Florida Guide > Disney Parks
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad has been running at Disney’s Magic Kingdom for over twenty-five years now and I never tire of the thrill and excitement I get from this ride.
Your journey begins, as you stand in line in what is described as the headquarters of The Big Thunder Mining Company. Authentic antique mining equipment is used to create the Old West feel and the cast members are all dressed in cowboy and cowgirl costume. You can even smell the sulphur as you pass the phosphorescent pools. This roller coaster is relatively mild compared to the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster ride in Hollywood Studios or Mission Space in Epcot, so is pretty much a family-friendly ride, although children must be at least forty inches tall to ride.
As you board your car be sure to remove all loose articles as the chances are you may never see them again if you don’t. As you leave the station you will be reminded to “Hang onto Your Hats and Glasses!” and your thrilling journey begins.
Look out for the audio animatronics as you twist and turn round the bends, up and down the dips at speeds of nearly thirty miles per hour. Three and a half minutes of mind blowing exhilaration through caves and grottos passing under falling boulders, past waterfalls and dinosaur bones (not quite sure what the dinosaur bones have to do with the Wild West though).
For those thrill seekers amongst you, ask a cast member for a seat at the back, you definitely seem to go faster. If you prefer a slightly gentler ride ask to be seated at the front. If you ride Big Thunder Mountain during daylight hours try and make sure you visit again at night. It’s a whole new experience, the way everything is lit, it almost seems like a different ride.
As Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Splash Mountain are both situated at the far end of Frontierland, a good tip is to see which ride has the shortest wait time.
Then, get a Fastpass for the ride which has the longest wait and ride the other.
Look out for the “Hidden Mickey” – the gears near the station form the silhouette of Mickey Mouse.
Don’t forget to look out for your photograph as you exit the ride. These are available to purchase in special souvenir frames and are a good way to remember the fun time you had in Magic Kingdom aboard Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.
Viewed 62151 times.
We aim to provide accurate and useful information, but if you feel anything provided here is not accurate or out of date, please email us with the address of the page concerned and any comments so we can amend as necessary.
Villa Owners: Upload A Photo To This Article
To upload a photo for consideration, click here. Please only submit photos relevant to this article.
Other Articles Viewed
The following articles were also viewed by people who looked at this one: