Welcome to a new series of articles that will pit your favorite attractions from Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort against each other. The way the Attraction Smackdown will work is each week a new set of attractions will go head to head against each other. These will be attractions that are the same on both coasts (ie. Big Thunder, Pirates of the Caribbean, etc) and also some attractions similar to each other (Barnstormer v. Gagets Go-Coaster).
I sent out a call to the staff of WDWNT to those who have been to both Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort and asked which of the attractions that, in their opinions, is the superior one between the two I’ve pit against one another. That being said, the article will be based on mine and the staff’s personal opinions on the specific attractions, and have all of you involved, too! At the end of each article, feel free to place your opinion on the attractions. Then at the end of the series of articles, I will have a special Fan Community edition, and reveal what the fan community says. With that all out of the way, let’s get on to our first ever Attraction Smackdown!
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad(Disneyland):
I was quite surprised by the response this had with the staff. After collecting all the responses, the areas of which people love this version of the attraction is the new effects added during its last big refurbishment in 2014. The finale of this attraction is one that, when working properly, is amazing to see. During the final lift uphill, projection mapping effects show dynamite exploding throughout the cavern, leading to one massive fog filled explosion as you head into the final drop.
The queue here is not much to write home about. It is mostly outdoors, and brutal in the summer. I will say, it does move at a rapid pace. The queue does have some amazing props throughout, but it’s just not spectacular. The rebuilt town of Rainbow Ridge is one of the highlights of the attraction for me, as it dates back to Disneyland of yesteryear. The other point people made was the location; it is in a great location in the park, with incredible views of surrounding areas.
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad(Magic Kingdom):
People love this attraction; that could not have been more clear to me during their responses. While most agree the attraction itself is a tad more exciting in Disneyland, no one can deny the queue of this attraction. This attraction has one of the best queues in all of Magic Kingdom, and when the queue was updated in 2013 to include some interactive elements, it took the queue to the next level.
The views you get of the Rivers of America and the rest of the park, while on the attraction, are fantastic. The attraction itself could use an update, to include some of the projection effects that its West Coast sister has.
After quite a few of responses, and weighing in the pros and cons of each attraction on each coast, it comes down to the queue on this one. And for that, this week’s Attraction Smackdown winner is: Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (Magic Kingdom).
Next week, we will be pitting Peter Pan’s Flight attraction on both coasts against each other!
What do you think of this week’s winner of Attraction Smackdown? Do you agree or disagree? Comment below to let me know your opinion for our finale of the series where YOUR voice will be heard!
This is an easy win for DL in my opinion. The projection mapping and town of Rainbow Ridge put it above the WDW, and the better queue at MK is not enough to make up the difference.
Same. DL. The new ending is spectacular. And I’m usually a WDW person.
DL wins this one and it isn’t even close!
I must have missed the call
Gotta agree about Disneyland winning this one. Not only the projection mapping but I also find the location to be better.
The location is the same as the Mine Train Through Natures Wonderland and the Pack Mules. So there is a heritage factor that supports the location.
I have to agree with others. DL wins this hands down.
So many of the effects in the WDW version aren’t working right now. For example, on the final lift hill the boulders no longer move like they used to.
DL rules this one. Peter Pan with its lovely indoor queue wins at MK over DL imo.
Both of these are great, but honestly it’s not even close – Disneyland Paris has the best version by far.
The DL version wins, hands down. Have you ever waited in the down ramp of the queue in summertime at WDW? Now that’s brutal. I’ll take a Disneyland summer any day of the week. Better queue? I’d rather use FP+ and skip that 65 minute wait at WDW right now. (That what it shows right now versus 30 minutes at DL presently.) And views? We can watch the construction progress of Star Wars Land on the ride lifts! Sweet!
Seems like maybe the queue shouldn’t be taken into account. Most queues at Disneyland were built outdoors while most at WDW indoors due to the weather. Perhaps you should rate them: Ride Experience, Queue Experience, Overall.
I would have to say that Disneyland wins having ridden both rides. Just my humble opinion.
I think the Disneyland one is DYNAMITE!!!
Disneyland has turtles. I like turtles. Disneyland wins
I am a big Disneyworld fan and visit with my family an average of 3 times annually. (Annual Pass holder, and DVC). But having been to both parks, and in between trips, experiencing west coast attraction updates through Youtube, I have to say that Disneyland’s version of Thunder Mountain is better. The Thunder Mountain Disneyland finale makes more sense with the dynamite – explosion projection mapping. In Disneyworld the moving boulders on the last climb haven’t worked in years, (although lanterns still shake and the noise of rock scraping against each other is there.) This broken feature has been unfixed right through down periods for upgrades and repairs. Also the interactive upgrades in the queue are typically available during peak park attendance, so as we plan our trips are there with low attendance, I don’t think they make the difference
Definitely have to agree with the group here, DLR’s Big Thunder takes the cake in this smackdown! No question!
I think you guys got this one wrong. Yes WDW’s queue is much better which will almost always be the case. DL’s attraction is quite a bit better though. That final lift hill is fantastic! Don’t forget it goes down the mountain in the opposite direction. WDW’s also has no goat. No goat = No goat trick.
DL
Sorry but I have to disagree. I visit both DL & WDW regularly each year and have ridden both many times. The WDW ride is great but the Disneyland version is absolutely superior. The queue at WDW doesn’t matter to me as I always FP+ it so I don’t spend any time in it. Not only are the DL versions effects far and away better you have Rainbow Ridge and the entire ride track was recently rebuilt.
Wouldn’t know which one is better because last time I visited it was down at both parks. Got into the line at DL which then promptly closed and did not reopen. MK was down for refurb.