Matterhorn to Receive New Bobsleds

[nemofinder22]

The new bobsleds for Matterhorn are now officially confirmed-

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/bl...-race-down-the-matterhorn-at-disneyland-park/

On Monday, Jan. 9, the Matterhorn Bobsleds at Disneyland park will close so we can ready the iconic mountain for a new fleet of bobsleds. Featuring a new, sleek design, the vehicles will have three seats in each bobsled with two bobsleds linked together for a total of six guests.
So get your last-minute bobsledding done this weekend and the attraction will re-open this summer.

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

Will the matternhorn be down for refurb at the end of March early April of this year?

 

[nemofinder22]

Will the matternhorn be down for refurb at the end of March early April of this year?

Matterhorn will indeed be closed , Jan. 9 till June 14ish.

I'm kinda sad I never got to ride in the old sleds one last time.

 

[sponono88]

In addition to the new fleet of bobsleds, the mountain exterior is getting a complete refurbishment with a full repainting and repair of the rockwork. Thanks to MintCrocodile for the following photos:

Imagineers have also been planning the full repainting of the mountain, and they’ve been researching past paint schemes the mountain sported in the 1960’s, 70’s and 80’s to try and find the best paint technique to use on the iconic attraction. Having that large monument to 1959 Imagineering and a time when they were still developing their rockwork skills sit so close to the jaw-dropping rockwork of Cars Land is a bit of a problem. The Imagineers can do wonders with paint and surface treatments though, and the hope is that the exterior of the Matterhorn will emerge next June from its six month long rehab looking just as impressive as the nearby Cadillac Range in Cars Land.

- Al Lutz

 

[nemofinder22]

I love the "tunnel" thing.

http://mintcrocodile.smugmug.com/photos/i-DNp7QpS/0/O/i-DNp7QpS-O.jpg

Photo by Mintcrocodile.
http://mintcrocodile.blogspot.com/2012/01/its-wall-world-after-all.html


Just as Cars Land has its scaffolding removed Matterhorn goes and gets a bunch. I wonder if this will effect Tinker Bell during Remember. I guess we'll find out tonight once all the scaffolding is in place.

 

[nemofinder22]

Incase anyone was interested here's some more pictures of the scafolding going up around the mountain,

http://www.disneygeek.com/updates/disneyland_update.php?page_id=40&update_dir=2012_01_13

https://twitter.com/#!/MiceChat/status/158664545722830848/photo/1

http://datelinedisneyland.smugmug.c...13-12/21021111_rWH2hx#!i=1671129787&k=X6XjbkP

Talk about absolutely destroying forced perspective. lol

 

[sponono88]

An update on what we can expect when the Matterhorn reopens, including new props and effects!

While the Matterhorn debuts its lawyer and bureaucrat approved three passenger bobsleds that will make it tough for bigger or taller riders to fit, the interior show scenes are getting new lighting and projections, plus plenty of paint and new props.

At the same time Harold the abominable snowman, who is actually three separate audio-animatronics figures seen at various times along the two track systems, will be getting thorough tune-ups. (It’s ironic that circa 1978 Harold has far more expressive animatronic motion than the nameless Yeti does in the 21st century Expedition Everest ride out in Florida.) The Matterhorn is scheduled to reopen from this long rehab on June 15th, and right now that might be within a day or two of DCA’s grand reopening party.

http://miceage.micechat.com/allutz/al011712a.htm

 

[nemofinder22]

Scaffolding continues to go up around the mountain-

http://mintcrocodile.smugmug.com/photos/i-23JTKvN/0/O/i-23JTKvN-O.jpg http://mintcrocodile.smugmug.com/photos/i-X43BfDW/0/O/i-X43BfDW-O.jpg

The station and queue has been completely torn out.

http://mintcrocodile.smugmug.com/photos/i-nV7d2rr/0/O/i-nV7d2rr-O.jpg

Photos by Mintcrocodile
http://mintcrocodile.blogspot.com/2012/01/construction-work-during-slow-day-at.html

 

[nemofinder22]

Some new signs have been installed on the walls. Explaining the history and the new sleds.

http://mintcrocodile.smugmug.com/photos/i-7kw7Tgz/0/O/i-7kw7Tgz-O.jpg

The whole mountain now has scaffolding. To think some people get upset when a building on Main Street is behind scaffolding and tarps.

http://mintcrocodile.smugmug.com/photos/i-3Z4374S/0/O/i-3Z4374S-O.jpg http://mintcrocodile.smugmug.com/photos/i-sWMrpQK/0/O/i-sWMrpQK-O.jpg

Photos by Mintcrocodile, see more at the link. And close ups of the new signs.
http://mintcrocodile.blogspot.com/2012/02/spending-groundhog-day-at-disneyland.html

 

[nemofinder22]

The OC Register is reporting that the Matterhorn's refurbishment will cost 1 million dollars.

http://ocresort.ocregister.com/2012/02/09/disneys-iconic-matterhorn-undergoes-upgrades/108261/

The entire 147-foot-high structure, designed to look like the peak in Switzerland, is covered in pipes, wood and construction materials for the $1-million makeover project, according to a city document.

Edit-
I think I read this wrong but it's 1 million for the exterior refurbishment.

 

[nemofinder22]

A current look at the top of the Matterhorn which had some of the tarps removed.

http://mintcrocodile.smugmug.com/photos/i-fT4n3mb/0/O/i-fT4n3mb-O.jpg

Photo by Mintcrocodile.
http://mintcrocodile.blogspot.com/2012/02/heavy-crowds-still-linger-after.html

 

[sponono88]

The DisneyParksBlog has a new behind-the-scenes video of the Matterhorn refurb:

[youtube]70u73sIhzRs[/youtube]

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/bl...-wall-matterhorn-bobsleds-at-disneyland-park/

 

[sponono88]

More scaffolding has been removed and the mountain looks better than ever! The new paint and rock enhancement really makes a difference

Notice the contrast between the newly painted section (with more realistic snow) and the lower half of the mountain with the previous color scheme (lighter, slightly tan color)

The new Blue Sky Cellar exhibit also featured some details on the new Matterhorn bobsleds, and apparently there will be different colors:

 

[nemofinder22]

What is visible so far on the Matterhorn is just amazing. I was a little worried when I saw the darker color but it looks perfect. Funny to look at Grizzly in Mint's update after the Matterhorn perhaps one day Grizzly can get a slight re-do like Matterhorn.

 

[nemofinder22]

Always a treat to see the Matterhorn with more snow capped mountains behind it.

http://mintcrocodile.smugmug.com/photos/i-ftFnXHK/0/O/i-ftFnXHK-O.jpg

New lights for the Matterhorn were added to the top of the Nemo Subs show building, hopefully these replace the three that were easily visible from the walkway.

http://mintcrocodile.smugmug.com/photos/i-rNqz9fP/0/O/i-rNqz9fP-O.jpg


More scaffolding has been removed.

http://mintcrocodile.smugmug.com/ph...gmug.com/photos/i-zr9C7WJ/0/O/i-zr9C7WJ-O.jpg

And a look at the station, new gates have been installed.

http://mintcrocodile.smugmug.com/photos/i-LdPftdX/0/O/i-LdPftdX-O.jpg

Photos by Mintcrocodile.
http://mintcrocodile.blogspot.com/2012/03/palm-trees-and-parade-poles.html

 

[nemofinder22]

Bobsled models in Blue Sky Cellar

Recently a model or mock up of Matterhorn's new bobsleds popped up inside the Blue Sky Cellar at DCA. No real surprise on them as we've seen them a few time already but great for the guests in the park to see as well.

http://datelinedisneyland.smugmug.c...d-Update-Photos/i-x3Jmxrq/6/X3/IMG3590-X3.jpg

Photo by Dateline Disneyland
http://datelinedisneyland.smugmug.c...hotos/22196722_3SCtjT#!i=1772642150&k=x3Jmxrq

Height Requirement Change

Al Lutz is reporting a change to the height requirement.

http://miceage.micechat.com/allutz/al040312a.htm

While everything this spring seems to be aimed squarely at DCA, there is one new project that also debuts on June 15th, the refreshed Matterhorn Bobsleds. The 15th was picked on purpose for Matterhorn’s reopening, in a rather futile attempt to spread out the crowds of curious APs who will surely descend on the Resort that day.

Parents with small children will be in for a shock however, when they discover on June 15th that the new fleet of bobsleds for the Matterhorn has required an increase in the height requirement for the ride.

For the first 45 years of Matterhorn’s operation, the requirement was only that a rider must be 3 years of age or older. Then about ten years ago the requirement was changed to 35 inches. But with the locking lap bars and redesigned seats in the new bobsleds, the Matterhorn will have a new height requirement of 42 inches when it opens on June 15th. That’s two inches taller than Space Mountain or Splash Mountain, but the same height requirement as Goofy’s Sky School.

Attraction height requirements are based on a combination of factors, including the point on a seated torso at which a restraint can reasonably be assumed to contain the rider in the vehicle. With the taller height requirement, the Matterhorn Bobsleds will cease to be one of the first big-kid rides that young Disneyland visitors have conquered since 1959. At least the lawyers and the state inspectors should be happy with it, even if the Cast Members and paying customers aren’t.

A Current Look at the Mountain-
Scaffolding is coming down.

http://mintcrocodile.smugmug.com/photos/i-hvfkFx3/0/O/i-hvfkFx3-O.jpg http://mintcrocodile.smugmug.com/photos/i-ZpzzhJ4/0/O/i-ZpzzhJ4-O.jpg

The station is now getting painted I swear this was just painted in July(maybe it was just parts) good to see everything getting freshened up though.

http://mintcrocodile.smugmug.com/photos/i-P8xm2tV/0/O/i-P8xm2tV-O.jpg

Photos by Mintcrocodile
http://mintcrocodile.blogspot.com/2012/04/two-months-ten-days.html

 

[Mawg]

While I’m happy that they are doing a refurb, I’m not sure I like the new bobsleds. They only hold 3, and I don’t think you can have a child in your lap, the ht requirement due to the lap bar is being raised to 42 inches, that’s higher than most of the other rides in the park. My son who is 39 inches will not be able to ride in August unless he has a serious growth spurt. But, my own selfish reasons aside, I think more families would enjoy it more if the ht requirement could have stayed at 35 and a family of 4 could fit into one sled.

 

[Disneyfanman]

Agreed, but in fairness many of these changes are being driven by liability concerns. Like the changes in the logs at Splash Mountain, Islands of Adventure, etc. The Matterhorn is famous for attracting people that act like idiots as well, and has had multiple accidents over the years due mostly to the behavior of riders. So some of this stuff is just inevitable.

 

[Mawg]

I hate idiots

 

[sponono88]

The new mountain paint scheme really looks great! The snow looks more realistic and now it looks more like the original mountain in Switzerland

it's a pretty amazing difference from what it looked like before the refurb:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/p-m-m/2778046317/