Disneyland's Matterhorn Bobsleds

I am very intrigued by this ride, and am not sure why. Can anyone give me some facts and history on it? All I know it is the first tubular steel tracked coaster.

Get yourself a copy of Roller Coasters, Flumes, and Flying Saucers by Robert Reynolds. The book is $20 from Northern Lights Publishing, and it details some of what went into building that ride. For a look at the mechanicals, take a look at US Patent #3,114,332 which you can view in its original form at http://www.uspto.gov or you can visit http://capital2.capital.edu/admin-staff/dalthoff/bobsled.html and see my HTML rendering of it.
I've never ridden the thing myself (I was four years old the last time I was at Disneyland) but Guide To Ride 2000 says it is 80 feet tall, has two 2,134 foot long tracks, and runs twenty 2-car trains.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

Ah, Matterhorn Bobsleds, my first "big" coaster. I'm sure you probably already know it was the first tubular steel tracked coaster. Bobsleds has 2 tracks that are somewhat similiar but somewhat different. Everyone seems to favor the Tomorowland side but I lean toward the Fantasyland side, it seems to be faster and more out-of-control. The coaster winds its way in and out and around the mountain, then concludes with a splashdown in the sparkling lake below. Bobsleds has lots of breaks and tends to be rough at some points (my mother claims it cracked her tailbone). Bobsleds also has 2 nice "surprises" you encounter on your way down. If you haven't heard about it, I won't spoil it for you but that second surprise occurs in a dark tunnel near the end of the ride and can be very startling for some. I hate it say it, but my last adventure down the Matterhorn in April 2000 the ride seemed a tad...unsafe? One point during the ride, me and my sister were nearly launched from our seats, due to the fact that the our seat belts loosened throughout the ride. Look I'm rambling on again. But one last thing, ride this sucker at night, it nearly 10 times better than in the daylight

The Matterhorn is a wonderful ride. Screamer said it all. It's both tame and wild at the same time and is definintely old school Arrow if you catch my point :) My only regret was that I only got to ride each side once, both running a video camera so I never got to fully enjoy each ride. Oh well, guess I'll just have to go back.

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Scott W. Short
scott@midwestcoastercentral.com
http://www.midwestcoastercentral.com

The left side is far better than the right side, especially at night. That's all I know about it!

I remember when they ran single bobsleds instead of paired like they do now. It was a different ride then, in more ways than one. About ten years ago it was rebuilt, and some of the trackage was changed if I recall.

I love the Abominable Snowman theming. Sure you're going a bit too fast to see him, but it's just kind of nifty whizzing around and seeing this huge beast with glowing red eyes take a "swipe" at you.

I too feel the Fantasyland side is better than the Tomorrowland side, but they are both very similar.

Looking forward to visiting DCA soon.

Sincerely,
Jackie Gaughan
Owner of The Plaza
http://jackiegaughan.com