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Front V's Back

So is it better to sit up front of the roller coaster or do you get the best ride right up the back?
Here's the facts so make up your own mind.

The shorter the coaster train and the longer the drops the less difference there is between the front and back. So for rides like Space Mountain and the Matterhorn Bobsleds,  there's really not much difference due to the short 'trains.' Big Thunder Mountain Railroad or Gadgets Go Coaster will have a noticeable difference!

Good News! It's an unwritten policy of Disneyland that if someone asks to go up front of a coaster or other attraction you will get there. At worst case you will have to wait until the next 'car/carriage' to come by, but you will get your preferred seat

If you can add any additional thoughts this e-mail me. 

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Riding Techniques - To Try
You may think that its as simple as sitting down, buckling up, screaming then unbuckling and getting out but believe it or not, there is an art to riding a roller coaster! Below will explain different methods of how to ride Disneyland's coasters, 'professionally'!

• The Hands in the Air Method

Actions: Don't hold on to anything, put your hands up in the air, especially on the big downhill runs
Effect: A feeling of insecurity.
Recommended DL Coasters: Keep you eyes opened so you don't hit anything with your hands. (Space Mountain is not a good one to try this)
Comments: While you will not fall out because tour strapped in, your mind can think otherwise. Many people do this one.

• The Floating Method (thanks Morbdthots)

Actions: Try to have as little as you can touching something. Have you hands out, your
feet up, and your back away from the seat.
Effect: A feeling of floating.
Recommended DL Coasters: Space Mountain, Star Tours.
Comments: This can give you a sensation of not being strapped in and be rather scary for some.

• The Racing Method

Actions: Lean into all of the corners
Effect: You will feel like your driving and/or racing the coaster along at 100kph (or 60mph for the U.S.A.ians)
Recommended  DL Coasters: Matterhorn Bobsleds, Space Mountain.
Comments: This is the smoothest way to  ride a coaster.

• The Runaway Train Method

Actions: Lean in the opposite direction of every corner.
Effect: You will feel out of control and at the mercy of the coaster. You may even sense the wheels leaving the inside of the corners track.
Recommended DL Coasters: Big Thunder Mountain Railway, Space mountain is worth a try with this one too
Comments: You may want to apply some of the next method to enhance this one.

• The Screamer Method

Actions: Scream like you've fallen out of a plane with out a parachute!
Effect: As well as losing your voice you will not only amuse yourself but all who are looking, or petrify those a little scared to ride it in the first place!
Recommended DL Coasters: Gadgets go coaster - where everyone can see (or hear) you.
Comments: While this adds to the overall atmosFEAR of the theme park it is amusing when the ride is a tame one!

• The look down & out Method (thanks Courtney)

Actions: Look over the edge of your coaster as it turns. For looping coasters, look out to the side on a loop!
Effect: Vertigo! If you are hight up this will freak you out! Looking sideways on a loop makes the horizon spin 360o.
Recommended DL Coasters: Big thunder mountain railroad (right side seating).
Comments: Taller the coaster the freakier.

• The Hidden Mickey  Method

Actions: Spend the whole ride looking for 3 circles overlapping.
Effect: Hidden Mickey's are abstract Mickey head symbols that can be found throughout the park! Find one not spotted and get praised by Disneyland Fanatics all over the world!
Recommended DL Coasters: All.
Comments: The most challenging of all Hidden Mickey spotting no doubt!

• The Surveying Method

Actions: Try drawing the path or the coaster as you go around!
Effect: If you're good you'll end up with a map of the ride!
Recommended DL Coasters: Any ride.
Comments: Check out if your track layout matched ours! Click here.

• The Scavenger Method  

Actions: When you first get check in for money fallen out of pockets or look for blown off hats along the track as you go.
Effect: If you don't get your hand removed form your body and you pick up a hat you are better off.
Recommended DL Coasters: Space mountain for the coins. Matterhorn for the hats.
Comments: Pickling up hats while on he coasters is not recommended by this web site so don't sue us if you loose a hand or three! If you want, just count them as you go.

Warning: You may get injured or disciplined by Cast Members with this method and don't recommend it!.

• The Breathless Method  

Actions: Hold your breath for the entire distance of the down hill runs
Effect: You may go blue in the face but apparently you can't die by holding your own breath un assisted.
Recommended DL Coasters: Start with the 'Go Coaster' and progress through the longer ones.
Comments: While this may be helpful if the stranger beside you stinks. A variation could be to take a gasp on every little uphill bit of track if you can't last the hole distance,  you will have to let me know if this is possible to do on all of the coasters.

• The "Goat Trick" (Thanks to Bret)

Actions: Sit as far towards the rear of the train as possible. When you're going over the top of the second Hill, watch the Dynamite chewing Goat as long as possible until he disappears out of sight.
Effect: It'll change your mind about the timidness of big thunder!
Recommended DL Coasters: Big thunder is the only coaster with a goat as far as I know!!
Comments: Who discovered this little gem? an amazing experience!

• The Matterhorn rails Method  (Thanks to Ken Vian)

Actions: On the Matterhorn, there are little black rails on the outside of each car. Hold onto those instead of the handles inside.
Effect: In a few places you'll think you're going to lose some fingers against the rocks, but I have done it through the whole ride without a scratch.
Recommended DL Coasters: MATTERHORN ONLY!!
Comments: I wouldn't recommend for other coasters, since (a) they don't have outer rails, and (b) I don't know how close walls/supports are, specifically in Space Mountain.

• The Backwards Method (Thanks to Ken Vian)

Actions: Ride Backwards. Well, not REALLY backwards...Sit forwards in the loading dock When the ride is moving and you're sure you're not in camera range, twist your upper body around so you're facing the rear.
Effect: It's a whole new experience seeing everywhere you've just been and different perspectives of the ride.
Recommended DL Coasters: All
Comments: Make sure you know where the cameras are, the only real places you have to worry are the lifts on Big Thunder and Space Mountain. Try to get a seat in the back, or else the people behind you on the ride will think you've got a staring problem.

Warning: You may get injured or disciplined by Cast Members with this method and don't recommend it!.

• The BOO Method (Thanks to Liam Rowbotham)

Actions: In a dark, scary or tense part of a ride, touch someone's neck.
Effect: At the right moment, to the right people, you may get a jump or even a scream out of them.
Recommended DL Coasters: Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean, Indiana Jones Adventure (bug room)
Comments: best if you know the people you are doing this to. Plan the best person in your group to do this to and organise to have them end up sitting in front of you.

• The Cross Legged Method  

Actions: Drink lots of soda, wait until you really need to visit the rest room, them start lining up for the coaster and ride it.
Effect: It will change your point of focus and point our the bumps and tight restraints.
Recommended DL Coasters: Pirates of the Caribbean, Indiana Jones Adventure, Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain, Matterhorn, It's a small world.
Comments: Best to know where closest restrooms to visit are after the ride!

If you can add any additional methods to this e-mail me.

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More Techniques - Not To Try
Some other techniques that are either impossible or are definitely not recommended!

• The Goosed Method  

Actions: Get hit by a bird while on the roller coaster.
Effect: You will get a blood nose and look very silly if many TV cameras are around.
Recommended DL Coasters: All outdoor coasters
Comments: This actually happened to while promoting the new 'Apollo's Chariot' at Busch Gardens Williamsburg March 30, 1999. The park people apparently thought it would be cute if Fabio tried out their new toy for a "Modern-Day Adonis vs. Ancient-Day Sun God" promotion. (Um, Fabio was supposed to be the modern-day Adonis.) So, anyway, Fabio--tearing himself away from his butter-alternative advocacy work--agreed. He showed up at the park. Got strapped into the ride, seated amid several adoring female fans. Then, the roller-coaster rolled. According to a witness the bird hit Fabio during the plummet down the first drop of 210 feet at speeds of up to 73 mph. Fabio returned to the station with blood all around his nose. The spokes model was bloodied--as were his adoring female fans. He got cut. They got splattered. Fabio, 38, was taken to a hospital, where he was treated for a one-inch cut to the bridge of his nose. "He's fine, no serious injuries," park spokeswoman Deborah DeMarco assured the Washington Post. No word on the bird's motives--or funeral plans. (Its broken body was later retrieved by park officials.) "We're very sorry that it happened," DeMarco said. "It was an act of nature."

I love the expressions on the 2 girls faces. The one on the left is looking concerned for him and the others pretending there's nothing wrong and no one will notice! Download News Broadcast Video (May not work - 6.4mb .avi)

• The Red Face Method

Actions: Get stuck at the top of a loop
Effect: You will go red in the face as you wait upside-down to be rescued.
Recommended DL Coasters: Not a problem at Disneyland with no loping coasters but you will have to watch out in the new Californian Adventure!
Comments: Let me know if you or someone you know has been in this position before and/or have pics or records of this happening. it has happened  at Marine World  where the 'Boomerang 'broke down stranding people for hours in the top of the loop! 

• The Mr. Bean Method

Actions: Fall asleep
Effect: You won't be able to remember the ride but the Disney cast members will think they have to make the ride more interesting.
Recommended DL Coasters: I know it's not a coaster but It's a Small World is a good candidate.
Comments: After a long wait in line it's a great time to catch some ZZZZZ. (with that annoying song running you'll have sweet dreams too!!) 

• The Amputation Method

Actions: Hold your hands up high, stand up or attempt to do a hand stand while riding a coaster.
Effect: A quick way to loose some weight.
Recommended DL Coasters: None or I'll get in trouble.
Comments: Hey I'm only kidding with this one, alright. People have actually lost body parts or died doing this at Disneyland! Try reading a book called "Mouse Tales"!

Warning: You may get injured with this method and don't recommend it!.

If you can add any additional methods to this e-mail me.

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