Matterhorn roughness?

[SL6827]

Is one side of the Matterhorn less rough than the other?

 

[BrianL]

Is one side of the Matterhorn less rough than the other?

I believe that they are both equally rough, which on a scale of 1 to 10, The Matterhorn has a roughness factor of 1,000!

 

[SL6827]

I believe that they are both equally rough, which on a scale of 1 to 10, The Matterhorn has a roughness factor of 1,000!

Ohhhh lawddddd.

 

[LKing]

@BrianL didn't you say that it was the same mechanism as Space Mountain at WDW? Space Mountain is rickety but mild with respect to being body jarring like Matterhorn.

 

[amyg1975]

I found a trick for Matterhorn- don't sit back! Honestly, that helped so much; it was less jarring on the body.

 

[BrianL]

@BrianL didn't you say that it was the same mechanism as Space Mountain at WDW? Space Mountain is rickety but mild with respect to being body jarring like Matterhorn.

Yes, this is accurate. The Matterhorn was built first, but the engineering is basically the same, as are the ride vehicles (note that Matterhorn still uses cloth seat belts where as Space Mountain switched to the T-bars). Teh track layout is not identical though. I will say that Matterhorn feels slower overall, though I think it's pretty similar (it may be because you can see), but there are parts of the track where the cart will kind of *THUD* down (like the track peices aren't quite aligned), and I find that bery jarring. It doesn't happen all the time. Space Mountain had a full track replacement - I think more recently than Matterhorn has, so that can contribute as well.

Speaking of, you might find that Big Thunder Mountain is smoother at DLR because it had a full track replacement more recently. The WDW version is getting that now, so I expect it to be a bit smoother when it comes back online.

 

[LKing]

as are the ride vehicles (note that Matterhorn still uses cloth seat belts where as Space Mountain switched to the T-bars)

I struggle to get out of the Matterhorn bobsleds but didn't have a difficult time getting out the the WDW Space Mountain vehicle.

 

[BrianL]

I struggle to get out of the Matterhorn bobsleds but didn't have a difficult time getting out the the WDW Space Mountain vehicle.

There may be differences in the seats themselves, but the vehicle itself has the same dimensions and will work on the same track.

 

[SteveH]

The Matterhorn is a fun, nostalgic ride, but after getting off it my last time I said that's enough my back can't take abuse like that anymore, just like Space Mountain at WDW.

 

[disneychrista]

The Fantasyland side is said to be "smoother." But that is like say $4.99 is less expensive than $5. Meaning the difference is negligible.

 

[LeiaOfAlderaan]

I didn’t ride the Matterhorn for years because DD didn’t like coasters. I was scared to ride it again once she got older after hearing how rough it is! Honestly I don’t find it that bad even for my middle-aged, many aches and pains body, so maybe YMMV.

 

[juxtapose]

I personally found it less jarring/rough than WDWs space mountain.

 

[LAS2AMS]

I love WDW’s Space Mountain but I’m not a huge fan of Matterhorn. SM has drops, Matterhorn does not.

As I wrote elsewhere, teen boys these days will never know just how much teen boys loved to bring dates on Matterhorn for many decades…

 

[clappyclaps]

I hated Matterhorn because of how jarring it is. Space Mountain is nowhere near as bad. However I do get motion sickness and hate that feeling of being jolted about - felt the same on WDW Dinosaur and Indiana Jones!

 

[Wedgeout]

I give it to the Tomorrowland side. The one location for this ranking for me is the bridge. Fantasyland travels on it while Tomorrowland has that quick drop going under it. That location where tracks cross each other is my favorite.

 

[Huskyfan860]

I found a trick for Matterhorn- don't sit back! Honestly, that helped so much; it was less jarring on the body.

This x 100. Don't sit back and brace your core if you can. It feels much, much better.

 

[disneychrista]

This x 100. Don't sit back and brace your core if you can. It feels much, much better.

I have heard this trick and will definitely try it out next time I go but that is likely 5-6 years from now.