At a glance
Big Thunder Photographer is the Big Thunder Mountain photo shop, at the ride exit in Frontierland. Its main job is to let visitors collect and buy the photos taken automatically as the mine train plunges down.
The building borrows from nineteenth-century Wild West mining towns: rustic wooden frame, hanging sign and old lanterns. According to the land’s backstory, the boom brought by the Big Thunder Mountain mine drew all kinds of traders to Thunder Mesa, photographers among them.
You can buy the ride photo as a 15x20 print with a digital download, as a 20x25 framed print or on a range of personalised items: photo magnets, keyrings and mugs. The shop also sells Disney PhotoPass+, the package that brings together all the photos taken during your stay. A small counter selling hot drinks and snacks rounds things off.
A souvenir photo of the mine train’s plunge. This photo shop holds the automatic shot taken during the dizzying drop on Big Thunder Mountain, which you can order as a framed print, a digital file or a personalised montage. With Disney PhotoPass+, you can add this souvenir to a single package that brings together all the photos taken in the park.
What you’ll find
Theme & story
Who it’s for
Pros and cons
Strong points
- Right at the exit of Big Thunder Mountain
- Photos available as digital files or prints
- Disney PhotoPass+ service available
- A wide choice of personalised items
- Hot drinks and snacks on sale
Weak points
- Small shop floor
- Photo prints are expensive
- Busy at peak times as riders come off the ride
My verdict
Julie’s tip
Best time to visit
Straight after your ride on Big Thunder Mountain: this is where you pick up the photo taken on the drop.
Map & getting there
Big Thunder Photographer is in Frontierland, at the exit of the Big Thunder Mountain ride.
Your questions about this shop
01 Where can you shop for Disney merchandise at Disneyland Paris?
You have four main options: the shops in Disneyland Park (mainly on Main Street U.S.A. and in each land), the shops in Disney Adventure World, the shops in Disney Village (no park ticket needed) and your hotel shop if you’re staying at an official Disney Hotel. I go through the main shops in my dedicated article.
02 Can you shop without carrying your bags all day?
Yes. The Shopping Service lets you have your purchases sent to a collection point, to pick up later in the shop, or as you leave the park in another shop, or even in the shop at your Disney Hotel. The service is free in most shops (above a minimum spend). Just ask the sales assistant when you pay.
03 What are the shops’ opening hours?
The shops in the parks roughly follow the parks’ opening hours, often opening a little earlier on Main Street U.S.A. and closing a little later after the night-time show. The Disney Village shops have their own opening hours, usually later into the evening. The exact times are in the Disneyland Paris app.
04 Can you order Disneyland Paris merchandise online?
There’s no official Disneyland Paris online shop. To buy from home, you can go to the Disney Store website (formerly shopDisney), which sells official Disney merchandise and sometimes a few Disneyland Paris-specific products. At the resort, you buy directly in the shops.
