The headline says Walt Disney World permanently ended the Single Rider line at Expedition Everest on September 21, 2026.
Disney’s change to Expedition Everest is an example of how Animal Kingdom manages ride inventory—especially some ride seating that was once available at no extra cost but can now be monetized.
No longer free.
Single Rider lines work best when they help the operator fill otherwise empty seats. From Disney’s perspective, every seat on every train should be used. If a leftover seat can instead be sold through Lightning Lane, Disney has not increased ride capacity—it has simply managed that capacity more profitably. So, the next time you ride Expedition Everest, consider this: you may have paid for your seat with time spent in standby, while the person beside you paid money for faster access to that same train.
This Yeti was never free.
Disney Journey Blog 