At a glance
This ride is a roller coaster that takes guests into a Wild West gold mine. The track winds over a rocky mountain rising out of the water, so the train has to go through tunnels under the lake to get there.
Along the way, you get a real sense of speed with tight turns and sudden drops in the dark. People love Big Thunder Mountain for its bumpy, lively ride, and kids can still join in as soon as they meet the height requirement. If your kids are too short, ask for a Rider Switch (formerly Baby Switch) ticket at the exit: it lets the adults take turns without waiting in line again.
Slow down and look for the many hidden touches along the way, like the thunderbird perched out of sight on the mountain. Pay close attention on the first climb: a hidden Mickey appears in the water dripping down on your right.
Imagineer Tony Baxter led the design, and Paris is the only park where this coaster sits on an island in the middle of the water, so it ends up longer than every other version. Around it, the mining town of Thunder Mesa looks almost exactly as it did when the park first opened.
The story is about a mine haunted by a supernatural force, where the ore cars start moving on their own. The setting draws on the desert landscapes of the nineteenth-century US, with the sound of explosions and simulated rockslides.
Maintenance shuts this coaster down fairly often, so before your trip, look up whether it will be closed for refurbishment while you’re there.
A well-rounded family coaster. Moderate thrills (no loop or inversion), a richly detailed immersive theme, and a nice long ride. Riding at the end of the day as the sun goes down is still one of the most beautiful moments in the park.
History
Big Thunder Mountain welcomed its first riders on April 12, 1992, the day Disneyland Park opened, and no other version of this ride was part of its park’s opening-day lineup. Sister versions exist at Disneyland Anaheim (1979), Orlando’s Magic Kingdom (1980), and Tokyo Disneyland (1987).
This coaster belongs to the Thunder Mesa saga: discover the full story.
Technical specs
- Top speed
- 65 km/h
- Duration
- 3 min 55
- Length
- 1.2 km
- Opened
- 1992
- Type Coaster
- Opening date April 12, 1992
- Duration 3 min 55
- Model Mine train
- Top speed 65 km/h
- Maximum height 22 m
- Track length 1,205 m
- Number of trains 6
- Cars per train 5
- Riders per car 6
- Riders per train 30
- Minimum height 1.02 m
- Design Walt Disney Imagineering
- Manufacturer Vekoma
- Imagineers Tony Baxter, Bill Watkins
- Composer Buddy Baker
- Inspiration Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (Disneyland California 1979)
Theme & world
Levels & accessibility
- Fear level low
- Thrill level moderate
- Emotional impact high
- Perceived wait high
- Height requirement 1.02 m
- Recommended age kids, tweens, teens, adults
- Wheelchair access must transfer from wheelchair
- Open to pregnant visitors
Premier Access, Single Rider, PhotoPass
Skip the standby line whenever you like. Handy in peak season, when the wait often goes past 60 minutes.
This ride has no Single Rider line. If you want to cut your wait, rely on Premier Access or get there at park opening.
Photos taken automatically during the ride, which you pick up after you get off.
Usually open during this early slot before the park opens to the public, mainly for Disney hotel guests and Disneyland Pass Gold holders. A good time to ride it with a shorter wait.
Who it’s made for
Pros and cons
The highlights
- Highly immersive setting
- The ride’s backstory ties in seamlessly with the story of the land
- Views over the land and the castle
The downsides
- The line is often very long
- Jolts and abrupt stops near the end of the ride
My verdict
To me, Big Thunder Mountain is the most polished family roller coaster in Disneyland Park: a runaway train tearing through an abandoned gold mine perched in the middle of a lake, diving into tunnels past dynamite blasts and around tight bends. 65 km/h, a 3 min 55 ride, and a minimum height of 102 cm. Best of all, there’s no loop, which makes it one of the best coasters for anyone new to thrill rides.
Hands down my favorite in Frontierland, and probably my number 1 ride in the whole resort. My real insider tip: always pick the left-hand line at the point where the line divides. It usually moves faster and runs outside, where a bit of fresh air feels great in summer. Riding at sunset in the middle of summer is a real highlight, it’s gorgeous. One small downside: the abrupt stops near the end can really jerk your neck.
Julie’s tip
Best time to go
Here’s my expert advice: when the recommended time slot doesn’t work for you, get there first thing in the morning, because crowds usually hold steady from then until evening. Ride around sunset and, with some luck, you’ll spot fireworks bursting over the castle while you’re on the track.
Based on this ride’s wait time history, updated every day.
Map & getting there
You’ll find Big Thunder Mountain in Frontierland, close to Thunder Mesa Riverboat Landing.
Your questions about this ride
01 How can you avoid long lines for the most popular rides?
To skip long lines at Disneyland Paris, I mix several strategies. First, Single Rider is free and really speeds things up on the rides that offer it, including Crush’s Coaster, Flight Force, Ratatouille, and Spider-Man, as long as you don’t mind boarding apart from your group. Next, Disney Premier Access is a paid service that guarantees you priority entry on the headline rides. If you’re staying at a Disney hotel, Extra Magic Time lets you into the park before official opening, and that’s the best time to ride the popular attractions back to back without waiting. Last, heading to the busiest rides during a parade or a big show empties the lines dramatically.
02 Are the wait times posted in the park accurate?
Yes, the wait times shown in the app or on the park’s screens are generally accurate. They’re often equal to or slightly longer than the real wait, which helps you plan your day better.
03 How can I find out if a ride will be under refurbishment during my vacation?
Disneyland Paris posts the list of rides closed for refurbishment on its official website several weeks ahead of time. Since the parks are open year-round, maintenance crews sometimes work on days the park is open, which leads to temporary closures. My tip: check this calendar (or the one on my blog) before you book, especially if there’s one particular ride you really care about.
04 What are the height requirements for each ride at Disneyland Paris?
Here are the minimum heights for the thrill rides at Disneyland Paris. In Disneyland Park: Autopia at 0.81 m, Star Tours and Big Thunder Mountain at 1.02 m, Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain at 1.20 m, and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril at 1.40 m. In Disney Adventure World: Toy Soldiers Parachute Drop at 0.81 m, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror at 1.02 m, Crush’s Coaster at 1.07 m, and Avengers Assemble: Flight Force and RC Racer at 1.20 m. All the other rides have no height requirement, which families with young kids love.
05 Which rides might scare young kids?
Several rides at Disneyland Paris can be a bit much for young kids, even with no height requirement. Blanche-Neige et les Sept Nains, in Fantasyland, has dark scenes with the witch that can catch them off guard. Les Voyages de Pinocchio also has some unsettling moments. La Tanière du Dragon, beneath Sleeping Beauty Castle, is home to a very impressive animatronic dragon. Phantom Manor, in Frontierland, leans into its ghostly mood and stays pretty intense for little ones. Pirates of the Caribbean switches between cheerful scenes and darker ones. I recommend watching how your child reacts before you board.
