The Matterhorn Bobsleds is easily one of the most iconic attractions at the Disneyland Resort. If your family is anything like mine, we make a game out of being the first one to spot the attraction’s snowy peak while driving on I-5 to the resort.
The attraction is currently closed for an extensive refurbishment that will bring an important change. When the Matterhorn reopens, the ride will have new bobsleds, which seat people individually. Previously, riders were seated two to a car, with one person seated so that they were straddled by the other rider’s legs. While this was the perfect seating arrangement for a lusty teenager’s date night, it was also a bit uncomfortable as your knees were bruised from every twist and turn of the roller coaster.
Disney released the below video which gives a behind the scenes look into the refurbishment. One of the neat things about the video is that it shows some of the backstage interior of the attraction when they mention the replacement of wood structures. The mountain is five stories tall and has an unused attic space near the top. This space became a break area for the mountain climbers (when Disneyland offered that entertainment option) and for the Tinkerbell performer during the fireworks.
The legend of the Matterhorn basketball court was born out of this break area. Years ago, a bored mountain climber installed a basketball rim up in the break area. On the floor, someone painted a free throw line. Over the years, the story of a secret basketball court in the Matterhorn spread to the point where you’d think a regulation sized NBA court was up there. One legend even suggests that the basketball hoop was a ploy for Disney to circumvent the city of Anaheim’s building codes. The reality is that the basketball rim was the brainchild of a bored employee, but it is still fun to shoot a few baskets if you ever have the chance to see this off limits space.
Images via Disney
