Matterhorn Refurb

[danyoung]

Hell, I had a kid sitting behind me at a hockey game recently literally screaming at the top of his longs...just shrieking...not cheering or jeering or anything.

I wouldn't have been able to remain quiet. If the parents weren't going to attempt anything, then I would have. I may have failed, but at least it would have given me the chance to yell back at the kid!

Many years ago when I was a road musician I was eating breakfast in a Denny's after an all night drive. I was pooped, cranky, and in no mood for a screaming child. But in comes a single mom and her maybe 9 month old, and they settled in to the booth next to me. The child started to yell - didn't seem upset or anything, just felt like yelling. Mom did nothing. I took it for about 2 minutes and then turned around, stuck my finger in the child's face and said sternly "HEY! That's enough." Sure, bad form to correct another parent's kid, but that was the mood I did. Amazingly, it worked - the child was so shocked by this big ol' stranger that he stopped immediately. And when I caught the mom's eye she was looking at me like I had just done something wonderful, and how ever did I do it? And I finished my breakfast in blissful silence.

[iceman559]

I wouldn't have been able to remain quiet. If the parents weren't going to attempt anything, then I would have. I may have failed, but at least it would have given me the chance to yell back at the kid!

Many years ago when I was a road musician I was eating breakfast in a Denny's after an all night drive. I was pooped, cranky, and in no mood for a screaming child. But in comes a single mom and her maybe 9 month old, and they settled in to the booth next to me. The child started to yell - didn't seem upset or anything, just felt like yelling. Mom did nothing. I took it for about 2 minutes and then turned around, stuck my finger in the child's face and said sternly "HEY! That's enough." Sure, bad form to correct another parent's kid, but that was the mood I did. Amazingly, it worked - the child was so shocked by this big ol' stranger that he stopped immediately. And when I caught the mom's eye she was looking at me like I had just done something wonderful, and how ever did I do it? And I finished my breakfast in blissful silence.

Ah, man, as much as I would love to do that, I never can bring myself to. I'm pretty non-confrontational and always worry what the parent will do. In this case specifically, I definitely was worried. Before the game, he was talking about how he was going to use the bobble heads they gave away for target practice and he was constantly screaming for fights to happen in the game. Doesn't hurt that he had beer after beer after beer. There was even one point when his daughter was choking, and he just ignored her and kept talking to that lady next to him. His son (the shrieker) actually shut up for a minute and started patting his sister's back, and after about 30 seconds, I was just about to turn around and yell at the dad to help his daughter when she said she was okay. She was saying that she was choking on an Oreo and eventually it melted in her throat. The dad never even looked over at her. It was clearly a parent that just flat out didn't care about his children, especially their behavior. The kid (who was probably like 5-10...i'm bad at estimating ages of kids) was even shouting rude phrases at John McCain when they were honoring him before the game (it was his bobble head night). They were mentioning his military experience and how he was a POW and the kid was sitting there yelling "You suck McCain! You're dumb McCain!". I fear for our future if that kid is representative of today's youth...

[Mermaid]

When M was an infant he was colicky and would just scream and scream for hours on end. One of the thoughts that got me through was me snuggling with my little boy (and not this screaming baby) on the Matterhorn. So, as dumb as it is, I am pretty bummed that it looks like we will never have that. He is already 32"+ at 15 months, so I was figuring next trip a year from now, he would be tall enough- and he is a daredevil, so I am not worried about him from a freak out factor, to at least try it. It's not earth shattering, but a bummer anyway!

[Blacksheep Uncle]

meanwhile back at the Matterhorn...

looks like new bobsleds are official:
http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blo...FY12Q2FBDM0211

[bumblebeeonarose]

Saw this. The text says "On Monday, Jan. 9, the Matterhorn Bobsleds at Disneyland park will close so we can ready the iconic mountain for a new fleet of bobsleds. Featuring a new, sleek design, the vehicles will have three seats in each bobsled with two bobsleds linked together for a total of six guests. So get your last-minute bobsledding done this weekend and the attraction will re-open this summer."

What's funny is that if you click the link on Matterhorn, it sends you to the Disney page for the ride. The Disney page says that the ride is currently closed for refurbishment. The blog says gets your rides in this weekend, the page says it's closed. Just found it amusing.

[unclewalt]

I will certainly miss the "old" bobsleds. I plan on ending my night on the 8th riding matterhorn until park closure.

[unclewalt]

At the park now getting last few rides in the old sleds

[TTFN92]

I don't know if this has been talked about because I didn't want to go thru 4 pages, but I was wondering if anyone knew if the height requirement was going to change with the new sleds.

[pixar]

I don't know if this has been talked about because I didn't want to go thru 4 pages, but I was wondering if anyone knew if the height requirement was going to change with the new sleds.

Yes they will.

[3Princesses1Prince]

Yes they will.

Do they know what the new height requirement will be?

[MidwayManiac]

I plan on ending my night on the 8th riding matterhorn until park closure.

I had planned to do the same thing. At 11:45pm when I appproached the Matterhorn they had it down to a single track (shake fist) and the line stretched a little 'round the mountain. I had my four year-old daughter with me and she was fading fast. I woulda had to hold throughout the queue. And I was tired. It was pretty cold.

Regrettably, we opted not to ride.

[oregontraveler]

Do they know what the new height requirement will be?

According to this week's update, 40 inches. Same as Splash Mtn.

[olegc]

According to this week's update, 40 inches. Same as Splash Mtn.

note that the update did not say it was confirmed - it was speculated. (and most likely will happen).
"Though this has been widely discussed among Disney fans, and several parents have even posed the question on the Disney Parks Blog, Disney has yet to announce if or how the height requirement might change."

[3Princesses1Prince]

According to this week's update, 40 inches. Same as Splash Mtn.

note that the update did not say it was confirmed - it was speculated. (and most likely will happen).
"Though this has been widely discussed among Disney fans, and several parents have even posed the question on the Disney Parks Blog, Disney has yet to announce if or how the height requirement might change."

Thank you both. Not that it'll matter, my youngest is just at 40" now.

[bumblebeeonarose]

If only there was a middle ground, like 38". But it seems like 40" is the height to be for most rides. Too bad for those little ones who were riding the Matterhorn and now have to wait another year or so to grow taller. DD will deffinately be tall enough to ride Gadget's coaster when we take her in April. She was 34.5" at her 18 month check-up.

[3Princesses1Prince]

If only there was a middle ground, like 38". But it seems like 40" is the height to be for most rides. Too bad for those little ones who were riding the Matterhorn and now have to wait another year or so to grow taller. DD will deffinately be tall enough to ride Gadget's coaster when we take her in April. She was 34.5" at her 18 month check-up.

I know. One thing we loved in WDW is that Kali River Rapids (their version of GRR) had an extra lap bar so kids 38-42" could ride too. It was a "thrill ride" DS could do too, and his favorite ride BTW. I know Grizzly has a bigger drop and safety regulations are different in CA, but I wish they could do some accommodations like that in DL too.

[jananafish]

Are the new sleds supposed to help with the jerkiness of the ride? My friend's son was so excited to ride the Matterhorn but when we got off he was so upset lol...almost couldn't get him on any other rides!

[sjhanksaz]

My kids are always tall for thier age, both parents are over 6' - they have no choice.

My youngest went on for the first time when she was like 3 I think and afterwords I asked her how she liked it.

She said I will like it better when I am 4.

It was cute.

[Mermaid]

My son was 32.75" at his 15 months appointment, so I was sure he would be able to ride next year at 2. I will be pretty bummed, but Gadget's is probably a better first coaster anyway.

[olegc]

Are the new sleds supposed to help with the jerkiness of the ride? My friend's son was so excited to ride the Matterhorn but when we got off he was so upset lol...almost couldn't get him on any other rides!

nothing has been officially announced and no "test results" have been posted. THe only thing that is known is that the new dual sleds (two attached in series) will hold 6 people - three in each sled - in their own seat with what appeared to be a lap bar in one of the bold pictures. I am sure the ride may feel smoother (a little) since the wheels may be new - but that won't last....

[bumblebeeonarose]

I know. One thing we loved in WDW is that Kali River Rapids (their version of GRR) had an extra lap bar so kids 38-42" could ride too. It was a "thrill ride" DS could do too, and his favorite ride BTW. I know Grizzly has a bigger drop and safety regulations are different in CA, but I wish they could do some accommodations like that in DL too.

I didn't care for Kali Rapids, but I think that is because GRR is my favorite ride at DCA. I didn't know Kali had a lower height requirement; that is a deffinate plus then. My friend was just commenting to me today that her son, who will be 5, will be tall enough for GRR when they take him for his first visit to Disneyland this summer.

[3Princesses1Prince]

I didn't care for Kali Rapids, but I think that is because GRR is my favorite ride at DCA. I didn't know Kali had a lower height requirement; that is a deffinate plus then. My friend was just commenting to me today that her son, who will be 5, will be tall enough for GRR when they take him for his first visit to Disneyland this summer.

Anything that cooled us off in Florida in September was good!

[TTFN92]

I know. One thing we loved in WDW is that Kali River Rapids (their version of GRR) had an extra lap bar so kids 38-42" could ride too. It was a "thrill ride" DS could do too, and his favorite ride BTW. I know Grizzly has a bigger drop and safety regulations are different in CA, but I wish they could do some accommodations like that in DL too.

I didn't care for Kali Rapids, but I think that is because GRR is my favorite ride at DCA. I didn't know Kali had a lower height requirement; that is a deffinate plus then. My friend was just commenting to me today that her son, who will be 5, will be tall enough for GRR when they take him for his first visit to Disneyland this summer.

The Dinosaur ride also has a lower height requirement even though it is the same ride as Indy, only not as good .

[iceman559]

Are the new sleds supposed to help with the jerkiness of the ride? My friend's son was so excited to ride the Matterhorn but when we got off he was so upset lol...almost couldn't get him on any other rides!

Haha. I know what you mean. I can never get my mom on it anymore because it hurts her back too much. Now, I doubt the new sleds will necessarily help with the jerkiness, as I'm sure the track has a lot more to do with that than the sleds do. I mean, the vehicles are basically designed to hug the rails, not slam around the track with wiggle room. Without a major overhaul and complete redo of the track (probably including adjusting the layout here and there to make for less sudden sharp turns and drops), I can't see the ride being any less jerky. However, I'm sure the new sleds will have better padding, cushioning and the restraints will hold you in better, resulting in less actual body movement aside from maybe your head flinging around.

[danyoung]

I'm gonna disagree with you a bit, iceman. While the track is probably a huge factor in the ride's smoothness, there is quite a bit of play in the wheels of these old vehicles. New cars will probably go quite a ways toward smoothing out the ride. We'll all see in a few months.