Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

HeadlinerLightning Lane · Tier 1

One of the original 'mountain' trio at Magic Kingdom and arguably the most underrated. The track winds through 197,000 gallons of artificial weathered rock, past a flooded mining town, an earthquake scene, dynamite explosions, and a swarm of bats. The trains hit a top speed of 36 mph, with moderate drops but enough banking and crossover to feel zippy. The detail in the queue and setting — real mining equipment, a haunted-house silhouette on a nearby hill, careful theming all the way through — is the real attraction.

Images

At a Glance

Opened

1980

Height

38" minimum

Ride duration

4 min

Intensity

Moderate

Pecos Bill covered seating

Also in Frontierland: It fills a real gap in Magic Kingdom planning: Frontierland can be hot and crowded, and this gives the group a known fallback without leaving the land.

Frontierland, around Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe.

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