Disneyland Review: Matterhorn Bobsleds

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: Fun run down a mountain

Cons: Long lines

The Bottom Line: 

Race down snowy peak

And away from the yeti

This ride's always fun

Disney's First Thrill Ride Still Thrills

As I have said many times, Disney parks are not known for their thrill rides.  Sure, they have them, but that is not now nor has it ever been their main draw.  And I suspect it never will be.  But that doesn't mean they don't have some fun roller coaster rides.  And the first one of those to open was the Matterhorn Bobsleds.

The Matterhorn is located between Fantasyland and Tomorrowland.  In fact, when it first opened, it was considered a Tomorrowland attraction.  It's down the parade route from it's a small world and directly across the walkway from Alice in Wonderland and the Mad Tea Party.  On the Tomorrowland side, it's across the walkway from the submarine lagoon.  Of course, it's fairly easy to spot.  It's the only year round snow in Southern California, and its peak sticks up in the skyline.

There are two sides to this attraction, the Fantasyland Side and the Tomorrowland side, named so based solely on which land you load closer to.  I have found that the Tomorrowland side is always open, but when the park slows down it will be the only side open.  When both sides are open, they usually have you line up on both sides of the mountain, although sometimes they just have you line up on the Tomorrowland side and the two lines split up when you reach the front of the mountain.  Confused yet?  It's actually simpler than it sounds if you are paying attention when you are in the park.  This attraction is the only one in the "Disneyland Mountain Range" that doesn't offer FastPass.  Lines are usually around half an hour but can easily climb to 45 minutes or longer on busy days.

The rollercoaster cars are designed to look like bobsleds.  There are two cars attached to each other by a cable, and each car seats up to four people.  You are sitting one in front of the other with the front person in the back person's lap, so you do want to know your seat mate before you buddy up.  The restraint is an old fashioned airplane seatbelt.

The ride is accessible to those in wheelchairs as long as they can transfer to the bobsled.  Additionally, you have to be 35 inches tall to ride.

When the ride starts, you are pulled up the inside of the mountain in the dark.  Once you reach the top, it is all downhill as you race around the mountain.  You'll race through snowy caverns, some of which have giant crystals in them.  You race in and out and around the mountain, sometimes completely inside the manmade structure, and sometimes outside.  And you get a couple of encounters with an automatronic abominable snowman, but you race by him so quickly I seriously doubt that he'll scare kids.  They'll be by him before they have time to really realize what he is.

When the ride first opened in 1959, it was the first tubular steel continuous track roller coaster built.  Who says Disney hasn't made rollercoaster history?  While I never rode the "original," my understanding is that they really upgraded the theming of the ride when they redid it in the 1970's.  One thing I love about Disney is their use of theme, and that is certainly on display here.  If you let your imagination take over, you'll believe you are racing through snowy caverns on a mountain.  The only track you can ever see is what is right in front of you or right next to you.  There's no place to see the entire layout, even from the ground.

The thrills are very tame, so those looking for them will be disappointed.  It's a great ride for families, however, because it will still entertain mom and dad while really thrilling their kids.  I can easily see this being a first rollercoaster for many young kids.

Each of the loading areas leads to a separate but similar track.  In fact, there are times where your track is running parallel to another car.  If you are lucky, you can be racing next to someone.  According to Disneyland's official website, the Fantasyland track is slightly longer and features some sharper turns.  Personally, all I know is that either side is lots of fun.

My parents love this ride and actually prefer it to Space Mountain, which they think is too jerky.  A friend I always go with thinks that Matterhorn is too jerky and Space Mountain is smoother.  Me?  I think they're pretty much the same and love both of them.

As you reach the bottom of the ride, you splash down in some water.  Almost all the water splashes away from you.  If you get wet on this ride, it's only a few drops that will dry quickly.

I enjoy Disneyland for the variety of rides they have.  I never go looking for serious thrills, but I do enjoy the ones they have.  That's why I make the Matterhorn Bobsleds a high priority every time I'm in the park.