Guy T. Koepp Posted September 23, 2006 Share Posted September 23, 2006 Well... ...It appears that the Matterhorn is back in rehab. Is it just me or does it seem that this ride is in rehab all the time. I'd swear it's half the year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gnome Posted September 23, 2006 Share Posted September 23, 2006 It gets a yearly rehab and its usually down for a month or a little more. Yay Disney! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ECZenith Posted September 23, 2006 Share Posted September 23, 2006 I'd imagine it requires a lot of maintenance being the world's first steel coaster (s) and being so old. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calvin Posted September 23, 2006 Share Posted September 23, 2006 I'm not surprised. It's really old and pretty fast and the water splashdown probably does something to the wheels/track, but still one of my favorite coasters. Omg! Now I have to go change my top ten list. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BiCoastal Kid Posted September 23, 2006 Share Posted September 23, 2006 I would imagine that a lot of the actual mountain requires a bit of work, too. You would think they'd replace the track by now. They have smaller gauge and more reliable tracks now, so yeah. Could possible makes it a little smoother, too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calvin Posted September 23, 2006 Share Posted September 23, 2006 I can see a huge rehab in the future. Coming soon! Intamin does Matterhorn! The Aquatrax we've all been waiting for! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BiCoastal Kid Posted September 23, 2006 Share Posted September 23, 2006 No Aqua trax. Too broad. I could see a variation on gerst boblsed though. GRANTED, they will probably just keep replacing track forever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SLUSHIE Posted September 23, 2006 Share Posted September 23, 2006 The Matterhorn had it's major refurb not to long ago. They ripped out parts of the walls and everything. Even though it's older than Space Mountain, I just can't see them replacing the track. Nor do I want them to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nrthwnd Posted September 23, 2006 Share Posted September 23, 2006 Prior to everybody (currently) being "online", I remember visiting Los Angeles various years, various times of the year, too. And I believe that out of several, if not many, visits to "The Park That Walt Built"... the *%@#&*~ Matterhorn ALWAYS was behind nicely painted 4x8 board fencing, going through yet another refurbishment, "for your future enjoyment"... I WANT MY MATTERHORN, I used to cry in my thoughts. When, oh when would I ever get the chance and compare, remind myself and choose, which rails I enjoyed the best... or not, heh heh. Last time I actually rode it, was in the mid-80s I believe. That's how long it had been since I got to the park when The Big M was 'open' there, available for the riding. Both tracks. (sniff) I think it's age of the ride itself, being as old as it is, hmm? It's a true coaster original, and Disney is trying to maintain it as best it can, under current coaster rail conditions, I guess. Just my history with it, and an observe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USRoadTripper Posted September 23, 2006 Share Posted September 23, 2006 I heard from some random unreliable source way back in the day that they can't replace the support system and install more up to date tracks since they'd have to demolish the entire mountain and start from scratch. They obviously don't want to completely tear down the original Matterhorn and leave thousands of people going "Didn't the Matterhorn used to be in this park??" so they do the yearly rehabs just to keep it in one piece. -Julie (who is *SO* glad that she got her Matterhorn credits two weeks ago!!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeezus Juice Posted September 23, 2006 Share Posted September 23, 2006 The Matterhorn has a scheduled "rolling rehab" program that replaces small parts of the track and effects. Unfortunatly this means it goes down for several weeks every year. The alternative would be to shut the entire mountain down for a year or more every few years. Remember how long Space Mountain was down for? I don't think I could go through that long of a dry period with the Matterhorn! After nearly 700 coasters over the world the Matterhorn is still my favorite, and I don't care what you guys think! Where else can you meet Harold, helix around a basketball court, and laugh at people in lederhosen! Also, you can get free hats just by riding! (Ask anyone whose ever ridden it with me ) Anyway, that's why it's "always down". And while it may have opened in 1959, the ride is far from old! Nearly everything gets replaced after a few years, it's probably one of the parks newest rides! -Matterhorny Don Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BelizeIt Posted September 23, 2006 Share Posted September 23, 2006 The Matterhorn has always been a great ride. But I'm not surprised by the rehab schedule, because when your going down the mountain, you get banged around quite a bit. I imagine that creates a bit more wear and tear on the ride, as compared to a smoother running attraction like Space Mountain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guy T. Koepp Posted September 23, 2006 Author Share Posted September 23, 2006 ^Dude! I love the Matterhorn! It was my first "BIG BOY" rollercoaster. I still have very fond memories of a military nite back in 72 when I was there with my whole family. I was scared to death! Finaly at about 5:30 in tha morning my Aunt Lynda said, "I'm riding the Matterhorn. If you wanna go, nows the time. Don't make me tell your father you were a chicken s**t!" So I went. I laughed, I screamed, I pissed the seat. And the enthusiast emerged like a phoenix from the ashes. A child was brought forth unto you a geek emerged, for all to see. And Walt's hands came down from heaven and placed themeth upon my trembling brow as I heard him orate, "Go fourth Guy and rid the world of the un-imagineative, and calous. Create weird and childish videos that make no sense whatsoever, but, are real F'ing cool. Especially ones that have puppets with big tits. Cause tits are awesome! Um... Uh... I mean challenge the creative mind and create your own ride experience where there is not." I cried as a baby does, when it is seperated from the breast that it suckles, as his hands slowly drifted away over Sleeping Beauty Castle. "Remember Guy. Rememberrrrrr..." So... ... I got that going for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waterviper Posted September 23, 2006 Share Posted September 23, 2006 Yes Don Matterhorn is my favorite coaster of all times too! Yes Guy Matterhorn was my first coaster too!! It is what started me down roller coaster road as well!! I remember being hesitant going on it cuz of all the yelling from the yeti!! Little did I know it was probably Robb at the time! My bro said "I am going on it, you want to go too??" I hesitated for a bit and then he said "fine stay here I am going, wait for me here when I get back". As soon as he walked off I imediatly followed behind! The line was short that day and I didn't have to wait to long and get cold feet. Because I started to feel it the second I got in line! But boy was I ever glad I did. I screamed at him asking to go again and he agreed. We rode the other side this time. I was instantly hooked!! Then after that I wanted to go on Space Mountain and BTM badly!! Thank you Matterhorn for breaking my roller coaster virginity!! I will never forget that day!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coasterlicious Posted September 23, 2006 Share Posted September 23, 2006 ugh... I need to get to Disney someday...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3rdShiftCM Posted September 23, 2006 Share Posted September 23, 2006 Someone correct me if i'm wrong here but, I do believe they replaced the track tubing a few years ago. Can you imagine what could have happened if they had cut back to far on those rehabs? The ride is 47 years old. How many 47 year old steel coasters are there out there anyway? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
larrygator Posted September 23, 2006 Share Posted September 23, 2006 I guess next week is a bad time to be hitting SoCal Disney parks to finally get those credits. Oh well Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamesdillaman Posted September 23, 2006 Share Posted September 23, 2006 Someone correct me if i'm wrong here but, I do believe they replaced the track tubing a few years ago. Can you imagine what could have happened if they had cut back to far on those rehabs? The ride is 47 years old. How many 47 year old steel coasters are there out there anyway? Isn't the answer only 1? I thought Matterhorn was like one of the first steel coasters. Somebody help me (I'm not as much of a coaster history enthusiast, just enjoy riding.) -James Dillaman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calvin Posted September 23, 2006 Share Posted September 23, 2006 ^ It was a joke. :3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knottslover77 Posted September 24, 2006 Share Posted September 24, 2006 I'm not surprised. It's really old and pretty fast and the water splashdown probably does something to the wheels/track, but still one of my favorite coasters. Omg! Now I have to go change my top ten list. if pretty fast is 18 mph, then I'm a fast biker. --Jay Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calvin Posted September 24, 2006 Share Posted September 24, 2006 ^For a 50 year old coaster that was the first steel, and it was an Arrow...well, 18mph for a glitzed-up racing mouse coaster in a shaky plastic mountain is pretty fast. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ebl Posted September 24, 2006 Share Posted September 24, 2006 The Matterhorn opened about a month and a half before I was born, so maybe I should get a yearly rehab, too! And, no, the Matterhorn was not the first steel coaster, but it was the first coaster to use tubular steel track. Just settin' the record straight. Eric Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calvin Posted September 24, 2006 Share Posted September 24, 2006 Well, first modern steel coaster. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeezus Juice Posted September 24, 2006 Share Posted September 24, 2006 Prior to 1959, if you asked for a steel coaster, you got this! I believe it was also the first with computer controlled blocking, multiple trains on course at once, water braking, first to replicate itself withing an existing structure, as well as probably being the tallest/fastest/longest/steepest/smellyist steel coaster at the time. And don't forget the free hats! -Don Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shockwave Posted September 24, 2006 Share Posted September 24, 2006 ^I hope it's gonna be open again in a month's time! Even my brother has the Matterhorn credit! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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