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You are here: Home / Disney World / 10 things you may not know about Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

10 things you may not know about Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

January 24, 2019 by Becky 4 Comments

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is a highlight of Frontierland – after all, it’s the “wildest ride in the wilderness!” Located in both Disney World and Disneyland (though different in each park), I especially love riding this one at night. Read on for some fun facts about Big Thunder Mountain Railroad!

1. Each of the trains on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad have names, and of course they’re great puns – things like I.M. Brave, U.B. Bold, and U.R. Daring.

 

2. The things you might see on Big Thunder Mountain are different depending on if you ride during the day or at night.  In the evening you’ll pass a window where you can see a party going on in the saloon.

3. It cost Disney $17 million dollars to build Big Thunder Mountain Railroad in 1979.  That’s about as much as it cost to build all of Disneyland in 1955.

4. The roller coaster can reach speeds of up to 33 miles per hour, which is actually faster than Space Mountain.

5. There are some differences between the ride in Disney World and Disneyland.  For instance, in Florida the mine town is affected by flooding, while in California it is because of earthquakes.  There is a scene in the Disney World version showing the flooded town before the final lift.

6. Disney loves to get the details exactly right, so the mining equipment and tools you see around Big Thunder Mountain? They’re actually antiques and real tools, not re-creations.

7. Before you get on the ride you’ll see a portrait of Barnabas T. Bullion, the president of the Big Thunder Mountain mining company. The portrait is actually of Tony Baxter, one of the imagineers who worked on the attraction.

8. One of the “animals” that stands out the most is the goat – maybe you’ve caught a glimpse of him as you’ve gone by. He’s so popular with Disney fans he even has his own facebook page!

9. There is a name for the “town” where the Big Thunder Mining Company operates. It’s called the town of Tumbleweed.

10. The queue at Disney World was recently redone, and it now has some interactive elements.  If you look you can find instructions for how to set off the explosives!

Did you find this interesting? Also check out 10 things you may not know about Splash Mountain and 10 things you may not know about Space Mountain!

Did you learn anything new about the Tower of Terror? What’s your favorite fun fact?

Filed Under: Disney World, Magic Kingdom, Rides Tagged With: attractions, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Disney World, Frontierland, Magic Kingdom

Comments

  1. Maddie Deer says

    January 24, 2019 at 4:26 pm

    I love Big Thunder Mountain Railroad! I go to Disneyland every couple years and I was bummed that it was closed! I think they were building something new for Star Wars

    Reply
  2. Kelsey Schenk says

    January 25, 2019 at 3:49 am

    17 million?! That’s insane!! What a fun ride though, I hope to go back again sometime! Thanks for making this world a little brighter(:

    Reply
  3. Beth_Daily_Dog_Tag says

    January 25, 2019 at 5:44 am

    Big Thunder Mountain is one of my favorite Disney rides! I have great memories of riding it with my dad.

    Reply
  4. Stephanie says

    January 25, 2019 at 6:33 pm

    This was so much fun to read about! I remember going on this ride at Disney World when I was 16. It was such a blast!

    Reply

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About Me

Hi, I'm Becky!

I'm a huge Disney fan in my early 30's and always trying to find a way to put a little bit of Disney into everyday life. I live in Pennsylvania but travel to the theme parks several times a year - I'm an annual passholder at Disney World! In addition to Disney I love traveling, running, and theater.

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