The Goat Trick Revealed: Everything you wanted to know. (photo heavy)

[sir clinksalot]

TGEL,

I think the reason it works on Big Thunder and not on Space or Mulholland is that on Big Thunder you have a point of reference. Like it or not without a steady point of reference you will not continue to look at the same thing at all times, thus not creating the "Goat Trick" on other rides.

But since on Big Thunder you have a point of reference, keeping your eyes focused and your head pointed at the goat while the train whips around it you therefore feel it more.

And yeah ... I'm joining the group. I love busting myths.

[DisneyEla]

Splash Mountain: I discovered that if you lean forward during the duration of the drops then you get a sensation similar to the goat trick. I call it the Turtle trick because you stick you neck out like a turtle.

I have accidently tried this one. I was taking my 5 y/o niece on for the first time and she was scared so I put her in the very front. I figured if she only rode it once, the front is a good place to do it! Anyway, I was so worried that she was going to fall that I leaned all the way forward and 'bear hugged' her body to the seat. Now i'm one of those crazies that raises both my arms when I go down SM, i love the ride. But, leaning forward was a scary-awesome-freaky-wonderful experience. It definitley gives you a bigger sensation then just lifting your arms!

[Hippie]

Try Space while looking up the entire time (and even though it is tempting, do not rest your head on the back of the seat, your head will get bumped). Very trippy, seeing the closeness of the walls and tracks, especially toward the end where you see waaay up there.

[Wren]

Hmm I'll have to try this goat trick next time I go.

[LlamaLover]

During testing they tried the space llama, but the effect was too powerful. Too many high school seniors were blowing chunks in front of Red Rocket's Pizza Port.

All hail the powerful space llama

[1stStarIC2nite]

You know what else is fun? (I'm not sure if this works at DL because of the seating, but it does at WDW) When you go down the drops on Splash Mountain... look backwards... like completely behind you (especially on the main drop). It's a weird sensation, you get airtime, and the drops feel 10 times steeper... it's way cool

[ghoofie]

We have done the infamous goat trick, extended style. That is, we sit in the back row, and look backwards the entire ride. Great way to ride Thunder.

[Gemini Cricket]

I think it would be kind of funny if the goat blew up each time you passed it. (I mean, he is chewing dynamite...) But I guess that would be kind of hard to reset for the next train...

[Schmielsen]

I tried the goat trick once. Didn't feel so good afterwards. But I love the goat.

[I Love DisneyLand]

I think it would be kind of funny if the goat blew up each time you passed it. (I mean, he is chewing dynamite...) But I guess that would be kind of hard to reset for the next train...

haha yes! we think alike ...i think its funny when things blow up randomly

[flynnibus]

your explaination makes no sense to me..

'change a lateral g-force into a horizontal one' ??

lateral is left to right already.. how do you change that to 'horizontal?'

And g-force is an accelleration.. not speed. Where a difference in speed leads to higher g-forces is in turns. A turn is actually an acceleration (you are actually accelerating sideways) so that is why turning harder or making the same turn, but at a faster speed leads to higher forces 'pushing' you away from the turn. (what you would experience as a 'postive G force' away from the turn)

Not being in DL.. I don't know this section.. but I assume its right after a drop.. so the front is probably being held up waiting for the rear of the train to clear the peak of the drop.. then once over.. the front is 'pushed' and the rear gets a more sudden acceleration as its 'pulled' quickly down the hill.

[alphabassetgrrl]

Thanks for the myth-busting work! I love the Goat trick!

I always look up at the light bulb on TOT.

I'll have to try looking up on Space Mountain. Usually I'm looking sideways or backwards or down, looking at the track and the control panels covered in black netting.

[speederscout]

your explaination makes no sense to me..

'change a lateral g-force into a horizontal one' ??

lateral is left to right already.. how do you change that to 'horizontal?'

And g-force is an accelleration.. not speed. Where a difference in speed leads to higher g-forces is in turns. A turn is actually an acceleration (you are actually accelerating sideways) so that is why turning harder or making the same turn, but at a faster speed leads to higher forces 'pushing' you away from the turn. (what you would experience as a 'postive G force' away from the turn)

Not being in DL.. I don't know this section.. but I assume its right after a drop.. so the front is probably being held up waiting for the rear of the train to clear the peak of the drop.. then once over.. the front is 'pushed' and the rear gets a more sudden acceleration as its 'pulled' quickly down the hill.

Well, you're just no fun at all. (But you're right).

As for the whiplash: of course, that's why the back car in a coaster is always the best! This is basic Themepark Physics 101.

[Brer Bear]

My guess is that the "Baxter Seat" is so named, for Thunder Mountain's imagineering creator, Tony Baxter. (Who'da thunk..)
I used to keep my eyes on the Space Mountain chocolate chip cookie;
but they took it away.

[ghoofie]

My guess is that the "Baxter Seat" is so named, for Thunder Mountain's imagineering creator, Tony Baxter. (Who'da thunk..)
I used to keep my eyes on the Space Mountain chocolate chip cookie;
but they took it away.

I like the new Space Mountain...but I do miss the cookie.