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- Big Thunder Mountain Railroad® Attraction
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad® Attraction
Frontierland® Area

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About Big Thunder Mountain Railroad® Attraction
When to Visit
Visit in first 2 or last 2 hrs
Can Skip Line
Genie+ (Lightning Lane Inc.)Suitability
Children (6-12), Teenagers (13-17), AdultsRough
Other
Included in Park Plan:Source: Undercover Tourist
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad® Attraction Details
Quick Facts
Type
Poi | RideDuration
3 min.Height Req.
40" (102cm) minimumExperience Attraction
-
©Disney

Frog Overview
Travel back in time to the risky days of America's Gold Rush and take a ride through the Old West mining town of Tumbleweed! Big Thunder Mining Company's speeding train will be your mode of transportation through the rugged mountain, canyons and ghost mine. The Old West-themed queue will have you feeling like you’ve stepped into the Wild West. While waiting to board Big Thunder Mountain Railroad® Attraction, you'll stay entertained by exploring the mountain's Mining Office, the Explosives Magazine Room, and more with hands-on activities. There's something to do around every corner of the queue!
After having some fun in line, you'll board the rustic mine train and travel to the wilderness. The "Wildest Ride in the West" starts in the dark, making its way into a cavern made of stalagmites, stalactites and plenty of rushing water. The train starts its quick and rickety ride out into the canyons of the mountain. Twisting and turning, you’ll travel through several tunnels and up more hills, where you can see Cinderella Castle very clearly when riding Big Thunder Mountain Railroad® Attraction at night. You’ll encounter plenty of sharp turns and drops before descending into an abandoned mine shaft that’s rumored to be haunted.
Keep your ears open for the calls of some of the critters than inhabit Big Thunder Mountain, like bats, a goat and even swinging opossums. Try to spot the wild party happening in the second floor of the saloon and wave hello. The conclusion of your journey on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad® Attraction ends with stopping back at the mine train station.
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad® Attraction is a mild but wild coaster in Frontierland® Area at Magic Kingdom® Park. The duration of the ride is about 3 ½ minutes. As long as you can meet the 40-inch height requirement, this roller coaster is appropriate for and enjoyed by guests of all ages, though kids under the age of 7 need to ride with someone over 14 years old. The ride vehicles can accommodate three guests, but most families split into groups of two.
Guests must transfer from their wheelchair, motorized scooter or ECV to board the vehicle. Due to the nature of this attraction, service animals are not permitted. Each train contains a car with a hinged side door to aid guests using wheelchairs who must transfer to the ride vehicle.
Source: Undercover Tourist
Frog Family Tips and Fun Facts about Big Thunder Mountain Railroad® Attraction
Frog Family Tips
- Go early in the morning, typically within the first hour of park opening, if you want to ride Big Thunder Mountain Railroad® Attraction during the daytime.
- Big Thunder Mountain Railroad® Attraction is a great coaster for people who aren’t quite ready for the intensity of rides like Space Mountain® Attraction or Rock 'n Roller Coaster® Starring Aerosmith. (There are no inversions and it’s not in the dark.) Because of this, it’s one of the best family coasters around!
- Beware if you have a bad back - it can be a bit rough.
- Sit in the back carts of the train; they whip around a little faster making for a wilder ride!
- Ride at night during the fireworks show for a completely different way to experience Big Thunder Mountain Railroad® Attraction.
Fun Facts
- Big Thunder Mountain Railroad® Attraction opened on September 23, 1980. Look for the gears near the station - they form the silhouette of Mickey Mouse!
- See if you can spot the following residents of Tumbleweed: chickens, donkeys, possums, a goat, a longjohn-clad resident spinning through the flood in a bathtub and a rainmaker whose name is Professor Cumulus Isobar.
- Utah’s Monument Valley was the inspiration for Big Thunder Mountain Railroad® Attraction’s look.
- Big Thunder Mountain Railroad® Attraction is actually based the story of Barnabas T. Bullion, founder and president of Big Thunder Minding Company. The Frontierland station of the Walt Disney World® Railroad drops you off right next to the roller coaster.
- The names of the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad® Attraction trains are: U.B. Bold, U.R. Daring, U.R. Courageous, I.M. Brave, I.B. Hearty and I.M. Fearless.
Source: Undercover Tourist
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