Big Thunder Mountain Railroad in Disneyland is the wildest ride in the wilderness! You’ll race along the tracks in a runaway mine car through an abandoned mine shaft ran by the Big Thunder Mining Company. You’ll even dart through the ghost town of Big Thunder and you might even hear conversations going on.
Legend has it that a supernatural force dwells within the mountain. After the mining company was established in the 1850’s, eerie things began to occur including ghostly sounds, cave-ins and equipment malfunctions. Trains would even take off and hurl through the mine without any drivers! Over the years, eyewitness accounts faded into folklore and new prospectors resurrected the mining company and began blasting into the mountain again. But as you’ll discover on your ride, some legends turn out to be true!
Length of Ride: 3.5 minutes
Height Requirement: 40 inches
Scare Factor: Big drops and a ghost story theme
Rider Switch (for small kids): Yes
Weather Procedure: Closed in inclement weather
Ride Photo: No
Flash Photography: Okay
Open for Magic Mornings: No
Fastpass: Yes
When to Ride: In the morning or with a Fastpass
Our Touring Strategy: It was down for refurbishment when we went
Secrets/Tips and Tricks:
Turn and look at the Dynamite Chomping Goat after you pass him. You will feel like you are being sucked into a vortex
Dinosaur Gap has a fossil from a past attraction, splash through it’s pond at the end of the ride
Look for the Help Wanted sign that says he must be a good shot
The miniature town of Big Thunder was originally named Rainbow Ridge. It was part of the Rainbow Caverns Mine Train that transported guests around Frontierland from 1956 to 1977.
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