Matterhorn in WDW!

[SirGoofy]

Man the Switzerland concept art is beautiful.

Shame it'll never happen.

 

[MiklCraw4d]

Yeah....
Also, did we ever settle the issue about the Matterhorn at one time planned for the MK? There was some debate about that as I recall....

I know for a fact that Nunis wanted to build the Matterhorn in the MK - I recall hearing that it was one of his pet projects. Evidence:

http://progresscityusa.com/archives/chattin-with-nunis-may-1982

Sounds neat. As purely anecdotal information, my brother did College Program in MK Guest Relations in the late 1990s and was told by an old-timer there that the plan had to build the Matterhorn attached somehow to the Small World building, so that the entrance to the Matterhorn would be between IASW and the Skyway chalet.

 

[Lee]

Seems like our disputes were about it's potential location.
It was always going in Fantasyland, but there was some talk of it going near where Toontown is now, as well as near IaSW.

 

[MiklCraw4d]

Seems like our disputes were about it's potential location.
It was always going in Fantasyland, but there was some talk of it going near where Toontown is now, as well as near IaSW.

Oops sorry, I misunderstood.

I wouldn't be surprised if they considered both locations - Toontown would make more sense as an analogue to Disneyland; it would be similarly positioned relative to the castle and could incorporate the Skyway "elbow". The sightlines would also be less difficult to sort out on that side of the park. In that article Nunis mentions having the WDWRR travel through the mountain; I guess that would be feasible in both locations but maybe more easy in Toontown. At least they eventually used that conceit in Splash Mountain, but the snow would definitely be a favorite of mine on those hot days...

It's strange that for something that was so high-profile there's not more public record of this.

 

[Lee]

but the snow would definitely be a favorite of mine on those hot days...

Of course, these days, if it were built, the snow in the tunnel would stop working and never get fixed.
*cough*everestmist*cough*

It's strange that for something that was so high-profile there's not more public record of this.

True. I've never seen any art, models, or even any other official mention of it, really. The MK part, I mean.

 

[EPCOT Explorer]

Of course, these days, if it were built, the snow in the tunnel would stop working and never get fixed.
*cough*everestmist*cough*



True. I've never seen any art, models, or even any other official mention of it, really. The MK part, I mean.

For DL too!...Their scale model was lost/destroyed. We only have picture of it.

 

[HMF]

It makes little sense to have a Matterhorn in WDW since we already have a Mountain ride with a Yeti.(Expedition Everest)

 

[EPCOT Explorer]

It makes little sense to have a Matterhorn in WDW since we already have a Mountain ride with a Yeti.(Expedition Everest)

Right. Which is why you put it in EPCOT and theme it to Germany or Switzerland. No Yeti needed.

 

[Figment632]

Yeah....
Also, did we ever settle the issue about the Matterhorn at one time planned for the MK? There was some debate about that as I recall....

EDIT: Almost forgot...at one time a somewhat altered version of Matterhorn was planned for the Studios. (See model below.)

I dont see how it would have fit in DHS bbut who cares I would have taken it.

 

[Lee]

I dont see how it would have fit in DHS bbut who cares I would have taken it.

I believe it was to have been built kinda as a mountain "set". When you looked at it from the front it looked normal, but the back was all exposed beams and such.
I know...sounds wierd to me, too.:shrug:

 

[EPCOT Explorer]

I dont see how it would have fit in DHS bbut who cares I would have taken it.

Movie Mountain?:shrug::lol:

 

[EPCOT Explorer]

I believe it was to have been built kinda as a mountain "set". When you looked at it from the front it looked normal, but the back was all exposed beams and such.
I know...sounds wierd to me, too.:shrug:

Heh...That would be pretty cool. It makes sense too....All of the other rides in DHS are just there, like in FantasyLand. It would be cool if they made you feel like you were entering a movie set to see what was being filmed.:shrug:

 

[KentB3]

I know for a fact that Nunis wanted to build the Matterhorn in the MK - I recall hearing that it was one of his pet projects. Evidence:

http://progresscityusa.com/archives/chattin-with-nunis-may-1982

According to this article, Nunis mentions that, when built, the Matterhorn would be the tallest mountain in Florida. It sounds like he planned to make the Matterhorn taller than its Disneyland counterpart (which is 147 feet tall), since Space Mountain and Big Thunder are 183 and 197 feet tall respectively.

I always assumed that the Matterhorn that was once planned for the MK and then the never-built Switzerland pavillion at EPCOT would be an exact clone of Disneyland's, but it looks like I was wrong.

 

[marni1971]

Lee`s right. The MGM Mountain was half and half; the final plan was to have the mountain face World Drive and the studio entrance. Once you walk round the back you see no skin, just exposed beams and concrete. The idea developed into Catastrophe Canyons front and back.

Regarding the Matterhorn, that is Nunnis' own blue sky idea (like the showcase expansion of the `82 park). It never got further than blue sky.

 

[Lee]

Lee`s right. The MGM Mountain was half and half; the final plan was to have the mountain face World Drive and the studio entrance. Once you walk round the back you see no skin, just exposed beams and concrete. The idea developed into Catastrophe Canyons front and back.

Somewhat visible in the picture I posted. Looks like the bare half is shown.

 

[Uncle Lupe]

The abominable snowman (aka yeti) on the Matterhorn is not much more than a motionless statue, where the yeti on EE is an animatronic.

From what I understand the EE Yeti is now a motionless statue! :lol:

 

[Figment632]

from what i understand the ee yeti is now a motionless statue! :lol:

lol

 

[agent86]

I believe it was to have been built kinda as a mountain "set". When you looked at it from the front it looked normal, but the back was all exposed beams and such.
I know...sounds wierd to me, too.:shrug:

Kind of like how Everest ended up unintentionally being. :lol:

 

[agent86]

From what I understand the EE Yeti is now a motionless statue! :lol:

:lol: Good point!

 

[LoriMistress]

The abominable snowman (aka yeti) on the Matterhorn is not much more than a motionless statue, where the yeti on EE is an animatronic. However, for all the fanfare over the "highly sophisticated aa" that the EE yeti is supposed to be, it seems odd that we only get to see it for a brief second. This leads one to believe it's not really nearly as "advanced" as Disney would have us believe. If it were, then it would seem logical that they'd want to show it off a little more. Personally, I think the encounter with the abominable snowman on the Matterhorn is done much better than the one we get with the yeti on EE. With the Matterhorn, they have it so that your bobsled whips around a corner and the snowman is right there, and it's timed to synchronize with the monster's growl, so for first timers to the ride, it's a surprise. The yeti doesn't give us that at all. You can see it from a distance as you're approaching it, so the element of surprise is completely blown. Then once you get close enough to really make out any details, you've already pretty much flown past it. That level of showmanship is far inferior to the way they did it on the Matterhorn.



I'm curious how many fatalities you are thinking the Matterhorn has had, but you seem to be implying that the Matterhorn is somehow more "dangerous" of an attraction because it's had "more fatalities". In reality, in it's 50 year existence, the Matterhorn has had two fatalities. One was in 1964 and the other was in 1984. In both cases, rider negligence was the determination. I'm not aware of EE having had any fatalities, but then again, it's only been in existence for a few years. So it's hardly a fair comparison.

The Rivers of America at Disneyland has actually claimed more lives than any individual Disney attraction. Two people have drowned in the river itself, and another was killed when a part came loose on the Columbia sailing ship.

I just get amused when people who never (or maybe have gone to DLR once), attempts to school me on my knowledge of DLR. I was raised at DLR--hell, it was almost a pre-school center for me when I was a toddler.

Let me educate you on the death fatality for the attraction Matterhorn:

The Matterhorn earned its underground sobriquet of "widowmaker" in January, 1984. This time, its victim was no innocent, hi-jinking teenager, but a respectable 48 year old matron. Dollie Young of Fremont had been enjoying an impromptu Disneyland visit with old friends from Arizona. The survivors later recalled that "It started out like one of those magical, happy days" so frequently depicted in Disney promotional materials. And the day had gone well, until they dared the deadly slopes of the Matterhorn.

Dollie was riding alone in the rear car of the sled, so no one saw quite what happened. Disney workers swear they had buckled her in. However, two thirds of the way down the slopes, her so called "safety" belt was definitely unbuckled. She fell to the track, and, as she bounced along track while struggling to regain her feet, a second speeding sled smashed into her. The "bullet" sled dragged her for a car-length before stopping with her corpse pinned beneath its wheels. She was pronounced dead at the scene from massive head and chest injuries. The Matterhorn was closed for the rest of the day due to "technical difficulties", and the bullet sled riders evacuated via a hidden elevator. The nearby motorboat cruise and monorail ride were also shut down, presumably to spare Fantasyland guests the sight of a real-life police investigation.

http://tafkac.org/death/disney_deaths.html


In May 1964 Mark Maples, a fifteen-year-old kid from Long Beach, CA was killed when he tried to stand up on the Matterhorn Bobsled while it was in motion. Maples (or his companion) unbuckled his seatbelt and attempted to stand up as their bobsled neared the peak of the mountain. Maples lost his balance and thrown from the sled to teh track below, fractured his skull and ribs, plus causing internal injuries. He died three days later.

http://www.snopes.com/disney/parks/deaths.asp

01/3/1984 Dolly Regene Young, fourty eights years-old, from Fremont, CA died on the Matterhorn almost the same way nearly twenty years ago. Two thirds of the way down the mountain Young was thrown from her seat into a path of oncoming bosled, her head and chest becoming pinned beneath the wheels. After examining the sled that Young was on, it was revealed that her seatbelt was not fastened at the time of the accident, but because she was riding alone in the rear car of the sled no one could determine whether if she removed her seat belt or not.

Doing a search on Google can answer your questions. There's nothing wrong with a classic attraction, but you gotta be kidding me? I ridden the Matterhorn AFTER their refurbishment, and let me tell you...you still get thrown around all over the bobsled, regardless how tight your seat belt is. And on top of it, the Abominable Snowman/Yeti is weak. Yes, it's a classic, but it's very out-dated. They should just upgrade the ride just a bit. I understand why you may "like" the Matterhorn better the then EE, but you haven't visited DLR as many times such as myself. I guess it's the same thing with people who visit WDW countless times.