Originally Posted By CuriousConstance Three separate people have confirmed on another Disney board that the Matterhorn Bobsleds have just recently had cushions installed in the seats and they all said they made the ride MUCH more comfortable! Sore backsides everywhere are celebrating tonight!
Originally Posted By FerretAfros I'm glad to hear that they finally figured out that they needed cushions. Considering that the nearly-identical vehicles on WDW's Space Mountain have always had cushions (at least since they went to individual seats in the early 90's), I'll never understand why they skipped them for the Matterhorn's new vehicles Although it was an undeniable downgrade from the previous design, I never had as much of an issue with the new seats as some people. I'm glad that cushions have been added, in part because it will stop some of the complaining
Originally Posted By CuriousConstance I didn't have much issue either, but I'm only about 5 feet tall, so I figured that was probably why.
Originally Posted By Yookeroo I find WDW's Space Mountain unridable even with cushions. Hopefully the Matterhorn is better.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip Yes, the track at WDW's Space Mountain really needs to be replaced. It used to be one of my favorite attractions, but my 63-year-old back just can't take the jerkiness any more.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan Why, back in my day, our Matterhorn Bobsleds didn't have cushions. And the inside of the mountain was just track, and we liked it! And our bobsleds weren't connected -- you had to go through it solo! ; )~
Originally Posted By FerretAfros >>I find WDW's Space Mountain unridable even with cushions.<< I think the seats are actually pretty comfortable, but it's terrifying to see how close some of the track supports are. I'm pretty tall, so I tend to spend most of the ride trying to curl myself up as short as possible so I don't accidentally take a steel girder to the face (even though logically I'm sure there's enough clearance to make it through safely)
Originally Posted By Dabob2 <And our bobsleds weren't connected -- you had to go through it solo!> That was actually my favorite part of the pre-'78 Matterhorn! It made the line longer, but I loved the feeling of being in your "own" bobsled. Cushions would be a good thing. On my last trip, I enjoyed the Matterhorn more than I had in years on my first day - mostly because of the new scary Harold, but also because it rained earlier in the day and when I rode it at night it was more fun that it had been in years. Faster and smoother. I chalked it up to the wet track, as the next day it was dry and bumpy. So yay cushions!
Originally Posted By u k fan I rode The Matterhorn for the first time last week so had no idea that cushions had been added. It was bumpy enough so I can't imagine what it was like before. Also, my knees were round my ears! I loved Space Mountain though and didn't notice any problems there!!!
Originally Posted By Yookeroo "I loved Space Mountain though and didn't notice any problems there!!!" DL's Space Mountain is great. Much better (and less painful) than WDW's.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros I think the real problem with the new vehicles isn’t the lack of padding, but the shape of the seat. Let’s face it, the old seats weren’t exactly cushy, but they felt fine. That’s because you sat more-or-less upright, like you would on any normal chair When the new vehicles debuted, the seats were awkwardly designed so that your butt was almost at the same level as your feet, so you ended up basically sitting on your tailbone. Unless you’re in a hammock or on a very comfy couch, that’s just not a great angle to sit at. Combine that with the roughness of the ride (or any coaster for that matter), and it just didn’t work The new cushions don’t look particularly soft, but they do appear to raise the height of the seat, relative to the floor level. At the very least, it should make it so that you’re not riding with your head between your knees
Originally Posted By Dabob2 That's a good point, FA. I'm not a tall guy, but the butt being down so low and the way you had to bend your knees and put your feet in those little slots (unless you were in front) did mean your butt and feet were nearly at the same level, and that was weird. A higher seat (and the padding itself) sounds like a real improvement.
Originally Posted By doombuggy Don't get too excited it's only a t shaped cushion towards the front and made no difference in the ride.I still get off that thing with a bruised tailbone
