Matterhorn - best route to the loading queue?

[tammytam]

My daughter and I will be visiting during the last week in April. We have 5 days in the parks, with the first being Sunday, April 24th. It will be the only day during our visit that the Matterhorn will be open.. so I was thinking we'd make our way there first thing to ensure we have a chance to ride it (without having a terrible wait).

I plan to be there at rope drop and will hit the Matterhorn right away. I'm a total newbie though.. can someone tell me what the best/quickest route to the loading queue would be? I understand that there are actually 2 loading queues (Fantasyland side and Tomorrowland side).. what is the best direction to go?

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

When you approach the Matterhorn, head to your right. Typically, the queue will go around the Tomorrowland side and from there when you get to the front of the attraction you'll either go to the Tomorrowland or Fantasyland side for the loading portion.

 

[AZMermaid]

Walk towards the castle and veer right towards the Matterhorn. Walk past the Matterhorn and then turn right. The entrance is then to your right. At rope drop you shouldnt need to go around the mountain. You could probably ride twice with minimal wait so you can experience both sides. There is a queue to the right (fantasyland) and one to the left (tomorrow land) as you approach. You should be able to get off and hop in the other side- especially at rope drop.

 

[theostwalts]

Is there a separate single rider line?

 

[PHXscuba]

Is there a separate single rider line?

Yes, there is a single rider line and I think it is one of the easiest to use, because it is right near where the two sides come together for the loading zone, and not as many people know about it (old ride, new feature). Not sure if they use SRL first thing in the morning (and sometimes that early they are only running one side of the line and then splitting at the loading zone. It definitely makes it easier to come back during the day instead of running for it at rope drop, or to get a second ride.

OP, if your daughter is old enough for SRL it is a great option!

PHXscuba

 

[tammytam]

Thanks everyone!! Great info.

OP, if your daughter is old enough for SRL it is a great option!

PHXscuba

She's only 7.. and her first trip, so unfortunately no single riding for us. I'm also hoping she's not scared right off the bat by riding the Matterhorn . I loved it when I was there as a kid (I was 8)...I think (hope!) she'll be the same. It's a bummer it'll be closed the rest of the week we'll be there.

 

[Metalliman98]

Last time we did early entry they were only operating the TL side, close to regular park opening they opened up the FL side. Doesn't really affect the best way for you to get there, but just thought I'd share.

 

[Girimama33]

My 7 yo hated the Matterhorn...too scary.

 

[g-dad66]

We did early entry last August and figured that heading to the Matterhorn first would be smart. We took the Fantasyland side route, and unfortunately only the Tomorrowland side turned out to be open. So we had to keep walking all the way around to the Tomorrowland side, and it took quite a while to get to the end of a rapidly growing standby line.

Our wait time turned out to be more than 30 minutes.

I've been watching Matterhorn wait times on the Disneyland and Touring Plans apps, and I keep seeing wait times of 30 minutes or more posted at rope drop until about half-past the hour at which time the wait time drops to about 5 minutes.

So now I'm thinking that next time we'll hit 2 or 3 of the small Fantasyland rides first, and then head to the Mattherorn about 30 or 45 minutes after park opening.

 

[LizzyS]

Our usual strategy is to ride Space Mountain first and The Matterhorn second, every single time we've gone to the parks and started out at DL. It seems to have served us pretty well.

 

[AZMermaid]

Are you sure it is open? I just read the refurb date starts 4/18?

 

[LizzyS]

I believe it will be closed during the week and open on the weekends for a little while, like Soarin' was doing recently. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but that's what I've read on the boards lately.

 

[lildreamer101]

When I went to go on the Matterhorn ride late Jan. The line for single riders was longer then the queue for the stand by. I think it was because all the seats were taken by the large groups leaving none to fill. So that made the single rider line not really worth it, maybe for that day?. If you were in the stand by you were at least guaranteed a spot. I don't know why it didn't work that day. I know this because the people in the single rider line were saying they had been waiting for 40 minutes, which is same as standby. I went on the ride with someone and by the time I had exited the ride I still saw the same people in the Single Rider line up. EEK!

 

[mesaboy2]

Can anyone remind me which attractions have SR (both parks). Matterhorn and RSR I know, but I'm thinking there are a couple of others...Indy maybe?

 

[lildreamer101]

These rides have SR (Although you have to inquire):

• California Screamin’
• Goofy’s Sky School
• Grizzly River Run
• Indiana Jones Adventure
• Radiator Springs Racers
• Soarin’ Over California
• Splash Mountain

 

[sherilaine]

At park open we have also seen only one side open as well. At rope drop there will be no one coming from the Tomorrowland side, as people would have to walk all the way through tomorrow land first so I'd just go straight up to the right of fantasyland and to the ride that way. Keep in mind, at rope drop you can fall down and topple over and eat a sandwich and it still won't be that long of a line once you get there...not the end of April anyway. We went to HSP, Star Tours and then Matterhorn after rope drop and we were on Matterhorn in about 5 minutes.

 

[tammytam]

Are you sure it is open? I just read the refurb date starts 4/18?

I believe it will be closed during the week and open on the weekends for a little while, like Soarin' was doing recently. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but that's what I've read on the boards lately.

Yes, it will be open on Saturdays and Sundays and closed during the week (The website says it's closed Apr 18 - 22, Apr 25 - 29, May 2 - 6). With our first day in the parks on Sunday Apr 24th (and the last day on Friday that week), it's our only chance to ride it... which was why I wanted to be strategic in getting to it first thing in the morning Glad to hear it won't be a problem. Thanks everyone!

 

[tammytam]

Keep in mind, at rope drop you can fall down and topple over and eat a sandwich and it still won't be that long of a line once you get there...not the end of April anyway. We went to HSP, Star Tours and then Matterhorn after rope drop and we were on Matterhorn in about 5 minutes.

This makes me happy! With all the reading I've done and all the talk of THE CROWDS (lol), I think I've gotten myself convinced it's going to be bad. Even though I know the week that we'll be there is "historically" a slower time.