History of Matterhorn Bobsleds PART 2 | DISNEYLAND

[@stevecobb4392]

Love this ❤️ you were right on point when you said Disneyland isn’t about the fastest biggest roller coaster out there, it’s about adventure and transporting you somewhere else.!When I’m on the Matterhorn I can imagine that’s what a real bobsled would feel like. It wouldn’t necessarily be a smooth ride, and I’m not talking about the cool runnings kind of track. I’m talking what it would feel like going down a real mountain like when the sport first started.

[@tbx59]

The skybuckets going through and Tinkerbell departing from the Matterhorn are some of my favorite childhood memories of Disneyland

[@kendallevans4079]

For real! I grew up about a mile from the park. The fireworks were always a treat if we had guest over!

[@michaeltaylor1603]

I eventually got to ride both tracks. I think I liked the left side MORE!. Loving Bob Gurr shot the hoops! I also got to meet Blaine Gibson @ the 2009 IAAPA Expo. All of those Imagineer's hand picked by Walt to go on their own life's journey "E" Ticket ride!

[@k.h.4698]

Excellently written and produced. This the finest tribute this talented group of designers, imagineers, and artists could ever get. These people were not afraid to think outside the box, a quality seen less and less in corporate america, as companies usually take the safest investment route at the loss of innovation

[@Jadegreif]

Your enthusiasm and love for the the Matterhorn makes the video all the more wholesome and wonderful to watch.

[@jetsons101]

Thanks Alex for another outstanding watch. I have been on Ghostrider at Knott's, the Giant Dipper in San Diego, the Cyclone at Coney Island, the Cyclone Racer in Long Beach "now gone" and everything at Magic Mountain and I can say the Matterhorn is worth the time. It is like no other rollercoaster. Thanks to Alex and his hours of work.......

[@goofyrulez7914]

When I was 8, I refused to ride the Matterhorn because it terrified me. I stayed on the ground with my grandma instead. Things have sure changed because now I can't wait to ride it when I go.

[@kendallevans4079]

66 years old and I still close my eyes.....I just never got it!

[@marcusromero2362]

I’m kinda sad they threw away the 2 other jungle cruise gorilla snowman’s away they should’ve kept them they’ve been there for so long!!😞😞

[@lauri-jeancarlson8476]

I miss Disneyland and there rides

[@NecrofilmLTD]

I wonder if there's a way to put some form of shocks under each bobsled, to absorb the jerky track ride

[@AlextheHistorian]

Actually there already are shocks 😅

[@NecrofilmLTD]

@@AlextheHistorian better ones then

[@swissspinodroid7572]

7:31 The crystal scene was actually added in 1978 I've seen videos before the 1994 refurb that show the crystal scene, and a poster for the 1978 refurb shows them. The Wells Expedition crate was added in 1995 after Wells died in 94.

[@princesskristan]

MADE IT JUST IN TIME! I need to go to Disneyland soon!

[@OBSwinger619]

Once again, I thank you Alex for bringing my childhood back to life. As ai small kid with my brother at the age of 7 & 8 we would ride the Matterhorn and love the bounce. Now as an old man I have to wear protection to keep my back in place. (hahaha) You said it yourself, "we locals love the park" and we do because we sat there every Suday evening to enjoy "Wonderful World of Color". We would wait for "Uncle Walt" bring us around the park to show off is prize. Thank You very much.

[@kamsavart]

We just got back from Disneyland a week ago and this is still arguably the best Walt Disney attraction.... no, one of the best attractions ever built. It is a true gem and a must do whenever visiting this park. Love your videos and can't wait for the next one.

[@AlextheHistorian]

Thanks Andre!

[@NorseNerdleMeister]

Alex, are you sure your not a time traveler and there when DL was being built? Your knowledge is amazing!

[@AlextheHistorian]

I'm not at liberty to reveal whether or not I am a time traveler.

[@100SteveB]

Walt Disney - it's hard to think of another man that was responsible for adding so much magic into children's lives all over the world. I loved Disney films and cartoons when I was a kid in the 70's, my own kids in the 90's loved them, and continuing on to this present day my grandchildren love them. And what parents do not love sitting down with their children or grandchildren to enjoy a Disney movie? Thank you Walt for your wonderful visions and dreams - still bringing joy to people nearly 70 years after Disneyland opened it's doors, and 100 years since your first cartoons. One hell of a legacy.

[@kappamannyce]

Bravo Alex, yet another great edition to your informational Disneyland History series. i enjoyed this one very much. Thank you.

[@tsmgguy]

Your love of the subject matter shows!

[@johnwesolowski1134]

Yet another awesome Disneyland history vid :)

[@AlextheHistorian]

Thank you!

[@OfMiceAndTrains]

Thank you well done.

[@tomklock568]

Please remain seated! Thanks Alex!

[@Big_Diehl]

While the real Matterhorn is 14,000 feet tall, the mountain's 'prominence' (the amount of the peak that is visible over the ground around it) is only about 3000'. The person would still be pretty small if a model though... Probably the guy from 'Cliff Hangers' on "The Price is Right" would be about the right size.

[@Spacemountaineer92]

another great documentary of Disneyland’s iconic mountains great job a tear ran down my eye at how well you have documented these attractions so far

[@tufab3494]

Unfortunately I never rode Matterhorn, but I'm still almost crying at this ending 😭

[@mickeynoodles5285]

Fantastic video! I forget how much fun this attraction is sometimes, until I ride it again!. A beauty to look at too.

[@lindasolis7117]

Wonderful job! Thank you so much, Alex. I loved the footage of Bob Gur shooting hoops inside the Matterhorn LOL!

[@CaptDon37]

Great work alex!

[@Outdoors49Man]

I remember when the Tomorrowland Rocket was the tallest thing poking above the orange groves.

[@jaysonpida5379]

well done :) The ride cannot be torn down and re-built on that spot ----the regulations today would mean a larger 'footprint' ....and any MAJOR, 'to-the-ground', tear-down/re-do would prompt California to deem it a 'new' ride and therefore must align to the regulations. So unless Disney wants to find a new piece of land on which to build a new Matterhorn, their ONLY course is to keep repairing it as it breaks and to keep 'tinkering-tinkering-tinkering' with improvements. I'm fine with that ----Disney should apply to California & the Feds for some sort of 'Historical Importance/Protection' for the ride as it is the first of its kind. p.s. 'Alex' is correct in telling the complainers to understand that it is NOT a 'Six Flags' coaster...and never will be.

[@RetroFett]

Well, Disney has an easy answer. The submarine lagoon is right next-door. They could reroute that section of the monorail track and just use that adjacent piece of land to incorporate new construction on a complete redo of the Matterhorn.

[@shanestuddard2606]

ALEX. Your videos are SUPERB. And if that’s YOU narrating, you are one of the VERY few content-makers who actually sound like a professional narrator. BRAVO!!!

[@AlextheHistorian]

Thank you!

[@Loc0motive]

Great video! I wish they would bring the Skyway back. Do you have any videos about the Skyway?

[@AlextheHistorian]

not yet, no

[@rhondaarias606]

Thank you so much, that was beautiful. I live very far away from Disneyland right now and I miss it.

[@victorbustillos9053]

Love your videos..Thank You

[@tylerfrederick246]

Alex, thank you for this history. I wish I had the opportunity to ride it more than once. I remember when I first saw. I thought it was an iceberg. I was just just 10

[@chain_sawyer7469]

Amazing video Alex,I've never seen an in depth story on the Matterhorn.

[@PaulKyriazi]

Great wrap-up narration. "You're here to be transported into another world." Yes, I remember my first ride at age12.

[@lostinart]

Another great video! I hope your channel catches fire and goes viral soon. You earned it!

[@dietdrpepper15]

I wanted to mountain climb that so bad when I saw actual people doing it.

[@jeanneg7430]

This story is absolutely fantastic (I enjoy the reminders about Disney not being an amusement park). I'm so glad that you took the time to create 2 parts for this story, as it seems like it should always be kept as a reminder of what Walt Disney intended the park to be & how he did his best to create new rides that would still work with what the public wanted yet maintaining his original idea about the purpose of his "land."

[@AlextheHistorian]

Thanks!

[@anthonycalbillo9376]

I'm glad you went back to your old logo, the fedora one was good too.

[@chrismetzger8875]

Watch out for, Harold.

[@kevinkunzmann8782]

I love the Matterhorn ❤

[@FindingTheForce]

It’s all about the Right track! Slower and longer. 👍🏻

[@Video81501]

Awesome video, Alex! Beautifully written and narrated.

[@AlextheHistorian]

Thanks!

[@lenthisgoldstein9553]

Alex, I wanted to share with you while listening to a Disnylasnd soundtrack with the golden horseshoe back in the 70's I had the pleasure of seeing the hilarious Wally Boag. He was also a guest in The Muppet Show. his Wikipedia page says he auditioned for Walt Disney and in the world book of records since D's opening day he performed in10,000 shows. One funny gag when one of the pretty girls punched him he spit out snd endless supply of teeth into a bucket then spit the last one into the bandstand one of the musicians hit it back to him with a ping pong paddle this went of for quite a while. you said you worked in the golden horseshoe I'm sure you heard of his hilarity. but I got to see him perform.

[@donaldginn3248]

For kids in the 1970s, the site of the Matterhorn was confirmation that the seemingly endless trek on the freeway from San Diego would soon be rewarded with a day's adventure created by a truly magical man.

[@AlextheHistorian]

It was like that for me in the 90s too. Now you can hardly see the mountain from the freeway.

[@daniellanglois89]

Love the new Video, Alex!! Especially that shot of the Matterhorn Bobsleds at 2:37!

[@iankellar3266]

I’ve lived in Orange County all my life I can’t ever imagine looking towards Disneyland and not seeing the iconic mountain.

[@dtj2913]

I seem to remember Tinker Bell flying down from the Matterhorn on something like a zip line. Does anyone else remember this?

[@AlextheHistorian]

She still does it to this day. Although the zip-line has been upgraded to modern theater-quality apparatus to allow Tinkerbelle to appear to dip, weave and dive around the turrets of the castle.

[@taylorcard3315]

I just found your videos and there super interesting im not a person that likes these kind of videos but yours are addicted to watch

[@AlextheHistorian]

Thanks! I try to make them appealing to everyone

[@Dillionharris]

I like what you did there with the Swiss Cheese! Great video Alex! I don't know how you can make me feel so emotional watching a History video, almost every single one you create makes me get misty eyed! Hahaha. Keep up the great work!

[@AlextheHistorian]

Thank you Dillion!

[@spacecadet35]

I know that a lot of the Roller Coaster snobs won't ride this because it is not extreme enough for them, but they should ride it at least once, just because it is the first steel track roller coaster ever built. And then they can see how far roller coasters have come over the years. They should also ride the Cyclone on Coney Island.

[@riparianlife97701]

You keep changing the channel name and avatar. A suggestion from someone who loves you as much as anyone: Please use your name and actual headshot.

[@AlextheHistorian]

I don't want to be recognized on the street anymore. With the threats of violence and death I've been getting, I dont feel safe letting people see my face or know my name.

[@riparianlife97701]

@@AlextheHistorian oh, dammit. The US is so mean. That's why I moved to Mexico.

[@riparianlife97701]

@@AlextheHistorian And this avatar is better than just the hat.

[@greggirons67]

I don't know how but it always feels a little cooler around The Matterhorn ... Another excellent Piece, Alex ... Thank you ...

[@Sm-lk6vl]

Couldn’t you retrack the Matterhorn with single rail on top of the current structure? Wouldn’t that make it lighter? Seems like all it would take are a few jackhammers.

[@AlextheHistorian]

No, because that is considered a major modification of the track structure, the safety code would then require an entire re-track of the ride instead.

[@michaelshaules3197]

Extremely well done, intelligently spoken, very well researched, The technical aspects were very interesting, I learned a lot about a great ride, thanks, you got my subscription.

[@QuatroAtYale]

Yeah, when I was young in the 60's, my siblings and I ached to go on the Bobsleds... but we were too little. And my parents used the excuse that the lines were too long. Someday we'd be teenagers! And eventually we were, but by that time, the first summer that Magic Mountain was open, there were other distractions. And then we moved away from LA. But the mountain abides, I recently went to Animal Kingdom in Florida, and the mountain of Expedition Everest sprang into view (how the heck do they hide that thing!). And the feeling was the same as seeing the Matterhorn. What an amazing thing it is that Disney has accomplished, allowing people to have the same feelings as seeing the Alps, Trinity Alps, Himalayas or other glorious mountains. Thanks for the video. And believe me, the Seven Dwarfs (dwarves?) Mine Train ride shakes me around a lot more than the Bobsleds, don't know why.

[@Missglam67]

I love this ride. The Matterhorn was my first big roller coaster. I think I was maybe 7. I was still scared of the Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean though.

[@MannyEmm]

Alex, these two parts were beautiful tributes to one of the most iconic, most picturesque, attractions in Disneyland. This is also, aside from the Sleeping Beauty castle, the true representation of the park. I grew up in Los Angeles and going down the Santa Ana freeway, aka, Interstate 5, and upon seeing the Matterhorn, just before you got off at Harbor Boulevard, gave me tremendous excitement with it, as well as a smile from ear to ear. Now, I am in my 60’s and sadly, the Matterhorn just hurts my back….but…I will forever hold in my heart, the thrills and chills, and great fun times of riding the Matterhorn, over and over again! Thank you!

[@kenannon5604]

I hope they never get rid of the Matterhorn Bobsleds. When it comes time, I hope they totally rebuild it with updated technology, keeping the same number of tracks and the same layout. ..... I wonder what that would cost today.

[@robb2biago]

As many times, as I’ve been to Disneyland, I’ve never rode the Bob sleds, nor the Matterhorn. I just walk by, and look at the structure, and head to Star Wars. I will definitely have to check this out next time.

[@Bigbuddyandblue]

When I went to Switzerland and took the cable car Matterhorn lift, when it appeared as we crested, it was an amazing awesome sight! Immediately you realize how well the designers captured its beauty.

[@deluxeddelirium]

Very good job on the video, thank you for the enjoyable watch on my favorite childhood Disneyland ride

[@angela1la3guera]

❤️👍🏻

[@kelaarin]

Good video. Used to be my favorite ride; but when they introduced the single-seat sleds, I can no longer fit (my legs don't bend right - tried once, with significant knee and ankle problems after).

[@thetownleys]

Listen this changed my life. I know it's just words but the matterhorn bobsleds was what I had when I was a kid. .

[@philrabe910]

I ride it because it is the first E ticket. I wish I could attach a family Christmas picture of me and my siblings standing in front of it circa 1962.

[@mr.disney4740]

👍👍

[@danfn1578]

I still love the Matterhorn to death despite its changes, I do find the newer yeti impressive, but I miss its original state. With the iconic older yeti with a much scarier roar (and even scarier appearance) and the color changing crystals. Imo I thought the Matterhorn was way scarier and darker back then and someday I hope that Disney will consider restoring the Matterhorn back to its original model. But either way I still absolutely love the ride to death.

[@thezedable]

Yea, as far as I know from what Bob Gurr said about the track. I think he mentioned that the track was rough since it hadn’t been done before and it’s nothing to do with the ride vehicles. I’m not sure how I feel about the newer vehicles. I feel like a ogre in it since I guess it’s suppose to hold you a little better but it makes the whipping motions had gotten worse because of the track. The last 6 months before the lock down, I’ve heard about issues on keeping the left track staying open. I guess that whole attraction needs to be redone but I’m sure everybody knows the situation on the track being built into the whole mountain. Besides that, there’s a lot that needs to be done with the attraction as well as Tomorrowland. This is just my opinion but I’d personally like to see discovery land replace Tomorrowland. This might be controversial but it can be done if done right but the refurbishment might cause more problems when updating everything to the updated OSHA guidelines. Anyways, I’m ranting.

[@caracine]

Another amazing insight into the best park ever. Thanks for sharing your research you've done on Disneyland with ALL of us. Very nice.

[@johnmunro7548]

I grew up near Disneyland. I live in Central Florida now and whenever I go to Magic Kingdom… I still look to the right and feel just a little sad that there is no Matterhorn. Nevertheless, every time I go back to CA I think it’s a treat to get to ride it.

[@patrickperalta59]

I remember during a fireworks show I think it was or some other event...Tinker Bell was seen flying thru the air from top of the Matterhorn.

[@armandofernandez6614]

It sure is a beautiful classic and you're right is not a big scary roller coaster is a story ride to. E enjoyed and take you back to some far away land where anything is possible.

[@benny5615]

How is Portland Oregon? I used to live there and I loved it. Good video.

[@AlextheHistorian]

I love it here, I dont want to live anywhere else in the US.

[@benny5615]

@@AlextheHistorian Nice!

[@diazjr1975]

This was well done. It is true what you said towards the end. I remember going to Disneyland as a kid and seeing Matterhorn from the I5 freeway. It's those memories that has made this ride my favorite.

[@coreynmarie]

i'd like to see a new and updated matterhorn, maybe build it in shaghai disneyland or one of the international parks. take what the ride currently is and plus it even more

[@carlosfernandez6754]

the skyway had maintenance was to expensive, now it has a crack problems

[@rosssmith8481]

Too bad there is not much footage of tinkerbell going off rhe mountain

[@phmac2402]

The Matterhorn was the ride that after lining up for so long to get on, when the ride was over, you lined up to ride it again and again!

[@adriandowney4394]

This is an incredibly fun ride but not worth the long wait times that can occur this is a rope drop early day ride don’t wait over an hour to ride

[@gabrielncali8999]

Great job! Still a classic ride that I love to ride1 I love the fact that there are 2 sides to the mountain to ride!

[@EvilTermite]

I do remember my first ride on the bobsleds. I was 4 years old and the yeti made me cry.

[@benny5615]

You should do a life update.

[@brandonpiazza6210]

I don’t cry. I’m sappy, sentimental, nostalgic, but I don’t cry. I cried. Thank you for such a reverent, respectful history of my favorite Disneyland (worldwide) attraction.

[@AlextheHistorian]

Thanks Brandon!

[@michaelbertolone5758]

That’s a classic ride

[@chadalac1977]

I dont know how people can hate for your name , you sir are a historian imo more then some teachers today with degrees. If people are learning history from you and you sir do your research is sure seems! I know I learn from your channel, and thank you 💪

[@AlextheHistorian]

Thanks!

[@BrancyCDA]

I am glad you changed the name again to include your name! I am watching all of these redo's and finding I love them even more than the first time and also wanted to coment how touching your last words always are, so much so that I usually get goosebumps!

[@AlextheHistorian]

Thanks Nancy! Yeah I changed my name again because my views took a complete dive, I think people just didn't recognize the channel anymore.

[@donaldginn3248]

Oh. Also, well done Alex!

[@aseainfo]

I would love to see an episode showcasing the history of the nighttime Tinkerbell Flight from the top of the mountain. As a young child, I was always amazed by that. I remember staring up at the mountain before showtime so I could faintly see them at the top of the mountain getting Tinkerbell ready and just wondering how it all worked. Thanks for another GREAT episode and series.

[@el_puma_real]

I love this ride. And I’m old enough to remember riding the skyway through it. I hope it remains for another 60 years.

[@richardcartwright2199]

good job, thaks

[@UncleChud]

🏜️🏰🏔️

[@MrNateB916]

The ride should still be more comfortable, also the Matterhorn abominable snowman should go back to what it used to be. I think the new snowman looks dumb and stupid and his head movement irritates me, plus they took away his famous howl which echoed throughout Tomorrowland which I loved.

[@fionnmaccumhaill3257]

If Disneyland isn't an amusement park, what is it?

[@AlextheHistorian]

Disneyland was the world's first Theme Park, a huge leap in evolution from an amusement park. An amusement park is just a place with rides, little thought is given to the story, the characters or the place setting. But in a theme park, those things are considered just as important as the ride systems. J.G. O'boyle put it best: "A theme park without rides is still a theme park. An amusement park without rides is a parking lot with popcorn".

[@albertjimeno5315]

@AlextheHistorian Sorry but not quite. It was the 2nd. The honor of the first one ever belongs just 5 miles away at Knott’s Berry Farm. Though the level of influence between Knott’s and Disneyland cannot be understated. (Walt Disney and Walter Knott were great friends.)

[@AlextheHistorian]

@albertjimeno5315 I don't consider Knotts the first, particularly because it didn't officially become an amusement/theme park until the 1960s. Before that it was only a roadside attraction.

[@albertjimeno5315]

@AlextheHistorian That’s fair. It’s arguable. If we’re counting rides as being the marker of a theme park, at Knott’s prior to the 1960s there was already Butterfield Stagecoach opened in 1949, Ghost Town & Calico Railroad opened in 1952, burro rides in the ‘40s or ‘50s (I saw an old map with them there already in 1955), carousel in the ‘50s, cable car from parking lot to entrance opened in 1955. But with these particular rides the question comes in where do you draw a line between roadside attraction and theme park. True that it didn’t have a surrounding gate and admission cost until 1968, yet Calico Mine Ride opened in 1960, and surely with that it can be called a theme park. I’d argue it was a theme park (in addition to farm) starting with Ghost Town opening in 1941, because The Covered Wagon Show walkthrough diorama opened that year and that was breakthrough with mannequin figures and changing lights and audio effects and recorded narration (told the story of Walter Knott’s mother & grandmother taking a covered wagon from Texas to California across the desert). But I can see how it’s debatable.

[@toomanyuserids]

I don't want smooth and huge. I like bumpy and not too big. Don't make coasters too smooth. Remember ride attendant back in the 1980s instructing us to "insert Mr Belt into Mrs Belt"...yes really.

[@garyfrancis6193]

Learn grammar of countable and uncountable nouns. “ Damage” is uncountable.

[@bassjasinski]

Matterhorn looks like it needs an IP tied to it so maybe it gets re-theme lol

[@albertjimeno5315]

No.

[@spencer3832]

While it is a ridiculous notion about the Matterhorn Sports purposes claim, California is the land of absolutely ridiculous, borderline moronic. laws. There are crazier laws in that state.