Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

Race through a haunted gold-mining town aboard the rollicking runaway mine train of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad!

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is “The Wildest Ride in the Wilderness!”

While most theme parks contain some sort of “runaway mine train” ride, Disney took the basic idea and significantly raised the bar with Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Passengers climb aboard their vehicle and are launched into sheer darkness followed by a cavern filled with stalactites and stalagmites surrounded by colorful pools of water as their train climbs the first lift hill and begins a somewhat-speedy ride through the detailed recreations of Monument Valley, speedily passing through the long forgotten mining town of Tumbleweed before reaching another lift hill that allows the train to continue its wild journey through more buttes and valleys.

A plethora of wildlife, such as mountain goats and possums, to name but a few, litter the landscape throughout, along with cascading waterfalls and even an old dinosaur skeleton lodged into the side of the rockwork. Once the train has returned to the station, it is perfectly understandable – very common – to see guests head for the exit and make a beeline to the entrance to do it all again.

The History of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

Behind the Schemes:

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad sprung from a much bigger idea known as the Western River Expedition, the brainchild Disney Legend and Imagineer Marc Davis. The concept was a massive endeavor that included an inside roller coaster, musical shows, Indian and bandito attacks, walking trails for pack mules.

As construction on the Walt Disney World resort pressed forward, it became clear that Davis’s plan would cost far too much at a time that Disney was attempting to make up for other opportunities such as a Florida version of Pirates of the Caribbean and the then-under construction of Space Mountain. Dreams were dashed and the company proceeded with a pared-down version of the entire project and pressed ahead with Imagineer Tony Baxter’s idea of the attraction that guests are now familiar with.

Big Thunder Mountain Theming and Backstory

The backstory may differ slightly from park to park, but the core narrative remains the same. In the late 1800s, a gold strike on Big Thunder Mountain in the American Southwest transformed a quiet settlement into a booming mining town called Tumbleweed, in the Magic Kingdom version. Under the control of the ruthless and greedy mining company owner, Barnabas T. Bullion, the town flourished, and a network of mine trains was rapidly established to haul the precious ore.

However, what the miners didn’t realize was that the mountain was a sacred site to the local Native Americans and carried a powerful curse. Before long, the curse triggered a disaster, a devastating flash flood, in the Magic Kingdom version, that swept through the mines and forced the town’s abandonment.

Years later, the abandoned locomotives mysteriously began racing around the mountain tracks without any engineers or crew onboard. To capitalize on the eerie phenomenon, the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad was established, allowing daring visitors to take a wild ride on the runaway ghost trains.

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Tech

The coaster is a marvel in its achievement in that it has an impressive hourly capacity that can increase as demand rises throughout the day by the attraction’s ability to add trains as needed. This is due to an ingenious development by the Imagineers that allows six trains to operate on a track that has only five “brake blocks” – safety measures that ensure one train does not enter a zone that contains another train at that moment in time. Having two load zones also aids in the ability to load and unload passengers at a rate that keeps things moving at a quicker pace than a normal coaster can handle.

The Voice of Thunder Mountain

The voice in the loading section that gives the safety spiel belongs to Dallas McKennon, whose voice has been featured in numerous animated Disney films as well as the voice for Benjamin Franklin in Epcot’s The American Adventure and Zeke in the Magic Kingdom’s Country Bear Jamboree.

Thunder Mountain Reality check

A saloon in a deserted mining town is a terrible business model.

More than 1,500 dinosaur fossils have been discovered in Monument Valley, Utah.

Mining stations in the 1800s did not include working drinking fountains. The fountains in the queue for Big Thunder Mountain Railroad often don’t work either. Bring a hydrating beverage with you for the queue house as it can get quite stale and warm on the top level.

Big Thunder Mountain Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Thunder Mountain Located in Magic Kingdom?

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is nestled in Frontierland, bringing a touch of the Old West to Magic Kingdom.

How long does it take to ride the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad?

The ride lasts about 3 and a half minutes, giving you plenty of time to race through the twists and turns of the haunted mining town.

What is Thunder Mountain in Disney World themed to?

It’s themed to a gold-mining town in the American Southwest during the late 1800s, where mysterious ghost trains still rumble through the rocky desert.

How intense is the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad?

It’s a moderate coaster with quick turns and small drops, offering just enough excitement without being too intense for most guests.

Are there drops on Thunder Mountain Railroad?

Yes, there are several small, rolling drops that add some extra fun without being too steep or sudden.

What is the top speed of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad?

The top speed is 36 mph, making it fast enough for some thrills while still being family-friendly.

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Full Ride POV

The Full History of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad