At a glance
Big Thunder Photographer is Big Thunder Mountain’s photo shop, located at the ride exit in Frontierland. Its main job: letting guests pick up and buy the pictures taken automatically as the mine train plunges down.
The architecture borrows from nineteenth-century Old West mining towns: a rustic wooden structure, a hanging sign, and antique lanterns. According to the land’s backstory, the economic boom brought by the Big Thunder Mountain mine drew all kinds of merchants to Thunder Mesa, photographers among them.
You can buy the ride photo as a 15x20 cm print with a digital download, as a 20x25 cm framed print, or on various personalized items: magnets, key chains, and photo mugs. The shop also sells Disney PhotoPass+, the package that bundles every photo taken during your stay. A small counter with hot drinks and snacks rounds out the offer.
A souvenir shot of the mine train’s plunge. This photo shop has the automatic picture snapped during Big Thunder Mountain’s dizzying drop, which you can order as a framed print, a digital file, or a custom photo collage. With Disney PhotoPass+, this keepsake joins the single package that bundles every photo taken in the park.
What you’ll find
Theme & world
Who it’s made for
Pros and cons
The highlights
- Right at the exit of Big Thunder Mountain
- Photos available as digital files or prints
- Disney PhotoPass+ available
- A wide choice of personalized items
- Hot drinks and snacks for sale
The downsides
- Small sales floor
- Pricey photo prints
- Crowded at peak times at the ride exit
My verdict
Julie’s tip
Best time to go
As soon as you step off Big Thunder Mountain: the picture snapped during the drop is waiting for you here.
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 buy Disney merchandise at Disneyland Paris?
There are four main places to shop: Disneyland Park (Main Street U.S.A. above all, plus every land), Disney Adventure World, Disney Village (open to everyone, no park ticket required), and, if you book an official Disney hotel, the shop inside your hotel. My dedicated article walks you through the main shops.
02 Is there a way to shop without lugging bags around all day?
Yes. The Shopping Service lets you have your purchases sent to a pickup point, so you can collect them later at the same shop, at another shop on your way out of the park, or even at your Disney hotel’s shop. The service is free in most shops (with a minimum purchase). Just ask the cast member at checkout.
03 What are the shop hours?
Shops inside the parks roughly follow park hours, often opening a little earlier on Main Street U.S.A. and closing a little later after the nighttime show. Disney Village shops have their own hours, usually running later into the evening. You’ll find the exact hours in the Disneyland Paris app.
04 Can you buy Disneyland Paris merchandise online?
There’s no official Disneyland Paris online store. To shop from home, you can use the Disney Store website (formerly shopDisney), which sells official Disney merchandise and sometimes a few items specific to Disneyland Paris. At the resort itself, you buy everything directly in the shops.
