Disneyland’s Bobsleds, monorails and submarines were all born on this day 60 years ago.
June 14th, 1959 was a big date for Disneyland; the first big park expansion welcomed the Matterhorn Bobsleds, Disneyland Monorail and Submarine Voyage!
The Disneyland Matterhorn at 60
Besides the classic Sleeping Beauty Castle, the Matterhorn is the next most-recognizable icon in Disneyland.
Bordering Tomorrowland and Fantasyland, the snow-topped mountain sits where SoCal Orange Groves once were.
The first-ever tubular steel coaster is now often dubbed the park’s “chiropractic treatment’, as it can be jostling for some. But it’s still a classic coaster that commands long lines after 60 years!
Here’s a ride through from our friends at Garner Holt
Disneyland Monorail at 60
The Disneyland-ALWEG Monorail originally opened as a sight-seeing attraction, with one station in Tomorrowland. Only in 1961 did it truly become a mode of transportation, adding a station at the Disneyland Hotel.
Today, the monorail continues to bring a smile to anyone’s face as they’re walking into the Disneyland Resort, throughout the Esplanade, or even when it’s hilarious “honk” surprises you in Fantasyland. And unlike it’s Walt Disney World counterpart, you can still ride up in the front cab!
The Monorail remains a futuristic looking design these 60 years later, a testament to Bob Gurr’s great Imagineering skill.
Submarine Voyage at 60
“Welcome aboard. We are now underway and proceeding on a course that will take us on a voyage of exploration through liquid space.”
Completing our transportation trifecta, the Submarine Voyage was one of Disneyland’s first E-Ticket attractions (complete with live mermaids for a brief time!). A quiet cruise through a lagoon quickly turns into a treacherous deep sea journey with a quick “dive, dive, dive!”.
With clever use of effects and set pieces, as a child you truly felt as if your submarine was descending into unknown depths.
Sadly, the original Submarine Voyage closed in 1998. After the lagoon sat empty for almost a decade, we now know this undersea journey as Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage.
Though it underwent a complete re-theme, you may spot a few easter eggs from the original attraction… and still suspend disbelief, just for a moment.
Today, the Subs remain one of the park’s most endangered attractions with continuous rumors of it potentially being removed for one major park expansion or another. With their constant exposure to water, they have also not faired as well as the other two attractions on the maintenance side and look rusty in person and smell moldy at times.
All in all, the Tomorrowland ’59 expansion was sort of amazing. The three attractions still capture our imaginations all these years later. Are they still sexy at 60? Which is your favorite?
Limited-Edition Pin and Photo Op
In honor of this milestone birthday, Disney has created two limited-edition pins for these attractions. Starting today, you can find the 1959 Disneyland Tomorrowland Expansion pins available for sale in Tomorrowland at Buzz Lightyear’s Store Command and the exit gift shop at Space Mountain.
If you’re in the park today, be sure to take a photo with the celebration backdrop by the Matterhorn.
Here’s a quick video from our Dusty Sage with the beloved attractions.
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