I'm a little afraid to go on Matterhorn...

[Davin_Felth]

We took our DS on it for the first time in November , he turns 5 soon(along with DDs 6 & 10). I don't recall him being scared, he sat in the seat directly in front of my DW so she could reach to him if he was scared.

We rode on the left (Tomorrowland) side this time, and it felt less bumpy and jerky to me than the previous year when we rode the right side. I like the extra effects they added though.

 

[ADLFAN]

I think that the left side is less jerky, but the sharp turns and drops that make the right side MORE jerky are FUN!

It's a historic Disneyland ride that would likely be designed a lot differently if it was made today. But back then they were guessing and making it up as they went along and they created what was to be the world's first roller coaster using tubular steel rails!

It is a DL classic that hasn't been replicated elsewhere, and I love it even if it is a bit more painful than your rides designed after liability got so important!

 

[RemainSeatedPlease]

Interesting that some suggest making sure you are sitting all the way back. I actually do the opposite - I lean forward as much as possible, holding the back of the seat in front of me, so that only my bottom is touching the seat. I do bounce up and down a bit this way, with my bum leaving the seat a couple of times, but it spares the back! When sitting all the way back my spine feels bruised.

Anyway, if your child really wants to go on it then I say go for it at least once. Yes, it's bumpy, but I still go on it once every trip if I can, and based on the lines it's still very popular, so obviously it can't be THAT bad. There are a couple of rough turns/bumps but it's also a fun ride with great new effects. Also, I suggest riding it at night - you are weaving in and out of the mountain and when you are on the outside parts you get such a beautiful view of the surrounding lights. IASW looks especially pretty on this ride at night.

 

[PHXscuba]

I would compare the bumpy/jerkiness of Matterhorn to just a bit more than MK's Space Mountain. Unless you have back problems, you should be able to handle one ride to see for yourself!

PHXscuba

 

[Angel Ariel]

Help me out peeps! I'm a WDW vet going to DL for the first time. I'm reading about Matterhorn being too bumpy/jerky and now I'm a little afraid to go on it! But DD4 watched a YouTube video and that is all she can talk about... For point of reference at WDW I go on BTMR and 7DMT not problem, but EE did leave me with a little bit of a headache... What say you?!

The front seat is less hurtful, but the back seat was just outright painful. They destroyed the Matterhorn experience with the new sleds, IMO. It's very sad

 

[nikkislaght]

my problem is that Im tall and use a cane and had the cane in the wrong position and by the time the ride was over I was cramped. if you get yourself into correct position before the ride starts you should be fine.. it really does depend on your own bumpy meter.. and as to how bad people feel it is

 

[alvernon90]

I had never thought the ride was too bumpy until last time I rode. It was raining and as I got into the sled my foot slipped on the wet floor of the bobsled and I barked my shin on the seat in front of me. It hurt like crazy but I thought it would be tolerable, and it would have been if I had just gotten out and walked it off. But I went ahead and rode while trying to protect my rapidly bruising shin, and for the first time I realized that the ride really throws you around.

If you are in good health and free of pain, it will be fine. But if not, it could be risky.

 

[Maddysdaddy]

Recently went on the Matterhorn for the first time since the refurb and new sleds of a few years ago, and prior to riding, I was very apprehensive based on what I had read on this forum of both the ride itself and the size of the seats (I'm not a small guy and have had six knee operations - three on each - as result of sports injuries).

Quite frankly, I'm not sure what all the fuss was about. While the seat was snug, and getting in and out requires some arm strength, it was nowhere near as bad as people had made it out to be. In terms of the bumpiness of the ride, yes it's a bumpy ride, but it was nowhere near the whiplash inducing/back pain causing three minutes of hell that I had envisioned in my mind.

Go and enjoy yourself.

 

[Angel Ariel]

If you are in good health and free of pain, it will be fine. But if not, it could be risky.

DH and I are both in good health and free of pain...we both found the ride - especially in the back seat - to be quite painful.

I went in w/the opposite view of the PP..I went in being optimistic believing they couldn't have possibly changed the Matterhorn so much for it to be as painful as I'd read reports here of it being. I figured it might be a little bit more bumpy, but nothing that would be a big deal.

I'm not exaggerating when I say they took something that was one of my favorite rides - something I'd do multiple times a trip - into something I will likely only ride once (and requesting the front seat, and only because I have a long history of loving the ride and I don't want to let the ride go yet). If I could bring myself to let go of the ride, I wouldn't ride it again. It was that different. I was honestly shocked when I got off the ride after riding in the back seat.

 

[beachdreamr1229]

Just lean forward on the last couple of turns. It's not so bad until you get to the bottom where you get some "air." If you sit in it similarly to an actual toboggan, you'll avoid hurting your tailbone.

 

[Elk Grove Chris]

I would compare the bumpy/jerkiness of Matterhorn to just a bit more than MK's Space Mountain. Unless you have back problems, you should be able to handle one ride to see for yourself!

PHXscuba

This is exactly how I would describe it. For some reason Matterhorn really does a number on my back but I have no problem with BTMRR, Screamin, DL SM, Rockin Roller Coaster, and we did EE like 4 times in a row a few weeks ago with no back issues at all.

 

[MolonLabe]

WDW vet here - visited DL for 1st time last summer. Absolutely loved DL/DCA. I looked forward to trying Matterhorn but was sorely disappointed (somewhat literally lol). I'm not one to be all "ouchy" but Matterhorn is pretty rough. Specifically to my back & sides. There is no fast pass for this ride and lines get long early. Thankfully we at least didn't wait for it ( first folks in line early morning). I seriously could not believe the wait times that grew for it!

Interestingly enough we found Space Mountain far less jerky & even a bit slower (?) than in WDW.

Worst. Ride. Ever.

Ok I might be exaggerating but it did suck. I rode it for the first (and only) time earlier this week. Rode the right side.

Hyperspace mountain on the other hand was fantastic, I've done it at least 6 times now. Reminds of how SM in MK was 20 years ago before it got so rickety.

Cali Screaming was a lot of fun too, I really enjoyed it. Low wait times for it this week too. I'd say it's of the few coasters I prefer to ride in the front, usually I like the last row better.

 

[UofMGuy423]

WDW vet here and I rode Matterhorn for the first time last week during my last trip and didn't feel it to be bumpy/jerky at all. It felt similar to WDW's Space Mountain if not better.

 

[sharksfinatic17]

Before riding the Matterhorn, I had read the suggestion to press your legs into the front which will then push your back into the seat. By doing this, I was pushed tightly into my seat and didn't bump around as much. The front sled is really squished, so I try to get the back one when possible.

 

[Meriweather]

Too bumpy......the last time we rode in Oct, seemed like the bumpiest ever.
We won't do it again.
Everyone in our car was complaining about getting beaten up on it
Not a pleasant experience.

 

[ALEXandFAB]

A few months ago, I rode Matterhorn for the first time since the refurbishment. I used to be able to ride it 3-4 times in a row no problem. NOT ANYMORE.

The new seats are awful There is absolutely zero cushion from the bumps. It wasn't only uncomfortable, it was downright painful. My tailbone and lower back ached so bad. It used to be one of my favorite rides, but no more

 

[Iceman93]

Well, OP, you've gotten plenty of conflicting advice here about the bumpiness/pain level of the Matterhorn. I would say give it a shot except for one thing, which is that you said EE gave you a headache. EE is the butter-smoothest, baby bottom-smoothest, silky-smoothest roller coaster I've ever been on. So if *it* gives you a headache, I'd be a little leery of going on what is, without question, a rougher coaster.

 

[LizzyS]

The Matterhorn is my favorite ride @ DLR. It IS bumpy, but it's not horrible, in my opinion. A lot of people hate the new bobsleds, but I like them better than the old ones.

 

[clori]

We went summer 2013 and I have no idea when seats were redone. I rode it once and was fine but once was enough for me since I'm prone to motion sickness. My girls 9 and 13 road single rider line over and over again for 45 minutes and never complained.

 

[scrapperkimmydee]

Rose it on NYE and we LOVED it!!!

Indiana Jones is the SUPER Bumpy ride!!! I don't know how people handle that one!