Matterhorn Bobsleds Is Closed for a Quick Refurbishment This Week

Disneyland's original thrill ride shut down Monday for improvements and will reopen Friday, giving crews just a few days to complete whatever work the mountain needs.

By Jeanpierre Florent · FirstDrop News TeamJul 22, 20266 min read

Matterhorn Bobsleds closed Monday for a brief refurbishment, and if you're planning a Disneyland trip this week, you'll want to know that one of the park's most iconic attractions will be down until Friday.

The closure was expected and scheduled in advance, giving Disney a four day window to complete whatever maintenance or improvements the attraction needs. Cast members are stationed outside the entrance with a pin trading station while the queue sits empty behind chains and the Lightning Lane stations are covered with green tarps.

For a park that's been incredibly busy this summer celebrating its 70th anniversary, losing Matterhorn Bobsleds even for a few days means longer waits elsewhere in Fantasyland. But short refurbishments like this are a normal part of keeping attractions running smoothly, and the quick turnaround suggests Disney isn't making any major changes to the ride experience itself.

What's Happening at the Mountain Right Now

A sign posted outside the attraction explains the closure in typical Disney fashion. It reads, "Our bobsled runs are currently undergoing improvements. Please enjoy other Fantasyland attractions." That vague language doesn't tell us much about what's actually being worked on, but the brevity of the closure suggests it's routine maintenance rather than anything extensive.

The queue has been chained off to keep guests from entering, and cast members have set up a pin trading station right outside the entrance. It's a small gesture, but it gives Matterhorn fans something to do while they're in the area and keeps the space from feeling completely abandoned during the downtime.

Lightning Lane access has been shut down as well, with green tarps draped over the digital stations to signal that the paid system isn't available. If you purchased Genie+ or Lightning Lane for your visit this week, the Matterhorn obviously won't be an option until it reopens Friday.

Why Short Refurbishments Matter

Theme park fans sometimes get nervous when they see an attraction go down, especially one as beloved as Matterhorn Bobsleds. But short, scheduled closures like this are actually a good sign. They show that Disney is staying on top of maintenance and addressing issues before they turn into bigger problems that require longer downtime.

Matterhorn Bobsleds is one of the oldest operating roller coasters in the world. It opened in 1959, making it older than most of Disneyland's current lineup. Keeping a ride like that running smoothly takes constant attention, and periodic refurbishments are part of the deal when you're operating a 67 year old attraction.

The fact that Disney scheduled this closure for just four days tells us they're likely handling routine work rather than major upgrades or structural repairs. If something more significant were happening, we'd be looking at weeks or even months of downtime, not a Monday through Thursday closure.

The Matterhorn's Place in Disneyland History

It's impossible to overstate how important Matterhorn Bobsleds is to Disneyland's identity. When it opened in 1959, it became the first tubular steel roller coaster in the world, forever changing what theme parks could build. The mountain itself has been a visual icon of the park for nearly seven decades, visible from multiple lands and serving as a landmark that helps guests navigate the park.

The attraction sends guests racing through the interior of the mountain on alpine sleds, encountering the Abominable Snowman along the way. It's not the most intense coaster in California, but it delivers a thrilling experience with sharp turns, sudden drops, and close calls with icy cavern walls. The ride has two separate tracks, and Disneyland fans love debating which side offers the better experience.

Over the years, the Matterhorn has received various updates and refurbishments to keep it relevant. The Abominable Snowman animatronics have been upgraded multiple times, and the ride's effects and audio have been enhanced to match modern guest expectations. But the core experience remains remarkably similar to what it was when the attraction first opened, which is part of its enduring appeal.

What This Means for Your Visit This Week

If you're visiting Disneyland between Monday, July 20 and Friday, July 24, you'll need to adjust your plans around the Matterhorn closure. The good news is that Friday reopening means the attraction should be back up and running by the weekend, when crowds typically swell.

Without Matterhorn Bobsleds absorbing guests, other Fantasyland attractions will likely see increased wait times. Space Mountain in Tomorrowland and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad in Frontierland are the park's other major coasters, so expect those lines to grow as coaster fans look for alternatives. It's also worth noting that Fantasyland is home to several other popular rides that could see spillover crowds, including Peter Pan's Flight and the Mad Tea Party.

The timing of this refurbishment is interesting given that Disneyland is in the middle of celebrating its 70th anniversary year. The park has been packed with guests eager to experience the limited time festivities, and pulling an attraction offline during such a busy period suggests Disney felt the work was necessary enough to warrant the inconvenience.

What We Don't Know Yet

Disney hasn't provided any details about what specific work is being done during this refurbishment. The sign outside the attraction mentions "improvements," but that could mean anything from replacing worn ride components to updating audio systems to addressing guest feedback about comfort or safety.

The company rarely announces the specifics of short refurbishments like this, preferring to keep the focus on the guest experience rather than the behind the scenes maintenance. That approach makes sense from a marketing perspective, but it leaves fans wondering what's actually happening inside the mountain while the bobsleds sit still.

What we do know is that the reopening is scheduled for Friday, July 24. Barring any unexpected complications, the Matterhorn should be back to its normal operations by the time the weekend crowds arrive. If the work takes longer than expected, Disney will likely update the park's app and website to reflect the extended closure.

Why Fans Should Pay Attention

Even a short closure like this is worth noting for Disneyland regulars and anyone planning a trip in the near future. The Matterhorn is one of those attractions that many guests consider a must do on every visit, and its absence can genuinely affect how people structure their park day.

Beyond the immediate impact on this week's visitors, closures like this also remind us that Disney is actively maintaining its attractions. In an era when guests are increasingly vocal about ride upkeep and quality, seeing Disney take an attraction offline for improvements is actually reassuring. It shows that the park isn't waiting for something to break before addressing it.

The Matterhorn has been a part of Disneyland longer than most guests have been alive. Keeping it running smoothly for future generations means accepting that it will occasionally need to close for a few days here and there. For fans who understand what goes into maintaining a park of this scale, a four day refurbishment is a small price to pay for an attraction that continues to deliver thrills nearly 70 years after it first opened.

Written by Jeanpierre Florent, part of the FirstDrop News Team

Jeanpierre is the Southern California based creator behind JPLAND21, a theme park community of more than one million subscribers across YouTube and Instagram. Our reporting is grounded in regular firsthand park visits. More about us