Big Thunder Mountain

We've been working hard on the book for a while now, particularly focusing on our MGM Hollywood Studios info. However, every time we ask people to pick their favorite park or favorite ride, they almost always name something from Magic Kingdom. And so, to honor everyone we know, we bring you a breakdown of one of the classics: Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Enjoy!

I took this from the ride itself. Not recommended if you aren't good at multi-tasking.

What is it: A high-speed roller coaster that takes you through an American Western setting. The story is that you're on a runaway steam train.

Thrill Rating: High. High speeds, sharp turns and banks, sudden drops and dark sections. Some hard-core thrill junkie may rate this lower, but remember that we are only comparing it to other rides in Disney parks.

Crowd Rating: High. This is one of the major attractions in Magic Kingdom. There will almost always be a line. Depending on the time of year you go, you could get lucky with a 30 minute wait. We recommend fast-passing if you aren’t using it on another of the super crowded rides (specifically other mountains), though fast passes are usually available throughout the day.

History: One of the original coasters from California. One of the three “mountains” in Magic Kingdom...now one of the four in the entire resort.

Duration:

Queue-- The queue is long and windy through a mostly uninteresting old-style western train station. It is currently being refurbished which may make things more interactive, like the updates to Space Mountain. 90% of the time the line here will be greater than 45 minutes so be prepared for a wait.  Some places in the queue have views of the fireworks at night, which makes the wait go by faster.

Ride-- The ride itself is about five minutes long and a very traditional roller coaster. We believe the “classic” status of the ride keeps the lines long, considering it’s different from a lot of the newer attractions in the parks.

Hidden Mickeys: There are apparently a ton, though we haven’t personally found them yet. In the mean time, if you're interested, you can check the official Hidden Mickey site: http://www.hiddenmickeys.org/WDW/MagicKingdom/Frontier/BigThunder.html

Romance Level: low. This is definitely a rollercoaster. Hang on to your hat rather than your honey.

Notes: If you catch this ride at the perfect time at night, because it is an open-air coaster, you could see fireworks from the ride itself!!