...They are the most freaking uncomfortable things I have ever ridden in!
I couldn't agree more!!!
These new cars are a disaster! I have been an avid Matterhorn fan and rider since 1976. I've seen all the changes and all the other ride improvements and changes throughout the years. These new cars are pathetic.
There is not enough room in each individual seat. The first thing I noticed is that unless you are 4' 8", you are going to have your legs bent up because there is not enough room to stretch them out. That makes you all scrunched up to start with. Every adult I saw looked uncomfortable.
The hand holds for us "normal" adults are actually behind where you would normally place your hands. That cocks your arms back, which is also very uncomfortable and makes you not want to use the hand holds at all. So you wind up grabbing the "roll bar" of the seat in front of you, which is annoying to the person in front of you or (worse yet) you get your hands smashed as the person in front of you jostles around. No good!
But the worst is the roughness of this ride. I've always known and tolerated the rather abrupt way the Matterhorn throws you around. In the old cars, you had enough room to kind of move around and twist with the turns. That made the bumps less intense and also made the ride somewhat fun as you leaned and ducked with the turns and dips. But now the seats are so restrictive that you are at the mercy of the rough and torturous track. I tried to move to absorb the bumps but I wound up slamming my back against the hard back rest.
By the way, what idiot decided to make a rough roller coaster with a hard seat back??? That is a lawsuit waiting to happen!
After I rode the first time I lingered in the exit area for about 10 minutes watching everyone get off. I saw no - repeat NO - happy smiles at all!!! I did however see a lot of groans, and folks holding their sides and lower backs and looking disgustingly back at the vehicles. I didn't hear one person say, "Hey, that was great, let's do it again."
I rode a few times on different days to make sure it wasn't an isolated case or me beign in a bad mood. Nope. This ride now officially SUCKS!
Matterhorn used to be on my standard list of must do rides along with Space Mountain and Star Tours. No longer. This is off my list. I agree with most of the DISers here - this is just not a fun attraction anymore!