Refurbished Matterhorn reviews?

[chrissiecutie]

I'm slightly dissapointed that you can't ride tandem anymore. That was one of the things I loved and it was easier for my kids to ride it too knowing that mommy or daddy was holding onto them. I doubt my DS6 will be willing to ride alone.

I'm right there with you!

DS loves roller coasters but I refuse to let him go one one alone or without DH to hold onto him. Maybe it's the "Mom" in me...but I just feel safer holding onto my child.

We loved Matterhorn because 6'3 DH could comfortably fit in the back seat while DS & I rode in the front. Although I kept yelling at DH to duck or loose his head!

With the new bobsleds, I just don't know how DH will fit in these?? And I would NOT feel safe letting DS ride in his own seat. We just might have to wait a few years on this...

And to the other poster...this rollercoaster is super tame. IMO- Space Mtn is the worst but that's only because I can't deal with all the neon lights. The problem for me (and I'm not a rollercoaster fan) comes from the jerky-ness of the Matterhorn. I've found that if you tense up, you'll come off the ride with back and neck pain. So relax and lean into the corners- it's fun!

Splash is not my idea of a roller coaster. Its more of a dark ride with a big finale. The inside part feels much like POTC. There's an initial couple small drops just like POTC and then you wind around in the water and look at stuff. Then while both rides climb back up....Splash obviously has the big drop. So if you can handle POTC, then I would give Splash a try!

BTMRR is fun because you can actually become airborne. Well...maybe DH cant! But me and DS sure can get our butts in the air! It's still pretty mild and its a very short ride. I actually prefer it to Matterhorn because I'm not being tossed all around where the Matterhorn- you just feel like a ping pong ball bouncing off the mountain. Its just too bad they didn't improve this....

 

[rtfelt]

I rode it twice yesterday with single rider (the way to go for sure) and got to go on both sides. The first time I was in the front and my legs were very squished (I'm 5'6"). I don't think my 6'3" DH, who is all leg, will ever fit there. The second time I was in the middle seat, and that was totally doable. I could put my feet to each side--basically around the seat in front. I think even my DH would fit there. I don't know about the back.

I've always loved this ride, and both sides felt much slower to me. I was wondering if they were slowing it down because of the refurbishment and the number of breakdowns they've been having. Maybe they're trying things out.

Overall I was not thrilled with the changes to the car

 

[HydroGuy]

I find the comments on bobsled speed interesting because the last few years I visited the Matterhorn seems way slower than it was in years past.

 

[Raidermouse]

I rode the fantasyland side yesterday. I thought it to be slower and the new cars are terrible. I commented when getting off " these new cars are terrible" and the CM nodded and mouthed agreement....slowing the car down made the ride seem more inconsistent to me as it did not "hit" the turns and dips like it's supposed to. I do not like the car refurb at all, the rest is great though.

 

[sierranevada]

I also love the new single rider line but am not that thrilled with the new sleds. I was in the back - 5"6" - and had a hard time maneuvering my legs into the narrow slots. I definitely felt the bumps more with no padding - in fact, I could feel it in my teeth! I was on the Fantasyland side. I will try again but may not be riding this one much in the future.

 

[redbonec]

What a shame with so long on the refurb that the cars are so uncomfortable, after making all those changes. Do people not taller than 5'6" work on the project?

IT was one of my favorite rides when I went the time before 2 weeks ago--which was almost 30 years ago. My brother and I rode it I think 5 times in a row, and I remember it going at a good speed and fun, so that is interesting that it seems slower now. I imagine that is disappointing to people who are very familiar with the ride.

As to people who said the Yeti is louder, I can't say as I don't know in comparison, but 2 weeks ago when we were there, we were standing in line in Nemo I think when we heard it, as empty cars would go through it, and my daughter looked at me with big eyes and said, "Is that the monster you showed us with the red eyes???" (I showed her part of the ride on the computer before I knew it was in refurb.) Sometimes we could hear it just in passing. She was a bit nervous about that.

 

[Domchi002]

It is a shame as this is one of my favorite rides!
But we will attack it with a positive attitude because after all...it is a magical place!
Maybe it will magically become awesome before we get there

 

[minniecarousel]

DH & I rode this today using the single rider line. I highly recommend doing this - it's over on the Fantasyland side.

I am only 5'3" & was comfortable in the sled, BUT it is still a very bumpy, jerky ride. When I saw DH getting off the ride, I laughed at his knees way up! and he's only 5'11". Our son is with us this trip and he's 6'2" - we told him he wouldn't be at all comfortable in the sled. His wife can't handle the jerkiness so she won't ride either.

All in all, I'm disappointed that the ride was closed for so long and re-opened with less than impressive results.

 

[DISHoppy]

I have also heard the ride vehicles have little room for your legs. If your tall or have long legs your in for a painful ride.

Not true for me and I'm traveling with a good-sized backpack this week. Plenty of room for me and my pack during my ride and I'm 6' 3". I'm used to have little room in the old Space vehicles in WDW. With the same backpack, riding in the front of a car was literally impossible for me.

-Kevin

 

[DISHoppy]

I can only comment on the ride being rough, so the changes did not affect/improve the tracks. Ouch. Also, I did observe some really good AAs climbing the mountain late in the day Tuesday, 19-July. I honestly couldn't notice any interior changes since my last ride...in 1978 (other than the Wells Expedition scene).

-Kevin

 

[DISHoppy]

All in all, I'm disappointed that the ride was closed for so long and re-opened with less than impressive results.

FYI, the refurb was primarily to paint/update the exterior, and much of the time for the project involved installing the custom scaffolding and then removing it. Not exactly a Joe 6-pack with a Wagner Power Painter weekend job. IMO, it looks great.

-Kevin

 

[DISHoppy]

How scary is this ride? I HATE drops, but love BTMRR and Dinosaur at WDW. However, I refuse to get on Expedition Everest or Splash Mountain. I watched a video and it doesn't seem that bad - neither did Expedition Everest till I saw it in person!

Thanks!

EE? Srsly? Kids coaster. Yes, you do go hight, but the drop is minimal due to it going backwards and lots of turns to scrub speeds. It looks like it drops more than it actually does. Matterhorn is similar to Space, but a rough ride compared to Space @ DL. Space @ WDW is much rougher than space @ DL.

-Kevin

 

[skiingfast]

After reading some reviews from the first few days it was open, I tried to think about how I remembered it so I would notice changes.

For the most part the ride felt the same except there isn't anyone in your lap. The lighting inside looks a little better at night but similiar during the day when it's not effective. Harold's roar seems much the same.

New sleds are not aweful, at least loading is quicker. Legroom isn't a big factor for me, but there was, for me, more room than when someone was sitting in my lap. It was a bit sad that you can't lap sit anymore, I knew it going in, but having DS a seat in front was a little strange we were still riding together but not together. The new seat made me feel a little more tucked in. This sort of lessens the wild ride, but the cars still jerk around like before.

The mountain itself looks better. From somewhere were I see snow on mountains, it looks a lot more natural. The night lighting is much better, partly from new lighting but I also thing the snow and rock contrast helps.

 

[GrandBob]

Matt! Haven't seen you around here for a while. Welcome back!



-Bob

 

[JoeATC]

After waiting in line June 15 for 30-40 mins aroung 9:00 because they couldn't decide if the ride was working or not we went to other rides. About an hour later it's up and running, now the line is even longer 70 mins. Oh well this our last day and we wanted to ride it. We loop around the line finally get put up in the last cue, then I see people coming in the exit with green strips of paper. They have a single rider line now? (face palm) so much for me being a really informed Dis'er. Finally was able to ride it (it had become a quest by this time). He appeared to have a nice clean coat of hair and some nicer lighting. After bouncing around with my legs wide open for about 3 minutes, we exited, I walked kind of funny for a couple hours after that. I go see the Doctor this week. Hope this helps.

 

[ixadorexpink]

So does this ride have any drops? I hate rollercoasters or rides with big drops.

 

[HydroGuy]

So does this ride have any drops? I hate rollercoasters or rides with big drops.

No big drops. A bunch of little drops. It is vintage 1959 when rollercoasters were much more tame.

 

[DisneytheKid]

Thats good to hear that loading is quicker

New sleds are not aweful, at least loading is quicker.