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
- Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
- Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure at EPCOT
- Test Track at EPCOT
Disney has said there are no plans to remove the single rider offer from any other attraction at this time, so these options should stay in place for now.
Good News for Yeti Fans
There is a separate update worth noting for Everest riders. At D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, Disney Experiences Chairman Thomas Mazloum announced that the company will be fixing the ride’s Yeti figure. For fans who have long hoped to see the animatronic restored to full motion, that is a promising sign for the attraction’s future.
Conclusion
The end of the single rider line at Expedition Everest reflects a shift in how the attraction loads guests, with a more efficient standby line reducing the need for a separate queue. If single rider has been part of your Animal Kingdom routine, plan to use standby or Lightning Lane starting September 21, and keep the other single rider attractions at Hollywood Studios and EPCOT in mind for the rest of your trip.
Written by
Rachel Van Norman
Contributing Writer
Rachel fell deeply in love with all things Disney as a little girl. Now as a wife and a mother herself, she shares this Disney obsession with her son and everyone around her. From her love of princesses to eating all the Disney food, Rachel spends her time radiating Disney magic and keeping everyone up to date on Disney news.
