New Matterhorn

[tea4two]

The bumpiness wouldn't be so bad if there was actually room to be bumped around. Your legs are getting smacked against the sled and your shoulder and back against the hard plastic back rests. If they made the seats somewhat forgiving and room for your legs to move around, the bumpy track wouldn't be a problem in my book.

We rode last night, and the bumpiness is pretty bad even when you do have room. Mr. Tea is a big guy, I am much smaller -- so he had less room (1st seat in the sled) and I had lots of room (last seat in the sled). The jostling and bumping were painful at times. The next time we ride, we agreed to bring hoodies for padding!

[Karin]

Agreed that the bumping and jostling is bad. I haven't been on in so long, what with the rehab and having Cub being too little to ride so I haven't been on in a long time, that I'd forgotten about it's jostlingness. At 4.5 he thinks he wants to go on. After we rode yesterday DH and I agreed, absolutely no riding that for him for a while.

No Splash for him either for a while, as there's no restraint system and the amount of soaking we got yesterday. It's not a ride he'd enjoy, although he thinks he would, and I'd be nervous for his safety with no restraint.

[currence]

No Splash for him either for a while, as there's no restraint system and the amount of soaking we got yesterday. It's not a ride he'd enjoy, although he thinks he would, and I'd be nervous for his safety with no restraint.

On Splash if you ask for the back seat you can ride side-by-side with a little person. I rode that way with my daughter the first time we went. Since then, she's been okay in her own log seat with a parent in front and behind her and she is not quite 4. You know your kid the best so if he's not ready to sit by himself I believe you, just know that you do have options. I don't have any tricks to reduce the amount of soaking you may get other than to put the kid in a swimsuit before the ride, or have a change of clothes for afterwards.

We were going to try the Matterhorn which was my daughter's old favorite until it went down for maintenance, but we were with friends and didn't want to wait in line. I am not optimistic that I will be willing to ride it as much as she would like. I hope that with Carsland now open she will choose different rides when we let each kid choice their "one ride that we will try very hard to get on before we leave."

[olegc]

We rode last night, and the bumpiness is pretty bad even when you do have room. Mr. Tea is a big guy, I am much smaller -- so he had less room (1st seat in the sled) and I had lots of room (last seat in the sled). The jostling and bumping were painful at times. The next time we ride, we agreed to bring hoodies for padding!

The "Tall person in the front seat" seems to be a recurring theme with those posting who are tall of have tall ones in their families. I have seen pictures too - and frankly I don't think most people can bend their legs that tightly. it looks ridiculous. I just wonder what justification they have for that one...

[candles71]

The only trick I have ever heard (and does seem to work) to minimize wetness on Splash is to put the weight in the back of the log. A security CM explained to Whistler as they were watching the bottom of the drop and the curve, that the weight in the back keeps the nose of the log from going too far under. As they were watching he pointed out to Whistler the logs with the weight in the front were wetter than the ones with it in the back.
A only moved to her own seat on Splash last year at 9, before that she would only ride if she coud ride next to me. Oh and if you decide to try it this way Karin, put Cub on your right, or you won't see him in the picture.

[John]

I haven't yet ridden the Matterhorn with the new sleds, so I can't comment on them. However, if the choice is between realistic discomfort and fantasy, I'll go with the fantasy.

'cuz Space Mountain would really suck if they went for realism and recreated hard vacuum...

AVP

Best comment ever!

[sjhanksaz]

The only trick I have ever heard (and does seem to work) to minimize wetness on Splash is to put the weight in the back of the log. A security CM explained to Whistler as they were watching the bottom of the drop and the curve, that the weight in the back keeps the nose of the log from going too far under. As they were watching he pointed out to Whistler the logs with the weight in the front were wetter than the ones with it in the back.
A only moved to her own seat on Splash last year at 9, before that she would only ride if she coud ride next to me. Oh and if you decide to try it this way Karin, put Cub on your right, or you won't see him in the picture.

I have learned to sit in the back to keep dry. I also try to ride with more kids. The adults in the log, esspecially in the front, the wetter you seem to get. With a full log of adults invites those big waves over the lip of the log on some of the short little drops.

[MickeyDogMom]

They didn't, and the consensus of those who rode of our group was the new sleds are painful to ride in, and this is from the ones who never had a problem before.

I rode in the front and while I'm not tall, I do have longish legs for a 5'7" person. It was AWFUL. The Matterhorn is my favorite ride, I love being whipped around AND the bumpiness. Seriously. But with the new sleds, I could easily never ride it again if I had to sit like that. My knees were against the front, I had no way to seriously brace myself so it was simply irritating. I'm pretty flexible so I slid down to brace my shins against the front and my back against the seat. I did have a bruise on my shin.

I'm glad others are saying that the other seats are more comfortable, I'll have to try those seats. It really is my favorite ride and I would hate to have to give it up.

The bumpiness wouldn't be so bad if there was actually room to be bumped around. Your legs are getting smacked against the sled and your shoulder and back against the hard plastic back rests. If they made the seats somewhat forgiving and room for your legs to move around, the bumpy track wouldn't be a problem in my book.

This. I love the bumpiness but there was no give or space to brace yourself. I guess I could use my hands (which is what I did half way through) but I prefer hands up the whole way.

[magicalmoments]

WOAH, WOAH, WOAH!
Matterhorn has a single rider line?!

[Drince88]

WOAH, WOAH, WOAH!
Matterhorn has a single rider line?!

It's new since they got the new sled seating configuration.

[MickeyDogMom]

WOAH, WOAH, WOAH!
Matterhorn has a single rider line?!

Yep. With a special line just for the single riders.

[magicalmoments]

Yep. With a special line just for the single riders.

Thank you for the heads up. I'm going to DCA for my AP early entry on Tuesday so I'd like to catch a ride afterward.

[pulltab]

I rode the "new" Matterhorn for the first and last time... What a tough seat to sit in!... It is sloooowwww... for all of you who remember the whoops and turns... I think sacks of potatoes get treated better than I did.. At the end of the ride the braking system jerked so bad it actually twisted my back and b*tt muscle..... so as an understatement.... it sucked....

[magicalmoments]

I rode the "new" Matterhorn for the first and last time... What a tough seat to sit in!... It is sloooowwww... for all of you who remember the whoops and turns... I think sacks of potatoes get treated better than I did.. At the end of the ride the braking system jerked so bad it actually twisted my back and b*tt muscle..... so as an understatement.... it sucked....

I gotta agree with you there. I rode it today because now they have a single rider line. Well, it hurt about the same. And yes, it is definitely slow! I don't know if that's just my side (FL side) or the whole ride. I was quite bummed. I guess I won't be doing the Matterhorn again.

[nowen1]

The Matterhorn was my favorite ride in the park, I loved the fact that it was only at Disneyland and that it was the first steel tube coaster. I loved the swooping turns and the growls and looking out on the rest of the park from the ride. I would have no problem waiting 45 min to 1 hour (which I would not to for any other ride), but that has changed now with the new bobsleds, I am 6'1 and have no problem with fitting on any ride in the whole resort, I felt like i was to big for the single seat. And it actually hurt during the ride. I will always love the old Matterhorn, and will go on the new one again (on the rare occasion the line is 10 min or less).

[EricintheRivercity]

Is there a maximum height you must be under in order to ride the new matterhorn? I'm a really tall guy and I haven't ridden with the new bobsleds yet because I'm afraid I won't fit. I would hate to wait in line and then not get to ride because I'm too tall to squeeze into a seat. I wish Disneyland would put a sample bobsled near the ride where people could check to see how well they fit and If they would be comfortable enough to ride. This could also double as a photo-op.

[candles71]

There is no posted maximum. I am 5'7" and was uncomfortable. I do have long legs. My husband is only 5'8", his legs are shorter than mine be wasn't too comfortable either.
Single rider line should be faster, if you wanted to try.

[shna]

I'm 5'5", and it wasn't comfortable. Not horrible, but definitely not comfortable. DH is about 5'10" and he says he never needs to ride it again after he tried it last week.

The ride seemed super slow to me - not nearly enough of a payoff to justify the jerkiness & bumpiness. I know now not to ride it if I feel like I'm on the verge of getting a headache - it's just rough enough that it might push me over the edge.

[DaDuckFan1955]

The new cars are worse. First they are flatbottomed, you have about an inch of padding for the seat area and less leg room than before. You can put your feet around the seat in front of you to a degree (there are foot rests there) but it leave a lot of bend in your knees. I saw very tall guys with their knees somewher near there ears. Second this flat bottom make standing up very difficult. I know there was only about 6 or 8 inches difference from the seat to the "floor" before, but it was enough that getting out was easier...

Must have been the same genius that designed the Monorails a few years ago without AC. DUH!

[Just Believe]

I rode it yesterday and once again found myself to be very disappointed. The central problem was that the seats are too small (no more leg room or room for merchandise... It was and has continued to be a disappointment. Softing the seats will help instead of hard plastic... Maybe just get new vehicles...

Lets all boycott the attraction until they fix the problem

[Sleeping Beauty's mom]

I'm only 5-3 and felt crunched. It was very jerky and I'm not planning on riding again. Smashed my toes against the side (had open toe sandals on) and messed up my pedicure (ha - ha).

[sourdough]

Is there a maximum height you must be under in order to ride the new matterhorn? I'm a really tall guy and I haven't ridden with the new bobsleds yet because I'm afraid I won't fit. I would hate to wait in line and then not get to ride because I'm too tall to squeeze into a seat. I wish Disneyland would put a sample bobsled near the ride where people could check to see how well they fit and If they would be comfortable enough to ride. This could also double as a photo-op.

I'm 6'5, so picture Lamar Odom of the Lakers sitting in a plastic milk crate with his knees at shoulder level. The worst part for me was being forced to sit directly on my tailbone. After my first painful ride, I now bring along a dense foam pad (12" x 12") and put that on the seat and ride in comfort. I'm slender, so that works for me, but I'm guessing anyone who's tall and over say, 220 pounds is not going to be able to ride in comfort.

It's been fun going through security at the Main Plaza entry point, where the only thing in my backpack is a piece of foam. One particularly serious cast member pulled it out of my bag about three times before asking "What's this for ?". My answer : "It's my Matterhorn Bobsled Survival Kit." "Oh." No smile, no change in expression.

I still don't know whether to seek punishment and retribution for the new bobsled designer, or a parade for the old bobsled designer. This is the first adult ride vehicle at any Disney park which causes discomfort.

[eabaldwin]

I rode it yesterday for the first time with the new sleds. I don't like it at all. It was the roughest ride I've ever been on. I am pretty sure that it was the ride that gave me a headache, although TBH, it was very hot out as well. I thought it was the most uncomfortable seat. It was awkward to get out of and I'm only 5'4". I do like that they have a single rider line, but I'm not sure if I will ride it again.

Such a bummer, because I really liked the old Matterhorn...

[sjhanksaz]

my brother went for a ride yesterday and he said he liked them better than the old ones.

[candles71]

I am willing to ride it again. I will use my sweatshirt or something to pad my tailbone I think. Or I think I will hunt down the guy with the foam pad . A dollar a ride you could pay for a new AP quickly.