The Matterhorn- Tomorrowland or Fantasyland?

[Kramerica]

Not necessarily in the official sense, but more in your own opinion. Would you consider the Matterhorn to be a Fantasyland or Tomorrowland ride?

 

[Californian Elitist]

It's a Fantasyland attraction.

 

[el_super]

There's nothing really fantastical about it. When it opened, it didnt have the snowman and was just a straight up roller coaster in a mountain. The Matterhorn has never made sense.

I voted other because it doesn't really seem to fit either of them.

 

[SteamboatJoe]

Fantasyland but it and the subs really help to provide a nice transition between the two areas. A transition that Magic Kingdom really lacks.

 

[Californian Elitist]

There's nothing really fantastical about it.

Harold the abominable snowman is pretty fantastical.

 

[el_super]

Harold the abominable snowman is pretty fantastical.

Yeah... but he wasn't added until the Matterhorn was already 19 years old. And flash forward to the current day, when you have pirates in frontierland, being fantastical doesn't seem to be the real qualification for being considered for Fantasyland anyway. The whole position of the Matterhorn gets even weirder when you consider that the Monorail loops around it, the Skyway went thru it, and Small World (which also wasn't in Fantasyland) was placed right next to it. It's really no wonder some early maps had it listed in Tomorrowland.

 

[HongKongFooy]

Tomorrowland is not a logical option. There is nothing about it that represents "tomorrow".

It's not much fantasy either......but far, far close to fantasy than tomorrow.

It's really more "other" than not.

 

[SteamboatJoe]

Tomorrowland is not a logical option. There is nothing about it that represents "tomorrow".

It's not much fantasy either......but far, far close to fantasy than tomorrow.

It's really more "other" than not.

I think the modern view of Fantasyland is that it is a land of princesses but I don't think that was the original intent. I suspect it was intended to represent the entirety of the fantasy literary genre which would encompass a wide array of sub-themes. Brothers Grimm, Jules Verne, J.M. Barrie, and Lewis Carroll all would fall into this category. Matterhorn gives off the same look and feel one finds in Disney's Pinocchio or the Brothers Grimm stories.

 

[Californian Elitist]

Yeah... but he wasn't added until the Matterhorn was already 19 years old. And flash forward to the current day, when you have pirates in frontierland, being fantastical doesn't seem to be the real qualification for being considered for Fantasyland anyway. The whole position of the Matterhorn gets even weirder when you consider that the Monorail loops around it, the Skyway went thru it, and Small World (which also wasn't in Fantasyland) was placed right next to it. It's really no wonder some early maps had it listed in Tomorrowland.

The current Matterhorn has a snowman. I don’t think OP was referring to opening day Matterhorn in their original post.

Which version of Pirates are you referring to?

 

[el_super]

The current Matterhorn has a snowman. I don’t think OP was referring to opening day Matterhorn in their original post.

Which version of Pirates are you referring to?

Pirates Liar on Tom Sawyer Island. Speaking just on current state, something being fantasy doesn't seem to mean it fits only in Fantasyland. That's part of the conundrum: if the only thing that defines the Matterhorn as belonging in Fantasyland, is a monster, the folklore of which is actually part of the real life cultures of some folks (maybe not geographically), then does it really belong in Fantasyland?

Sort as an academic exercise: would Expedition Everest thematically fit within Disneyland's Fantasyland?

 

[TROR]

The Matterhorn fits Fantasyland better than "it's a small world" does. Come at me.

 

[Californian Elitist]

Pirates Liar on Tom Sawyer Island. Speaking just on current state, something being fantasy doesn't seem to mean it fits only in Fantasyland. That's part of the conundrum: if the only thing that defines the Matterhorn as belonging in Fantasyland, is a monster, the folklore of which is actually part of the real life cultures of some folks (maybe not geographically), then does it really belong in Fantasyland?

Sort as an academic exercise: would Expedition Everest thematically fit within Disneyland's Fantasyland?

Got it.

Fantasyland is themed to a Bavarian/generally European village. For this reason, I personally don’t see Matterhorn being completely out of place, as the actual Matterhorn is located in Switzerland.

Expedition Everest would not fit our Fantasyland because Mount Everest is in an Asian country.

 

[SteamboatJoe]

Pirates Liar on Tom Sawyer Island. Speaking just on current state, something being fantasy doesn't seem to mean it fits only in Fantasyland. That's part of the conundrum: if the only thing that defines the Matterhorn as belonging in Fantasyland, is a monster, the folklore of which is actually part of the real life cultures of some folks (maybe not geographically), then does it really belong in Fantasyland?

Sort as an academic exercise: would Expedition Everest thematically fit within Disneyland's Fantasyland?

While I am far from being a DL expert, my initial inclination is no. The fantasy represented in Fantasyland derives from narratives and themes of western civilization. Expedition Everest, while containing a (broken) mystical creature, is distinctly Asian in look and feel. That's not to say non-western culture is inferior or should not be in Fantasyland. It just currently isn't there. I feel like some sort of additional transitional zone would have be created to make it feel like a more natural fit.

 

[el_super]

The Matterhorn fits Fantasyland better than "it's a small world" does. Come at me.

You're not wrong.

Got it.

Fantasyland is themed to a Bavarian/generally European village. For this reason, I personally don’t see Matterhorn being completely out of place, as the actual Matterhorn is located in Switzerland.

Expedition Everest would not fit our Fantasyland because Mount Everest is in an Asian country.

While I am far from being a DL expert, my initial inclination is no. The fantasy represented in Fantasyland derives from narratives and themes of western civilization. Expedition Everest, while containing a (broken) mystical creature, is distinctly Asian in look and feel. That's not to say non-western culture is inferior or should not be in Fantasyland. It just currently isn't there. I feel like some sort of additional transitional zone would have be created to make it feel like a more natural fit.

I would agree that the European aspect of Fantasyland makes the Matterhorn a better fit for Fantasyland, but it's complicated (and fun to think about) trying to draw these boxes around individual attractions and trying to make them fit. If you elevate geographical location as a primary defining factor when determining if something is appropriately themed, in order to make the Matterhorn fit, you run into issues with Small World (being a total global representation) or something as simple as Casey Jr not really fitting (since Dumbo takes place in Florida).

Ultimately it shines a light on the overall importance of theme when conceptualizing these attractions. Walt didn't build the Matterhorn to reinforce the theme of Fantasyland or to further the story of the area. He built it because he already had a hill of dirt, and liked the idea of a mountain in Disneyland.

Now if anyone wants to try to explain the thematic consequences of Fantasyland Autopia, I'm all ears.

 

[Californian Elitist]

You're not wrong.


I would agree that the European aspect of Fantasyland makes the Matterhorn a better fit for Fantasyland, but it's complicated (and fun to think about) trying to draw these boxes around individual attractions and trying to make them fit. If you elevate geographical location as a primary defining factor when determining if something is appropriately themed, in order to make the Matterhorn fit, you run into issues with Small World (being a total global representation) or something as simple as Casey Jr not really fitting (since Dumbo takes place in Florida).

Ultimately it shines a light on the overall importance of theme when conceptualizing these attractions. Walt didn't build the Matterhorn to reinforce the theme of Fantasyland or to further the story of the area. He built it because he already had a hill of dirt, and liked the idea of a mountain in Disneyland.

Now if anyone wants to try to explain the thematic consequences of Fantasyland Autopia, I'm all ears.

With the case of Dumbo and Casey, the land was originally made for rides themed to Walt’s cartoon films. The Bavarian village theme wasn’t attached until decades later and Disney wasn’t going to remove Dumbo and Casey, as I’m sure you know.

 

[Phroobar]

Riding a bobsled down the icy slopes of the Matterhorn is pure fantasy for all of us since there isn't a bobsled run on the real Matterhorn.

 

[Phroobar]

Switzerland pavillion at Epcot that never was.

 

[Rich T]

A lot of you are WAAAAAY overthinking this. The Matterhorn is there because Walt Disney thought it would be awesome. It was positioned where it is to replace a big pile of leftover construction dirt. It was originally listed as a Tomorrowland attraction because it was opened as a package deal with the Subs and Monorail. It later became part of Fantasyland because of Harold and the mountain’s Alpine theme, which ties in with Storybook Land and the Fantasyland Skyway Chalet.

And, yes, the Matterhorn belongs in Fantasyland. The Fantasyland track is also the better track (except for the splash).

 

[Rich T]

Switzerland pavillion at Epcot that never was.

With guests walking on Sound of Music grass the entire time. Don’t you love concept art?

 

[SteamboatJoe]

A lot of you are WAAAAAY overthinking this. The Matterhorn is there because Walt Disney thought it would be awesome. It was positioned where it is to replace a big pile of leftover construction dirt. It was originally listed as a Tomorrowland attraction because it was opened as a package deal with the Subs and Monorail. It later became part of Fantasyland because of Harold and the mountain’s Alpine theme, which ties in with Storybook Land and the Fantasyland Skyway Chalet.

And, yes, the Matterhorn belongs in Fantasyland. The Fantasyland track is also the better track (except for the splash).

Wasn't the push for a thrill ride originally made by Nunis?