An ironic Yeti ornament has arrived at Walt Disney World’s Animal Kingdom.
Serka Zong Bazaar
We found the new ornament at Serka Zong Bazaar, the gift shop located at the exit of Expedition Everest.
Expedition Everest Ornament – $26.99
The ornament features a 3D Yeti surrounded by text advertising the “Himalayan Track Repair” service, which appears to be a branch off the “Anandapur Rail Service.” Anandapur is notably the fictional setting housing Expedition Everest in the Asia section of Disney’s Animal Kingdom. According to the ornament, the fictional company was established in 2006, the opening year of the attraction.
The 3D Yeti looks to be repairing tracks on the ornament, with a small blue toolbox holding his necessities. The “E” in repair looks to be falling off the “sign” of the ornament. This ornament is ironic in two ways. The first is that the roller coaster is known for its stop at “broken” tracks before sending riders backward into the mountain.
The second is that the ride is home to a famous audio-animatronic Yeti created for Expedition Everest. The creature was the largest and most complex Walt Disney Imagineering had ever constructed. It’s 25 feet tall and could move 5 feet horizontally and 18 inches vertically.
Unfortunately, the Yeti has been in “B-mode” for almost its entire existence. Just a few months after Expedition Everest opened, the animatronic’s framing split. If it were to continue operating in its moving “A-mode,” it could damage the structure further. A strobe light is instead shone on the figure to give it the illusion of movement, and it has since been dubbed “Disco Yeti.”
The “repair company” nature of this ornament could be Disney’s subtle jab at the seemingly unrepairable animatronic.
Earlier this year, a larger collection of new Expedition Everest merchandise was released in the store for fans of the ride. You can watch our full POV of the popular roller coaster below.
What do you think of this new ornament? Will you add it to your collection? Let us know in the comments and on social media.
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