30 Day Blog Challenge - Day 19

[Mike] When "the things you are afraid of" topic came up I thought “Oh great, another complain session about my lame problems.” So I figured I’d think of things that scared me when I was young, or with a sense of irony or something. 

The first thing that came to mind in the stuff I am afraid of when I was little arena is the Abominable Snowman/Yeti that used to live within the Matterhorn at Disneyland (known locally as "Harold".) I say "used to" because I hear a younger, more animated Yeti has since taken residence within the concrete caverns. 

A lot of people think Harold has lived in the Matterhorn since it debuted in 1959, but Harold didn’t move in until 1978. The Matterhorn used to be on a much longer, single track with a smooth, bobsled-like ride. (It didn't stay that way, but that's a story for another day.)

The Matterhorn from near Sleeping Beauty's Castle. ©Photography by Crystal 

The inside of the mountain was completely hollow. Hollow for almost twenty years! (Can you imagine how creepy?) In the 1970’s the park felt like it needed some thrills. They decided to seriously upgrade the Matterhorn. It had to scare people that lived through the Vietnam war, in the decade that reinvented horror movies and had been to the more thrilling Six Flags Magic Mountain rollercoaster theme park.  

So they did some re-conortin’ to the track to be more rollercoaster-like and enclosed it with icy caverns and glaciers. Finding the accommodations adequate, a scary wild Yeti appeared. Truly abominable.

©Graphic Design by Mike

The original may not have moved around so much, but with those teeth, and glowing red eyes, he was just horrifying to me. I don’t exactly remember my first encounter with this beast, but his mystique was perhaps as scary as his presence. The Fantasyland area, adjacent to the mountain, has clues all over that taunt with the terror that dwells within.

There’s a mold of Harold’s footprint “found” near the mountain. You can hear the creature growl and roar from within. A popcorn vendor has a little coo-coo clock like figure of the Yeti complete with glowing red eyes that turns a crank which makes it look like it’s making the popcorn machine work. All are masterfully building the anticipation. 

I loved Disneyland, even though a lot of things scared me. I could have done without the Matterhorn, but my family liked it, and besides, it felt great to brave it. Both the good and the bad thing about Harold is that you don’t see him for very long as your bobsled goes zipping by. 

You see, he would flash by so quick, that by the next time I would visit, I had forgotten the parts where he popped out, and the anticipation of trying to figure out where he was would stress me out. 

Your first encounter with Harold is just glowing red eyes and a loud, startling growl on a slow part of the ride. It’s after the lift chain, in a very dark part so it gives you a start. Based on where the eyes were, he could be right next to you!

Maybe it was the first time I rode it, or perhaps a little later, when I saw those glowing red eyes right next to me. I thought that a spotlight would flash on, and the Yeti would be right there! 

It’s just scary eye shaped lights stuck to a wall in a dark spot. There's nothing there, but what I made up in my mind was so much worse. By the time you actually see the Yeti, you're moving so quickly and having so much fun, he doesn’t seem so bad.  

I still think he’s pretty darn scary. Some people may agree, others might say he’s lame. But that was my thing. Like a lot my concerns, it’s overblown about something trivial. I knew rationally he was a “robot” and he wasn’t going to get me since the first ride. But the anxiety felt plenty real to me anyway. And like a lot of my concerns, I learned to deal with it and do it anyway. (Sometimes not very enthusiastically.)

Maybe that’s why I loved Disneyland so much growing up. It wasn't just a day enjoying rides. I was enjoying that runners-high like that feeling you get from facing your fears. I just wish more of the mountains you conquer in life came with a soft splash down back into the light and churro scented air. Thanks for reading!

In line for Matterhorn in my adult years (still kinda scared!) 

-Mike Olguin

[Crystal] I have to admit, I was also very terrified of this Matterhorn mountain that loomed high in the sky, ominously over the park. Not only because it was the tallest ride at Disneyland, but that spooky roar echoed throughout Fantastyland, taunting riders near and far. 

©Photography by Crystal

The height requirement is 42" so when I was about 7 my friend Shannon King and I decided we'd brave the mountain with our moms. Hearing the yodeling music while you're standing in line is rather comical and light hearted, knowing that our impending doom awaited... but the line moved fast and before you know it, it was boarding time! Shannon was taller than me so she gave me a front row seat! 

©Photography by Crystal

So we were loosely seat belted in and the bobsled took off. Once I saw those glowing red eyes (that Mike described above) on the climb up we screamed and I wanted to hide. So I ducked down under the lip of the ride vehicle and I found myself stuck in this position for the entirety of the wild ride!

We banked left, and right, there were drops and surprises. We were inside, we were outside, and I heard the Matterhorn monster angrily growling at us. But all I could see was my feet. I was literally stuck face down and everytime I struggled to upright myself, we'd descend down another drop and I'd hit my head. Finally, my back started spasming! I screamed louder, but my friend figured I was just frightened from the ride. I was cramping up and there was nothing I could do but wait it out. I was miserable and crying and couldn't wait for this seemly never-ending ride to come to an end. 

1980's Crystal at Disneyland

When we stopped back in the station, Shannon got out first, happy as a clam and my mom had to get me out, tears streaming down my cheeks. They just thought I was scared because it was my "first rollercoaster- like ride" and laughed it off. The second I was able to catch my breath and wipe away the tears though I explained what had happened. My mom rubbed my back and we took a break for lunch.   

So that was my first experience with Disneyland's Matterhorn. Since then, we've enjoyed this ride countless times and I absolutely love it! (No more hiding and ducking down for me.) Please be safe and ride theme park rides the right way, properly seated, strapped in and "Parmanecer sentados, por favor."

-Crystal Olguin

August 25, 2017