What did Big Thunder Mountain Railroad replace?

Disneyland's version of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad opened on September 2, 1979, replacing Mine Train Through Nature's Wonderland. Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah inspired its signature rockwork. The Magic Kingdom's version opened the following year on September 23, 1980.



At Disneyland in California, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad replaced the Mine Train Through Nature's Wonderland, which operated from 1960 to 1977. This earlier attraction was a slow-paced, narrated train tour that showcased animatronic animals and the scenic beauty of the American West. When Imagineer Tony Baxter designed Big Thunder Mountain, he paid homage to its predecessor by retaining the miniature Western town of Rainbow Ridge at the beginning of the ride, which served as the loading area for the original Mine Train. In Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom, the site was originally intended for a massive "Western River Expedition" boat ride (similar to Pirates of the Caribbean but with a cowboy theme). However, due to the high demand for a thrill ride and the popularity of Pirates, the elaborate boat ride was scrapped in favor of the "runaway mine train" concept. Today, the 1880s-themed mining town of Tumbleweed in the Florida version stands as a testament to the rugged, "wildest ride in the wilderness" spirit that replaced these earlier visions.

People Also Ask

Inspired by real-life Bryce Canyon, the Hoodoos of Big Thunder in Disneyland as seen from the Big Thunder Trail that passes behind the ride.

MORE DETAILS

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is now closed at Magic Kingdom, kicking off a short refurbishment. The refurbishment will only last 5 days, and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad will reopen on January 14, 2023. Because of the short refurbishment time, we don't expect significant changes to be made to the attraction.

MORE DETAILS

Magic Kingdom's Splash Mountain creatures sang their last notes in January of 2023, and Disneyland's on May 31, 2023. Now, the ride has closed its doors forever. The brand new ride replacing it, Tiana's Bayou Adventure, is inspired by Tiana, the radiant star of the 2009 animated hit The Princess and the Frog.

MORE DETAILS

Tiana's Bayou Adventure is a new attraction replacing Splash Mountain at Disneyland and Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World.

MORE DETAILS

Disneyland temporarily closes Space Mountain for refurbishment.

MORE DETAILS

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at Disneyland park will be closed for a refurbishment beginning on April 3, 2023. The Disneyland calendar currently only goes through April 3, so a reopening date for Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is not yet available. It will likely be a relatively basic refurbishment.

MORE DETAILS

One of the best Magic Kingdom rides! Big Thunder Mountain is one of the most underrated WDW rides! The wait can get kind of long on busy days but if you time it right, you won't wait more than 30-40 minutes. My whole family loves this roller coaster, we make sure to ride it every time we are in Magic Kingdom.

MORE DETAILS

# of Ride Units: Six trains exist, up to five can be running simultaneously.

MORE DETAILS

With a top speed of 36 mph, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is 9 mph faster than Space Mountain. Without the indoor coaster's canopy of darkness, however, Thunder Mountain somehow feels slower. The mine train coaster's three separate lift hills are an unusual feature, and the runtime is 3 minutes and 30 seconds.

MORE DETAILS

Details: Big Thunder Mountain Railroad will close for refurbishment on January 9th, reopening January 14th, 2023.

MORE DETAILS

The final death occurred in September 2003. As a train on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad headed up an incline into a tunnel, two bolts on the front locomotive's left wheel fell off. This caused the wheel axle to jam into the railroad ties, slamming the locomotive nose-down.

MORE DETAILS

Splash Mountain has permanently closed at Disneyland in California and Walt Disney World in Florida. While the structure and ride path will remain the same, the story will be changed to and rethemed to The Princess and the Frog Disney Animated movie based on New Orleans. There are a few reasons for this change.

MORE DETAILS

The project took three years to complete and had an amazing launch. However, the momentum for the land is decreasing. Because of that, Disney announced they will be closing Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge permanently. Galaxy's Edge is a themed land located in both California and Florida.

MORE DETAILS

Disneyland's Space Mountain will be closed for a lengthy refurbishment next month. The closure begins September 18, 2023, and will last through mid-Fall 2023.

MORE DETAILS