Big changes are coming to Disney's Animal Kingdom on September 21, 2026. Walt Disney World is officially retiring the Expedition Everest Single Rider service at Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain, removing a longtime alternative to the standby and Lightning Lane entrances at one of the park's most beloved thrill rides.

What's Actually Changing?

Disney's current Single Rider page still lists Expedition Everest as Animal Kingdom's participating attraction — but that changes after September 20. Beginning September 21, Single Rider signage will be removed from the attraction, and Expedition Everest will disappear from the resort's Single Rider listings both online and in My Disney Experience. The change was first reported by Scott Gustin.

Once the switch takes effect, Animal Kingdom will no longer have a listed Single Rider attraction at all. It's worth noting that Disney has not announced the end of Single Rider resort-wide — participating options at EPCOT and Disney's Hollywood Studios remain listed. This is an Expedition Everest change, not a new policy for every Walt Disney World attraction.

Why Is Disney Making This Move?

The story behind the change actually starts earlier in 2026. Back in May, Disney quietly adjusted how Cast Members sort guests before they reach the Expedition Everest loading platform, grouping standby guests into odd- and even-numbered parties to fill trains more efficiently. That pre-sorting approach reduced how often Cast Members needed to call on Single Riders to fill empty seats. Then in July, the attraction's Single Rider sign temporarily disappeared before returning — a sign that something bigger was in the works.

Disney says its testing of this new loading process produced lower average standby wait times, which is the clearest reason the company is making the change permanent. The operational logic is straightforward: if Cast Members can combine standby groups efficiently earlier in the queue, fewer empty seats make it all the way to the loading station — and a separate pool of solo riders becomes less necessary.

What This Means for Guests

There is a real guest-experience tradeoff here. The Single Rider line gave solo visitors and groups willing to split up a flexible, often faster way to experience Expedition Everest. After September 20, those guests will need to use the regular standby or Lightning Lane options instead.

For vacation planning, the practical takeaway is simple: if you previously built your Animal Kingdom day around repeat Single Rider runs on Everest, you'll need a new strategy. Expedition Everest itself isn't going anywhere — it remains a major operating thrill attraction in the park's Asia section, with a 44-inch height requirement, Early Theme Park Entry eligibility, and Rider Switch still available.

The Real Test: How Will Pre-Sorting Hold Up?

The more interesting question going forward is how the new sorting system performs when the park is at its busiest. Moving party organization further upstream can improve seat utilization, but it also puts more weight on Cast Member grouping and guest compliance before riders ever reach their assigned rows.

Disney's testing points to improved standby performance, and there's no verified evidence that the process will push crowds into Asia's walkways. Still, the first days after September 21 should offer a clearer picture of how the pre-sorting approach holds up without a dedicated Single Rider queue running alongside it. If the system works as designed, trains should leave with fewer empty seats. If it becomes cumbersome during heavier demand, the effects would likely show up in queue movement and the final approach to the station — not just in the posted wait time.

A Bigger Moment of Change at Animal Kingdom

This queue update lands during a broader period of transformation at Animal Kingdom. The park has seen the permanent closure of DinoLand U.S.A. attractions and an ongoing 2026 overhaul that has touched everything from construction zones to character meet-and-greets. Against that backdrop, even a technical queue adjustment at Expedition Everest feels more significant than it might otherwise.

As of September 18, Disney's official Single Rider page still shows Expedition Everest — consistent with the service remaining available through September 20. Guests planning a visit right around the transition should keep an eye on that page and on My Disney Experience for the most up-to-date information, since Disney notes that participating attractions and wait times can vary and the service is subject to availability.

What's confirmed is clear: Expedition Everest's Single Rider service ends September 21, 2026, following Disney's testing of a new loading process. Whether the lower average standby waits observed during testing persist once Single Rider is fully removed is the question Animal Kingdom fans will be watching closely in the weeks ahead.