Rumor has it that a good number of the out-of-state protesters at the Democratic National Convention this week found time to take a break from their duties as bell-ringers, they were seen whooping it up inside Disneyland instead, 'cause there's nothing wrong with having a good time every now and again. It was good to be back again, though we didn't see any Hippies or Yippies for that matter. Maybe a few ex-Yippies, but they were working some of the rides. Disneyland maintains its title of "World's Perfect Theme Park", its purposeful walkways and logical directional choices still route people effectively, the classic rides still entertain and new additions continue to stun the mind and stoke the imagination. One of my earliest childhood memories was seeing the snow-capped peak of Matterhorn mountain peeking over the green ivy that lined Interstate 5. To this day, the sight of its crags and sound of whirling bobsleds accompanied by the fearsome roar of the Ice Yeti are enough to get any E-Ticket junkie a good head rush. Walt Disney got the idea for a Matterhorn-themed attraction while filming "Third Man On The Mountain" in Zermatt, Switzerland, home of the real thing. The year was 1958 and Disneyland was charging headlong into its third season. Walt was looking ahead to the next season already and reportedly wanted something with a little "zing to it." When the Matterhorn Bobsleds attraction opened in 1959, it was a world's first: a simulated mountain run in toboggans on steel tube tracks. Two courses scaled side-by-side lifts that took riders deep into the mountain and then passed them through it a few times. There wasn't much to see but musty timbers and gunnite in the early days, but a refurbishment in 1978 brought the mountain to life in a way that only Disney could do it. They went so far as to have the stylishly scary commercial run before Disney features. The spots featured the Matterhorn shrouded in mist with a whistling wind percolating on the soundtrack. "There's something new inside the Matterhorn," a sinister voice intoned. "Crystalized caverns, howling winter storms....and something else..." all the while showing you some really cool shots of the Matterhorn looking slick, shiny and misty. Then footsteps, and a close-up of two blood-red eyes, a ferocious roar and then back to that aloof shot of the mountain posing in some clouds. "The Matterhorn. It could only happen at Disneyland." Damn straight! We all went as soon as we could! Some people have drug flashbacks, I flashback commercials. Of the two sides, people seem to agree that the track nearest Tomorrowland is the one that delivers the better kick, but needless to say either side will have the first-time rider holding on for dear life. Amazing that during the odd two minutes that you're careening through the caves and around the mountain, your average speed is about 18 m.p.h.Clever use of forced perspective and well-placed landscaping give an exaggerated sense of speed and peril. From the moment you disengage the lift and slice through the darkness, past that first Snowman sighting, the speed remains a constant force as you slope and twist through a labryinth of caves, tunnels and of course, other tracks. It's not a gentle ride, but then again, neither are actual bobsleds. By laying back against your seat-mate, planting your feet firmly and grabbing onto those chi-chi silver handgrips, your point of view should allow for a fairly fanciful flight down the mountain.After several more close encounters with the Ice Yeti (and your percieved headspace), you take a double-splash dip into a lake and you walk out feeling a little like one of those kids from "In Search Of The Castaways." Or, okay. One of the cast of "Survivor." Matterhorn Bobsleds is a fine example of excellent entertainment engineering and has yet to be duplicated anywhere. In this world of cut-and-paste, it's good to know that there are only two Matterhorns, one's closer.

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