No FastPass on Matterhorn -- how come?

[disneylandguru]

The Matterhorn ride at Disneyland has never offered a FastPass. How come?

When I was a kid in the 1970's, the longest line in the Park by early afternoon was always the Matterhorn Bobsleds. There was no such thing as a FastPass back then ... but once the concept became a reality, I would have thought Matterhorn would be an ideal candidate for a FastPass.

Is it because it is a fairly fast-loading / fast-moving line that Disney feels it doesn't warrant a FastPass? When I walk by the line even now I often see waits of over an hour.

Wasn't FastPass invented for the purpose of giving people an alternative to waiting in a long line?

 

[DLR29]

Basically the design of the que lines prevents FP in the case of the Matterhorn (as well as others such as Peter Pan). When each ride was designed (before 1999) their lines were not created with FP in mind. That meant when FP was invented, the ride lines had to be reconfigured to accomodate that. There's no place to put a "FP return" line near the Matterhorn, especially because the lines for each track of the attraction are separated by the ride itself.

Since the tracks are realatively different, guests are able to choose which side of the ride that they want to experience. With FP, I can't see how that would be possible. You would be assigned one side or the other.

Just to clarify, FP was invented as a ploy to get people out of the lines and into the shops/restaurants, while making it seem like they are waiting less. If FP was invented just to give people an alternative to waiting in a long line, Nemo, Peter Pan, Alice in Wonderland, Dumbo, and Toy Story Mania would have it. But sometimes it's not possible, or not ideal. Also, the DLR managers (or something high up there) aren't very fond of the whole FP system. That's why FP was removed from many attractions several years ago (Star Tours, Pooh, HM, PotC, Muppets, Bug)

 

[Jenn1116]

Stupid managers. I guess they've never heard a 5 yr old crying bc his feet hurt standing in line so long, or a 4 yr old bouncing against their butts because they just aren't capable of standing still in line for more than 15 minutes.

 

[Tink208]

Also, the DLR managers (or something high up there) aren't very fond of the whole FP system. That's why FP was removed from many attractions several years ago (Star Tours, Pooh, HM, PotC, Muppets, Bug)

HM had Fast Passes when we were there this past November. I did notice Star Tours did not have it anymore, but I thought that was more a reflection of the ride not being as popular as it was in the past. (We hardly ever saw a line and we were there the week before Thanksgiving.)

 

[audrabolster]

HM has fast pass only for the holiday overlay

 

[Tink208]

HM has fast pass only for the holiday overlay

Ah, that makes sense. We have only been there during the holiday overlay for the past few trips...I have almost forgotten what the HM is like without it.

 

[Colorado DISers]

Does the Matterhorn load quickly? We want to ride it on our upcoming visit.

 

[bumbershoot]

Ah, that makes sense. We have only been there during the holiday overlay for the past few trips...I have almost forgotten what the HM is like without it.

That's b/c I don't like the overlay and love HMP (p = proper).

 

[prettyprincessbelle]

Does the Matterhorn load quickly? We want to ride it on our upcoming visit.

I personally think the line looks longer than the wait time is. I think when people see it stretching around the mountain, they think it's too long and avoid it. When the wait time in actuality is about 20 minutes..

 

[Sienna]

The line looks more deceiving than it really is. We went on it a couple of times but waited no more than 15-20 minutes, even when the line was stretching around the mountain.

 

[Tink208]

That's b/c I don't like the overlay and love HMP (p = proper).

I have convinced my husband that I have to take the boys down to DLR this summer so they can experience the parks in non-Christmas holiday mode! My older son has been four times and of those trips, only the first one was in a month besides November or December. He truly cannot recall HMP, and I have to remedy that problem! (Not to mention his little brother has never seen the parks in non-holiday mode.)

 

[cmwade77]

I personally think the line looks longer than the wait time is. I think when people see it stretching around the mountain, they think it's too long and avoid it. When the wait time in actuality is about 20 minutes..

Actually, the Matterhorn would be the easiest ride to add FP to, they even did a trial run of it for a few weeks, the return was at the cast member that split the two lines off (for the right & left side). As I recall the main problem was where to put the FP machines. The problem they have is they would have to remove the smoking area from there (which would not be a bad thing IMHO, the fewer places people can smoke the better for the rest of us). Also it would require closing down the walkway between tomorrowland & fantasyland for a while to install conduits, although I think they can now do it wirelessly, just need to provide power, so perhaps in the future. Peter Pan would require a total rennovation of the entrance in order to accomodate FP, but it desperately needs to be done.

 

[IsaMarie84]

The line looks more deceiving than it really is. We went on it a couple of times but waited no more than 15-20 minutes, even when the line was stretching around the mountain.

I agree. Unless by some chance only one side of the track is running, then it can take a while.

 

[GregC]

CMWADE77: They actually did away with the smoking area next to the Matterhorn and moved it over to the Tomorrowland trainstation area.That would be a perfect spot for the FP machines now

 

[Albort]

Fastpasses are usually used on high/quickloading rides. I do believe Matterhorn cant deal enough people to need Fastpasses.

 

[DoomBugger]

That's b/c I don't like the overlay and love HMP (p = proper).

I'm not a big fan of the Holiday overlay myself but that is mostly because I'm not a huge fan of Nightmare and Sandy but also and most relevantly because I just love, love, love the traditional Haunted Mansion.

Matterhorn, there is simply no room for a FP configuration and the two-rides in-one layout of the ride would further confuse and complicate the situation.

I usually ride Matterhorn during the last couple hours of park time and it really moves fast, we never wait more than 10-15 minutes, if that.