Hey howdy hey! We’re embarking on a Fantasyland-filled expedition for this week’s vintage Disney roundup — more specifically, featuring the one and only Matterhorn mountain found at Disneyland Park.
But first, a quick Disney history lesson!
The Matterhorn Bobsleds opened on June 14th, 1959, as part of a major expansion at Disneyland Park, also including the Monorail and Submarine Voyage. It is the world’s first tubular steel roller coaster and the first thrill ride of its kind at a Disney park.
The attraction was inspired by the real Matterhorn on the border of Switzerland and Italy. Walt Disney became fascinated with the mountain while filming Third Man on the Mountain, and wanted to create his own version where “anything is possible” — Disneyland.
Originally, riders glided along a minimalist, snowy scape. In 1978 the coaster got a major update with the addition of an animatronic of the Abominable Snowman, known as “Harold”. He was eventually updated in 2015 with more range of motion and a menacing look, though one of the original Harolds can still be seen in the queue of Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: Breakout!
The Matterhorn features two separate tracks (Fantasyland and Tomorrowland sides) with slightly different layouts. Standing at 147 feet, it is one of the first attractions at Disneyland to feature forced perspective to make the mountain appear taller than it really is.
More than six decades later, it’s still one of the most recognized icons in the park, just next to Sleeping Beauty Castle.
Now let’s dive into some vintage souvenirs!
Speaking of Harold… how about this fluffy vintage contender for your Disney collection?
Available HERE | $34.99
I don’t often dive into Disney trading pins on a Treasure Thursday, but today is an exception. One of my favorite pin sets ever made was a Cast Member-exclusive collection of Disney Parks trash cans, featuring a swinging receptacle door. Thankfully, places like eBay exist so you too can enjoy Cast-exclusive releases! This one is designed after the trash cans once found near the Matterhorn. Cute, right?
Available HERE | $45
In my humble opinion, this canister set is one of the best attraction-specific finds out there… Store your sugar, coffee, tea, candy or dog treats in this bobsled container set, perfect for that touch of Fantasyland in your kitchen!
Available HERE | $165
Last up for today is another rare find from 1999: a miniature Matterhorn Christmas ornament!
Available HERE | $72.90
This article contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through my eBay links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for reading and shopping!
