Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, BTMRR for those who love acronyms, is the fastest ride in the west, pardners. Yee Haw! Come on y 'all jump on and take a ride.

Dad's Frontierland page

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad - Jeff B.

Waiting Area

The waiting area is fashioned after an old time train station but has no windows so during the summer it get very warm while waiting in line. The lines snake around and are sometimes deceptively long. Make sure you look at the waiting time clock before you get in line. It's usually fairly accurate.

You'll hear an occasional train whistle. It's not from the trains, just piped in to make things more interesting.

The Attraction

Photo by Don Sullivan

BTMRR takes you on a train ride through an abandoned mine town. As you leave the train station you start a climb up the rock encased track passing a waterfall to the top of the mountain. Then the fun starts.

If you can open your eyes you'll see rocks and bridges and cactus and the leftovers from a town that's been washed away by a desert flood (including a bathtub with a bather still in it) and lots more. It all flies by real fast.

There are tight turns, dips and bumps and 2 big drops. There's a lot of great stuff to see as you fly through Big Thunder Mounain Railroad. Keep your eyes open and take it in.

The Postshow

When you get off the train, you walk right back out into the park (and probably right down the hill to Splash Mountain.)

History

Uncle Walt's boys took their inspiration for the mountain from the rock buttes around Monument Valley, Utah.

• The ride opened in the Magic Kingdom in 1980. (The Disneyland ride opened in 1979)
• It was the second mountain in the Magic Kingdom after Space Mountain.
• The ride duration is 3 and a half minutes and reaches top speed of a whopping 30 mph (althought you'd swear it was going faster).
• There are 20 audio-animatronic figures along the ride.

Fun Facts

Photo by Jeff_B

Several fun filled animals can be found along the tracks, a billy goat guards the top of the mountain, a family of possums are hiding about the entrance to the cave, and bats, chickens, and donkeys can be found throughout the ride. For added fun guests should ride once during the day and then take the same adventure with a different spin by riding it at night. Thrill seekers may want to sit in the back of the train for more of a wild ride, but, may miss out on some of the scenery. Guests who do not want to wait in long lines may want to go during parade times because the line is shorter. This was the first Disney attraction to use computer aided design in it's creation.

Dad's Ride Table

The Fine Print

Warning sign on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad - Jeff B.

Every roller coaster ride has some fine print, so here it is.

• Expectant mothers should not ride.
• Service animals are not allowed on this ride.
• Riders should be in good health, free from high blood pressure, heart, neck or back problems. This ride may aggravate motion sickness. (Dad can do it, and he's a wimp.)
• Guest must transfer from wheelchair or other motorized vehicle to enjoy this ride.
• Guest with small children may take turns riding this ride. Ask a cast member about doing a baby swap.
• Fastpasses sometimes run out prior to the end of the day.

Check out Disney's Big Thunder Mountain Railroad page

Dad's Bottom Line

This is a prime example of what sets Disney World apart from other theme parks. Uncle Walt and the boys take a cheesy roller coaster and build a story around it and the ride turns into a classic not to be missed thriller. It's incredible.

It's Mrs. Mom's favorite roller coaster.

Warning: This is a rough roller coaster, probably the roughest of all the Walt Disney World roller coasters.

Enjoy it if you can, but at least take a good look at it. The themeing is outstanding.