Matterhorn

anniebean

Flyers fan stuck in Tennessee
Joined
Jan 28, 2011
Messages
1,411
Just curious.....I had read a lot of stories about this being a pretty rough ride. It closed for refurb during my first trip to DL in February so I didn't get a chance to ride it. Is it smoother since refurb?
 
I'm not sure if this helps, but I've found that if I brace myself as if I'm in a real bobsled (feet pushed against the rests, back snug against the seat, hands holding the bars tightly) that the ride feels much smoother. It's actually surprisingly like riding a real bobsled, as the ice tracks end up pretty beat up throughout the season. I just imagine that it's the real thing, and the experience seems less like a bumpy rollercoaster and more like an icy adventure!
 
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It's definitely still rough, but I find I'm okay if I don't sit in the back. As in the waaaay back, the last of the 6 seats (there are two 3 car seats together). When you ride single rider you often get put in the back. I thought I hated the Matterhorn because of that. Then I rode it with a friend and we sat further up and it was MUCH better. I think there is also a smoother side (Fantasyland vs. Tomorrowland) but I can't remember which one it is.
 
Yes, extremely rough and painful at times.
We only ride it perhaps twice during a 5 day visit.
 
It's not that they made it rougher exactly. They changed the seating and it seems you are lower in the bobsled and more angled on your tail bone. I found that if I bring my knees together in front of me it tilts my pelvis a bit less and I'm more upright instead of slouched backward on my tailbone and it was much more doable that way.
 
I agree with the above. I rode it once for the first time and that was enough for me. Even bracing for it it was too rough.
 
Thanks for the replies! We're planning another trip next October. We're planning to ride it at least once, but sounds like it's a one and done type of ride.
 
I've found the Fantasyland side to be smoother since the Tomorrowland side has that sharp dip. I usually use my backpack or sweatshirt as a cushion for my back, and that makes it more comfortable. I'm easy, though, because the roughness doesn't bother me.
 
I'm not sure if this helps, but I've found that if I brace myself as if I'm in a real bobsled (feet pushed against the rests, back snug against the seat, hands holding the bars tightly) that the ride feels much smoother. It's actually surprisingly like riding a real bobsled, as the ice tracks end up pretty beat up throughout the season. I just imagine that it's the real thing, and the experience seems less like a bumpy rollercoaster, and more like an icy adventure!

I've always said that bracing yourself a little in the new bobsleds is the way to go! The Matterhorn is my favorite.
 
Does anyone know which of the two sides (Fantasyland/Tomorrowland) is less bumpy?

We got routed onto both sided this last trip! I'm not so sure which is Fantasyland or Tomorrowland side though... is Fantasyland the right side when you split, closer to the Alice in Wonderland bathrooms? We did that one first, pretty bumpy, but not too bad. Then we did the left side and Holy Crap! It was a bit more bumpy, but the thing that I noticed is that you got A LOT more side to side jolts because it seemed like the track was higher on one side of the sled than the other, so when you went around turns, it slid your butt to the low side, and I actually yelped a few times in a combination of pain and excitement! So very fun, though!! Love the Matterhorn! Am I correct in thinking that it was the world's first steel track coaster? Pretty impressive stuff!
 
It's a once per trip ride for me. I can't handle more than that. I always come away with a headache and a sore butt!! The new effects are cool though.
 


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