The Star of the Matterhorn

[Sharon&Susan]

The star that used to top the Matterhorn was an annual Christmas tradition that started 1961 and ended sometime around 1972 due to the energy crisis. It was rumored to come back for Disneyland’s 60th, but that never happened. I’ll end this off with a few photos showing the star of the Matterhorn:

 

[TROR]

My college has a star stop the tallest building on campus and when I saw it I instantly thought of the Matterhorn

 

[drizgirl]

Very cool! Thanks for posting. I had forgotten the talk about adding it back for the 60th. Too bad they didn't!

 

[NateD1226]

I think they should bring it back! It looks very cool and fun on top of Matterhorn.

 

[drizgirl]

Pardon my ignorance on the matter, but how much energy could it have used to warrant the demise?

Going by today's standards, they probably didn't want to place it up there any more and looked for a relevant cover story.

 

[oo_nrb]

Personally I never really liked it. Kinda tacky and ruins the forced perspective of the mountain.

 

[mikenatcity1]

I was really excited when I read the rumor of the 60th and then it never happened. Growing up I always wanted to see it. I hope one day they do it (i'm not holding my breath).

 

[THE 1HAPPY HAUNT]

I never knew they did this. thank you for sharing this and educating me on a piece of Disneyland history I knew nothing about.

 

[VJ]

The star should come back. It's what Walt would have wanted!

 

[Old Mouseketeer]

Growing up two miles from the park in the 1960s, this star was part of my childhood, along with "Fantasy on Parade" with the goofy reindeers, the butterfly dancers breaking out of the caterpillar float, the "glock" (glockenspiel) girls surrounding Santa, and the alphabet train spelling out "The End" releasing balloons. Going to Disneyland at xmastime was a family tradition. By the early '70s there were free shopping passes weekdays in early December. Oh, and the Dickens Carolers. My favorite. With the original Disney arrangements, not the Derric Johnson charts that Voices of Liberty sings today at WDW (I worked for Derric and I loved his Re'Generation xmas albums, but I miss the old Disney songs). I don't miss the white-flocked xmas trees with blue ornaments in the castle moat, but you can't have everything.

I still remember driving up the freeway and looking for the star.

 

[Robbiem]

Im sure disney could have a more eco friendly version of the star using leds or other modern if they wanted to

 

[Phroobar]

Pardon my ignorance on the matter, but how much energy could it have used to warrant the demise?

About a billionth of amount of energy any simple dark ride uses. So little that it doesn't even register on Disney's electric bill.

 

[Rich T]

Personally I never really liked it. Kinda tacky and ruins the forced perspective of the mountain.

Exactly. Just because you *can* put a gigantic, dumb star on the Matterhorn doesn't mean you *should* put a gigantic, dumb star on the Matterhorn .

 

[SuddenStorm]

Disney should get rid of all the junk it puts on the castle this time of year (those icicles and snow look so ridiculous) and bring back the two trees it used to put in front.

Perhaps my impression is wrong, since I wasn't around for it- but from what I've seen the Christmas celebration pre 2000's was far more tasteful and classy than what Disneyland currently does.

 

[Phroobar]

Exactly. Just because you *can* put a gigantic, dumb star on the Matterhorn doesn't mean you *should* put a gigantic, dumb star on the Matterhorn .

 

[Rich T]

No. No. The Grinch is the one who would put the star *ON* the Matterhorn in the first place. How about festively decorating the loading station? Everyone wins!

 

[daronlif]

Pardon my ignorance on the matter, but how much energy could it have used to warrant the demise?

I don't think it was the actual power consumption, it was the visibility of something that was definitely an extra. If you get rid of the more obvious "problems", people are more likely to overlook the other, often more legitimate, issues.

 

[drizgirl]

I don't think it was the actual power consumption, it was the visibility of something that was definitely an extra. If you get rid of the more obvious "problems", people are more likely to overlook the other, often more legitimate, issues.

So.... virtue signaling 70's style?