History of Matterhorn Bobsleds PART 1 | DISNEYLAND

[@michaeltaylor1603]

I rode it last in 2009, before the new trains came online. I'm 5' 8" so I actually love to ride it. I met both Bob Gurr & Edgar Morgan @ an IAAPA Expo. These guys were soooo much fun to talk to about rides + engineering. I've been "toying" with an idea of how to get the "hairline" track in there and make it smooth. It's experimental like the 1959 mountain. I'm sure a computer model could "prove" it out though.

[@mindlessdroid3630]

This ride always fascinated me as a kid after seeing it on tv back in the day. The splash down was so unique to me back then. One day I hope to ride it.

[@timwolfers7880]

The Matterhorn was my very first Disney ride in 1968, and is still my favorite. It really is a unique experience! Great job Alex!

[@andrewjohn7782]

"The Matterhorn has been the tallest structure since it was built"... But before that it was the top of the rocketship that could be seen from cars on the Santa Ana Freeway. Either structure told us kids we were near Disneyland. Going to the park or not, we were on the lookout for either one, once we passed the exits for Buena Park. Great memories!

[@zzygyy]

Coolest ride in the park. As a kid, always looking for matterhorn from freeway on the way to Disneyland.

[@kendallevans4079]

For thrills, I agree....for technology Pirates rules!

[@OfMiceAndTrains]

Thanks again Alex. Great video. I remember how much fun it was the first time I road the Matterhorn Bobsleds in the single cars. It was definitely the first of its kind.

[@Dan-7550]

Big thunder and Matterhorn are my top 2 favorite all time d.l. ride and probably favorite coasters. Just classics

[@waynebrock7248]

Love to hear stories behind each rides Disneyland ever created such as this one right here, thank you Alex, my old friend hope you doing well. Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving with your family.

[@potatoes919]

I literally was just thinking about how I wanted to see a matterhorn history video and then see this pop up in my subscriptions LOL Thanks for the upload!

[@AlextheHistorian]

Thats the magic of me!

[@greggirons67]

Great memories riding The Matterhorn Boneless ..! I met Dick Nunis three times in the Park when he was president, he was always nice and gracious ... Great job Alex, looking forward to part two ..!

[@stevehoffman9735]

Can't wait for part two! Hurry!!

[@davidmacias741]

Has a child driving with my family from northern California in the 60s, the matterhorn was seen off in the distance from the freeway and just seeing that bought so much excitement to us in the car because we knew we were almost there! That matterhorn was magical off in the distance. I'll always cherish those memories.

[@TMan151993]

Would love to see an episode dedicated to the Storybookland Canal boats! Loved this episode. Can’t wait for part 2!

[@rickpontificates3406]

I loved the Matterhorn when I was a kid and my body was made out of rubber. But as a middle aged adult, the Matterhorn KICKS THE CRAP out of my back. I wish I could enjoy it again with worrying about needing chiropractic treatment.

[@vjspivey]

Brilliant heartline graphics. Thank you!

[@kappamannyce]

Excellently done, and informative. Once again this has the looks of another great series Alex!

[@MrPGC137]

Looking forward to Part Two.

[@lindasolis7117]

Awesome work, Alex! Once again, I have learned things about the construction of the Matterhorn that I never knew before. Thank you, thank you! Can't wait for part 2! 😃

[@benny5615]

Your history videos are my favorite!

[@AlextheHistorian]

Thank you!

[@dooneygirl7259]

Alex, you’ve done it again!! I loved this one as I’ve loved all of your previous ride history videos. Please keep going and do more of them, you’re amazing! 😊

[@moniquemc4553]

I love your voice and videos. This was awesome. I’m looking forward to part 2. ❤️

[@mickeynoodles5285]

Great video Alex!

[@AlextheHistorian]

Thanks!

[@guyz7777]

Thank you Alex for your narrative videos...you are the best!

[@drh3b]

The last time I was in Disneyland was in the late Seventies, and I can verify the Matterhorn was very rough, rough enough for me to remember it, and it was one of the reasons I liked Space Mountain much more. Space Mountain was brand new at the time, and was my favorite coaster of all the SoCal parks, and Six Flags St. Louis, which are the only major parks I've been to.

[@ScanFan_Ed]

Great video! Really looking forward to Part 2! I believe I have read reports that the Matterhorn is deteriorating and may have to come at some point. That would be so sad! I hope that is not true or can be avoided.

[@Kris_Kitten]

I love the Matterhorn! I've only ridden the Fantasyland side but I could never figure out how to get to the Tomorrowland side. I heard that goes faster

[@RagtimeMikeinSD]

Nice to see correct footage, just as I recall. Recall the original skyway with the small plastic seats. As a 7 year old kid I recall how easy it would be to just fall, or jump out.

[@sonic23233]

It's an American Coaster Enthusiast landmark

[@Justintime619]

It’s amazing how many “firsts” this ride had.. something the team at Disney were known for, Firsts…. Sad they seem to have lost that magic…

[@jaysonpida5379]

Real toboggans and downhill sleds make for a rough ride too...

[@AlextheHistorian]

That doesn't work so well in a theme park setting where people can break a tail bone on a ride which shouldn't be breaking tail bones.

[@Tryingtohaveityall]

That opening line 🤣🤣🤣

[@jetsons101]

As always, a top-notch job Alex. Were some of the old B&W photos you used taken at Playland up in San Fracisco??? Your videos are outstanding, the music you pick, your editing skills and above all your narration, but I have told you that once or twice in the past. I hope that the Matterhorn gets the care it needs because Disneyland without the Matterhorn would be like a day without sunshine. Thanks Alex for a great watch....

[@AlextheHistorian]

Thanks! Yes the pictures were from Playland, San Francisco.

[@tsmgguy]

Right, the Matterhorn coaster is so rough that I ride it only once per visit. It isn't the bumpiness that's the problem, but rather the side-to-side shaking. I get bruised!

[@MrZachxd]

Alex, I love your videos

[@AlextheHistorian]

Thanks!

[@crystalsanchez5720]

U make the best videos♡♡♡

[@JDr51118]

Great Job on your channel. 👍

[@lauri-jeancarlson8476]

Matterhorn Bobsleds been at Disneyland since 1959

[@thezedable]

I always like riding this attraction when my hips are out of whack. Especially since I’m getting older and my hip is out of place. Would like to knock my hip back into place when needed.

[@AverytheCubanAmerican]

Chiropractor: Who are you? Matterhorn: I’m you, but a mountain

[@JordiLA]

My first time in 2017 was painful, I love all the nostalgic feelings that mountain has but.. they need to add some suspension on the ride vehicles to enjoy a little the travel! 😅

[@tylerfrederick246]

Wow! This is awesome!

[@tomklock568]

I love the Matterhorn! HOWEVER, last time I went on it showed me I need to lose about 75 pounds to fit in there without extensive pain!! Thanks Alex!

[@AlextheHistorian]

You can lose 100 pounds, it will still be painful.

[@tomklock568]

@@AlextheHistorian well let’s rephrase that…to fit fully into the vehicle!!!

[@douglashall6326]

The computerized dispatch would be added during the 1977 overhaul of the Matterhorn Bobsleds. You are correct about the block braking, but Space Mountain at Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World would have a computerized dispatch in 1975.

[@AlextheHistorian]

By computer, I didn't mean an actual computer tower, monitor and keyboard, more like the same computer technology that operated the Enchanted Tiki Room in 1962. The explanation of how the computers on Matterhorn worked was given in the video. As a bobsled broke an infrared beam, it started a timer, if the bobsled didn't break the next beam before the timer ran out, a relay then activated all block brakes. Matterhorn could not have operated in 1959 without an automatic block system. It wouldn't have been safe.

[@Ron_Rhodes]

I remember the Wild Mouse at the Boardwalk. Just because it was slow didn't mean it wasn't scary. I thought I'd fall into the Pacific Ocean at every turn.

[@patrickperalta59]

I have only been on the ride one time in all my years of going to Disneyland and believe me once was enough...during my first and only time on the ride I was with my best friend he and I got on the ride and at one point during a rough turn and jerk of the ride...we smacked our heads together and I ended up with a major headache for the rest of the day............that was the last time I've been on the ride.

[@chaseman113]

Enchanted Forest in Oregon has a bobsled coaster that has rather enthusiastic or dramatic banking for the speed of the coaster. I adore it and ride it everytime. But now I wonder if the quirky banking is intentional, accidental or even maybe a homage or parody to the Matterhorn.

[@chaseman113]

I love arrow stuff, they built cheap & quick versions of everything. They paved the way for more expensive companies like B & M and got parks feet wet with new ride ideas on the cheap. I feel if somehow B & M suddenly existed before or without Arrow back in the 50’s with their tech, but ALSO with B & M still having their high price tag would’ve slowed park adoption of bigger, more complicated and expensive rides. Parks were initially hesitant at new Arrow designs at Arrow prices, let alone B & M prices in the 60’s or 70’s. Where Arrow’s affordable price made MANY parks willing to bet on new ideas like Roller Coasters and also expose more customers to roller coasters. Paving the way for Parks to be willing to really throw down some cash for B & M coaster or other just as great or expensive coaster maker.

[@JavaCake]

Wait, when did you rebrand? Edit: I guess it was a few weeks ago, that’s what I get for not checking in enough lol

[@princessmarlena1359]

The Matterhorn is pretty fun,though I tend to leave my stomach behind on it halfway through. I threw up on it when I was 12, after my brother forced me onto it.

[@Wintermute01001]

When I was a kid, I would close my eyes every time I knew we were about to pass the yeti

[@bigkiwimike]

I was talking to a cast member there last week. Apparently the Matterhorn runs about 5 mph faster in the summer as opposed to winter. I think the rough ride is very prototypical of the real thing.

[@errolplata45]

Timestamp 0:28. Disney's Matterhorn has NOT ALWAYS the TALLEST STRUCTURE at the Disneyland Park. The Matterhorn was not present in 1955 when the park opened. The Matterhorn CONSTRUCTION could not have been started until after Disney traveled to Zermatt, Switzerland. Walt asked his team to build the Matterhorn DURING that trip, exactly as you describe in this video.

[@AlextheHistorian]

This is one of those things where you have to interpret the words within context. Meaning that since the structure has existed, it has always been the tallest structure in Disneyland Park.

[@vhalmrast]

No mention of the basketball court at the top of the Matterhorn?

[@carlosfernandez6754]

12:34 They should have made it bigger , higher, so that you can also Hike the mountain through the outside perimeter and through tight caves etc. Put only half of the roller coaster in the mountain with big caves and nice drops with crystals etc and the other half of the coaster outside the mountain in this enclosed area and put tress etc as if you were still on the mountain. Same with Big Thunder mountain, oh well, still very good enough.

[@rogerlollar4325]

Do the history of the submarine voyage

[@LauraBarkowski]

Thank you for these documentaries. One thing on this one --- you have the emphasis wrong on the word "centrifigal".

[@AlextheHistorian]

In the United States we say it that way, in the UK or other places they might say it the other way. It's not incorrect either way.

[@joncarlos716]

I definitely went on the left side it was so bumpy and fast.

[@riparianlife97701]

Smash play>pound like>watch.

[@gabrielncali8999]

Is this bumpiness a problem? I look at it as a classic feature and makes it historical.

[@AlextheHistorian]

My friend cracked his tailbone on it, and I developed a chronic back problem that never went away after the last time I rode it in 2017.

[@gabrielncali8999]

@@AlextheHistorian Oh my! 😱

[@lilblackfish2009]

please dont turn this into elsas frozen adventure lol

[@chrisroberts78]

If Disney closed it & retrack it it would be a lot smoother

[@markraymond3886]

Hi Alex, I don't know how far along you are on part 2, but have you seen this? kzbin.info/www/bejne/rZTWYpx4ZruegqM

[@AlextheHistorian]

Thanks for the heads-up. I have never seen that footage before. Wish O could use it but it's copyrighted and a quarter of the screen has a watermark on it.

[@anthonyinzerillo3882]

Even Disney knew the importance of yeti/bigfoot to North America & the world. Are they out there ????

[@remconet]

Probably an unpopular opinion but I feel it's time they removed this outdated attraction. Yes there's a lot of beautiful history but this ride just isn't up to standards anymore. It also sits weirdly in the landscape of the park (with the castle not being the real centerpiece since it's smaller than the mountain). Let's treasure the memories and build something new.