Mastering the Matterhorn and Disnyeland

[Carey Furlong]

> > OLIVIER, 11-06-2001
>
> About "Mastering the Matterhorn", OS 1025:
>
> > "Matterhorn" is indeed a feature of  the original [Disneyland] park
> > in Anaheim, but this Matterhorn is the real mountain: the story does
> > not take place in the park; the latter only inspired Barks this
> > exotic locale.
>
> Danikl wrote:
>
> In panel 1.5, Donald says that somebody else must be using the toboggan.
> Could the toboggan (or "Toboggan"?) be a reference to Disneyland?
> Is (or was) it an attraction, for example?

Yes, this is a reference to the Bobsled ride in Disneyland, which opened on
June 14th, 1959, the same year the story was published.  When Barks wrote
"Mastering the Matterhorn" the ride was not yet open, and details about it
were obviously sketchy at best.  So, Barks apparently improvised and assumed
the ride was about toboggans (in this case one toboggan -- how could he know
different?).  As it turned out, the Bobsleds ride more closely resembled a
customized roller coaster.

Carey Furlong
Dana Point, California