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Disney Vacation Planner  >  Disneyland Paris   > Frontierland  >  Big Thunder Mountain
Last revised Tue, 04-Jul-2006 5:08
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Big Thunder Mountain



At A Glance Good rollercoaster themed after a runaway railroad. Not really a white knuckle ride, but good and well worth riding nonetheless.

 

Click for larger imageAlthough visually the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad ride at Disneyland Paris looks pretty much the same as its Floridian counterpart at Walt Disney World, the French version of the ride is far superior and is much more of a "thrill" ride. Both rides are themed identically, with a runaway mine train passing through superbely themed Western surroundings.

The one big difference that's immediately noticable to anyone that has seen or ridden both attractions is that the Disneyland Paris version of the ride takes place mostly on the Island in the middle of the Rivers of the Far West, with the loading area on the main park side of the "rivers", whilst at Walt Disney World the ride is all in the main park area, and well away from Tom Sawyer's Island.

After the well themed queueing area, guests board the runaway train, which features a dropdown knee-bar for safety. (The ride doesn't go upside down, and isn't particularly violent, so a shoulder harness isn't required). Shortly after it leaves the loading area the train passes into almost complete blackness for a few seconds, as it passes through a tunnel under the Rivers of the Far West.

It then emerges onto the central island, and starts a hectic 3-minute typical roller-coaster journey, though without many of the wild thrill-features that are present in many newer coasters, such as inverted twiste or loops. The theming throughout the ride is excellent, and must rate amongst the best in the park. (Watch out for the Goat trying to pull the miner's jeans from the washing line). Eventually the train returns back through a black tunnel and the load area for disembarkation.

Big Thunder Mountain is one of the most popular rides in the park, and although the queueing times aren't as long as they once were, (before Space Mountain opened), guests can still expect at 45 minute or longer queueing time as the day lengthens.

The ride passes through a well themed landscape that resembles that of Arizona or Utah particularly the Monument Valley area (or at least it resembles what guests think Arizona or Utah should look like). Overall the rocky peak of Big Thunder Mountain rises 119 feet (36m) above the park.

Big Thunder Mountain is an excellent attraction to ride later in the evening, but if you want to get onto it without a long queue it's going to be a case of heading straight for it quickly when the park fist opens its gates in the morning.

Big Thunder Mountain is not suitable for those with nect, back or heart complaints, and carries a minimum height restriction of 40 inches (1.02M ), and a minimum age restriction of 8 years.

 


 

Attraction Details

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