New Bobsleds for Disneyland’s Matterhorn?

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Disneyland’s Matterhorn Bobsleds was down for a brief refurbishment last week. During the downtime, a new prototype of bobsled (ride vehicle) was spotted. Unlike the current “cuddle” seats in the current sleds which typically accommodate two people per car, these new sleds holds three passengers per car in individual seats.

However don’t expect to see them right away as a cast member was reported as saying that last week’s goal was simply to test the prototype sleds, and that there is still “a lot” of work to be done.

It was rumored that the new sleds included a lap bar for restraint, similar to the system used on Walt Disney World’s Space Mountain, but in reality these prototypes have seat belts. What looked to be a lap bar in some photos is actually the headrest for the individual seats.

Here is  comparison of the new (on your left) compared to what is currently in place.

A Disney cast member is quoted as saying that riders were not permitted in the new sleds during their testing and that another closure is likely to conduct additional trials after adjustments are made based on the results of this last testing. New station gates will also have to be added to the attraction before the new sleds can be put into normal operation.

What do you think? Do you feel the new sleds will increase or decrease the amount of people the attraction can accommodate in any given timeslot? What about comfort? Do you think these new sleds will be more comfortable or take away from the ride experience all of us who have come to love the bobsleds enjoy?

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