Are you a roller coaster fan? Then you'll love it when you get the chance to ride the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.
On this post
By the way, this roller coaster is super fun and without a doubt one of the best Magic Kingdom attractions.
But let's stop rambling and get down to business: is it worth going on the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad after all?
Will you have fun on the tour? That's what we're going to find out next!
What is the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad?
Let's start at the beginning: after all, what is the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad?
It is a roller coaster located in Frontierland, an area of Magic Kingdom that reproduces the Wild West.
Big Thunder is characterized by being one of the most agitated and fast in the Magic Kingdom.
It has sharp turns and quick drops against a backdrop of mountains, caves and even an Old West town.
Big Thunder's narrative tells of a strange legend, at the time of the Gold Rush in 1850 in the USA.
For those who don't know a little about American history, it's worth some contextualization. In the 19th century, a large amount of gold was discovered in the California, which is in the west of the country.
Thousands of people flocked to the region with the dream of participating in mining and enriching themselves with the gold of the place.
Big Thunder uses this context to craft a narrative that there were some ghosts in the mines at the time.
Strange noises were heard and the mining trains started to move by themselves.
You, the visitor, are on one of the trains of a mining company of the time that is possessed by a ghost, and runs along the tracks at high speed.
To help with the storytelling composition, Disney built more than 20 dolls animatronics with audio.
Some of them are from animals like donkeys and chickens, but there are even miners.
In addition, the entire space is decorated with tons of mining equipment that were used in the US Gold Rush, not to mention the soundtrack with songs that refer to the Wild West.
What's it like to ride this roller coaster?
First of all, we need to answer a question that many people ask us. Big Thunder Mountain has no looping!
The Big Thunder Mountain Railroad experience is already impressive.
We leave the entrance of the ride and falls straight at a reasonable speed into an underground mine.
One of the first things we see is a dark environment, with neon bats swinging above our heads, giving it a terrifying look.
Then we begin the first ascent of the roller coaster, which gives you time to contemplate Disney's beautiful artwork as he recreates a cave with incredible stalagmites and stalactites.
After we go up (there is a small waterfall on the way up), we go down at high speed and with some sharp curves, passing through small dark tunnels.
The first big scenario we come across is that of a very spooky Old West town (I'm sure I've seen a ghost baby doll somewhere over there!).
The cool thing is that the whole course is very oscillating, there is never a straight line.
Even the straights are somewhat unstable and add to the fun.
After that, we climbed a little more and entered a new session of drops and sharp turns.
My favorite part is a huge curve, where the train is in a very steep position and it looks like we're going to crash, but we go into several caves and tunnels.
Then we enter another cave for a final climb, which will result in a high-speed fall, a few curves and a last ride on the outside before heading back to the entrance.
Does Big Thunder Mountain Looping?
No, big thunder does not have looping.
Even in terms of “radicality” she is not the greatest.
Obviously, being in the Magic Kingdom park, it ends up becoming one of the most radical, but overall it's a roller coaster of wooden rails like the traditional ones we've seen around.
The biggest difference here is its setting, which is very cool, like everything else at Disney!
Children and families can have fun together at this attraction!
What do I need to know before going to Big Thunder?
Well, here we go: the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is a hectic roller coaster. It is by no means a super adventure with loops and inversions.
In terms of adrenaline, it sits below roller coasters like the Hulk at Universal Studios, the Mantar Roller Coaster at the SeaWorld or Rock?n?Roller and Everest Expedition from Disney.
This means that more relaxed people can enjoy Big Thunder without any problem.
It reaches interesting speeds (maximum of 56 kilometers per hour) and a height of 32 meters. However, there is no such sharp drop.
Among all audiences, teenagers and adults are the ones who will most enjoy the adventure. However, anyone with a roller coaster-neutral taste will also enjoy it.
It is, in a way, a good inbound and in-between roller coaster.
It gives adrenaline in the right measure, but without scaring anyone.
The minimum height to ride Big Thunder is 1.02 meters.
In addition, it is not recommended for pregnant women or people with leg, neck and back problems.
Is it worth going on the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad?
So, is it worth going to Big Thunder or not? Yes it is (and how!).
The roller coaster is one of the coolest in the Magic Kingdom, even though it doesn't have the sharp drop in Splash mountain and not the darkness of Space mountain.
Ah, speaking of them, Big Thunder is part of the Mountain Climber Certificate, a challenge from the BoardWalk Inn, Disney's luxury hotel.
The challenge is this: you must visit all three Fast Pass roller coasters on the same day while staying at the BoardWalk Inn. The award is a certificate of bravery for taking on the challenge.
Tips for Enjoying Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
The first one is the most direct, use Disney's new fastPass+, the Lightning Lane.
With it you will guarantee that you will be able to ride the roller coaster without much queue, which can be quite large at different times of the year.
Another tip we give is to try to go to Big Thunder at night. First, the parks are less crowded at these times and there is less competition for attractions.
As Big Thunder is a popular roller coaster, it tends to have long lines during the day and shorter lines at night.
Also, the ride on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at night is more exciting.
Both because of the “creepy” decor and the fact that you can't see the tracks.
Now that you know the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, you can put it on your travel itinerary.
If you don't have one yet, get in touch with us and find out how we can produce one. custom script for your trip, in order to turn your trip to Disney into a magical moment!
To get to know Big Thunder Mountain a little better, check out our youtube channel!
I hope again that this post helped you in your research for your trip to Disney or Orlando.
As a way to help us keep the blog going, we just ask you to help us by sharing this publication and subscribing to our social networks as Facebook, Instagram or Youtube channel.
In addition to helping us, we are sure that there you will find hundreds of useful posts for your trip!
About the Author Carlos Braga:
Unparalleled experience in Orlando and Disney! As a former Universal Orlando team member and a passionate devotee of the magic of Disney, I have become a true Orlando travel expert. Before becoming a renowned travel consultant dedicated to Orlando, I had already made hundreds of visits to the parks, cultivating my knowledge and passion mainly over the last 7 years as a consultant and specialist in Disney travel.
My journey into this enchanted world began in 1995, when I took my first trip to Orlando. Since then, my love for Disney and the city has only grown. In 2023, we celebrate the sixth anniversary of 'Partiu Disney Parks', consolidating our role as one of the main sources of information about Disney and Orlando Parks.
During these six years of existence, we have continued to offer quality and updated content, being the reliable source for all those looking for essential information to plan their trip to Disney and Orlando. With my vast experience and passion for this magical destination, I am here to guide you every step of the way towards the most incredible Orlando and Disney experience!
