Matterhorn Bobsleds

Conquer the perilous peaks of Matterhorn Mountain on a high-speed thrill ride that will throttle you through icy chutes, around looming precipices and into the lair of the legendary abominable snowman! Climb steep mountain faces, plunge into creepy caves and rocket around twists and turns. Matterhorn Bobsleds is a thrilling roller-coaster-style attraction that will leave you yodeling with excitement!

The Run

Brace against the howling winds as you climb 80 feet into the air inside an icy cave. Take in the sweeping view at the summit and hang on, because the only way off this mountain is down! Careen around corners, plunge into shadowy caves, weave around mysteriously glowing ice crystals and splashdown in an alpine lake.

But the real peril is not the snow or sleet. Prepare to come face-to-fang with the mountain's growling monster!

Two Tracks

Choose one of 2 nearly identical bobsled runs: one on the Fantasyland side and another on the Tomorrowland side. Each run has a separate queue and during slower periods only a single track may be in operation. Both tracks are equally fun, but the Fantasyland track is slightly longer and features some sharper curves.

Scale

Matterhorn Mountain certainly looks tall, partially due to the excellent use of the movie-set-inspired technique of forced perspective. However, the Disneyland Park mountain is exactly 100 times shorter than Switzerland's massive 14,700-foot-tall original.

New Snow

Now, Matterhorn Mountain sparkles! To mimic the snow patterns on Switzerland's original mountain, more than 800 gallons of paint have been used to create "heavier" snowfall on the northern side of Matterhorn Mountain and less snow on the granite-colored southern side. Realistic, yes — but not without a touch of magic. Using a new, environmentally friendly technique, glass beads have been fastened to the façade to reflect sunlight and glisten like actual snow. Also, more pine trees have been planted to add to the atmosphere.

History

Walt Disney fell in love with the real Matterhorn in Switzerland while filming the 1959 live-action film Third Man on the Mountain. Back at Disneyland Park, Walt decided to cover a forested 20-foot-high mound named Holiday Hill with artificial snow, add a toboggan run and rename it Snow Hill. However, Walt always dreamed big, and his "hill" grew into a 147-foot-tall "mountain."

Innovation was an integral part of Walt Disney's character. Matterhorn Bobsleds is not only the first roller-coaster-style attraction at Disneyland Park, it is also the very first tubular steel roller coaster in the world.

Another bit of trivia: No other Disney Park in the world has a Matterhorn Mountain. This iconic attraction at Disneyland Park is indeed one-of-a-kind.