⛏️ Big Thunder Mountain – The Wildest Ride in Disneyland Paris!
If there’s one ride that screams “bucket list” at Disneyland Paris, it’s Big Thunder Mountain. This isn’t just any mine train—it’s the legendary island adventure that’s earned its title as the best version on Earth (sorry, Florida and California). Open since 1992 and recently refreshed, it’s got a backstory as rich as its queue is long, and a finale that’ll leave you grinning like a prospector who’s struck gold.
💥 Related:
✨ Book Your Disneyland Paris Adventure!
- 📅 Book stays up to April 2026
- 💳 Pay in easy instalments
- 🔄 Flexible booking: change or cancel free up to 7 days before arrival
- 🎟️ Park tickets included with every package
Big Thunder Mountain – Disneyland Paris Ride Guide
Location: Frontierland, Disneyland Park
Opened: 12 April 1992
Type: Runaway mine train coaster
Track Length: 1,500 metres (longest version worldwide!)
Max Speed: 67 km/h (42 mph)
Launch: Standard lift hill (plus two underwater tunnels!)
Height Restriction: 1.02 m (just tall enough for the average 5-year-old adventurer)
Ride Duration: 3.5–4 minutes of pure yeehaw
Inversions: None (unless you count your stomach)
Capacity: About 2,400 riders per hour—if you catch a quiet moment
Single Rider Line: Not currently available
Premier Access: Yes—grab it on busy days if you want to skip the queue
Accessibility: Must transfer from wheelchair; no loose hats or bags
🏆 What Makes Paris’s Big Thunder Mountain Unique?
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It’s on its own island! Yes, you actually blast through underwater tunnels to and from the mountain—exclusive to Paris.
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Legendary dynamite finale: The last tunnel features booming sound, lights, and that heart-stopping drop.
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Scenery for days: Panoramic Frontierland views, haunted town ruins, a flooded mineshaft, and wild animatronic wildlife.
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Backstory bonanza: The whole ride is set in the cursed mining town of Thunder Mesa, haunted by supernatural forces after the miners disturbed sacred land. (Didn’t read the warning? Oops.)
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Night rides are something else: Watch the lights flicker across the river and catch Phantom Manor glowing in the distance.
📜 Backstory – The Curse of Thunder Mesa
Long ago, the mining town of Thunder Mesa was booming—gold fever, fortune seekers, and a railway built to haul it all out. But legend has it the mountain was sacred ground, watched over by the spirit of the Thunderbird. When greedy miners dug too deep, mysterious accidents started happening—tracks rattled, trains ran wild, and eerie voices echoed in the dark.
Now, every train that barrels out is said to be “run by ghosts,” and if you listen carefully, you’ll spot details that tell the story: abandoned camps, haunted mine shafts, even the ruins of the original Thunder Mesa settlement. Every trip through the tunnels is a race to escape the curse! (Don’t say I didn’t warn you…)
🚂 What to Expect
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Three lift hills (with classic rattling chains and the occasional cackling voice)
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Underground tunnels, pitch-black twists, and a surprise splash or two
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Animatronic bats, donkeys, goats, and even the odd ghostly miner
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The loudest, most explosive ending of any Big Thunder on Earth—seriously, it’s a banger!
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If you ride at sunset, the lights and river views are unbeatable
📝 Need-To-Know Tips
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Best time to ride: First thing in the morning, or during parades/fireworks when crowds thin out.
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Want a wetter ride? Ask for the back carriage—it’s slightly splashier (and wilder).
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Queue tips: Most of the line is outdoors. Sunscreen up and bring water in summer!
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Phantom Manor pairing: Hit BTM, then hop straight to Phantom Manor—same spooky storyline, zero walking.
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Glasses and hats: Hang onto them! The tunnels get windy and it’s not fun chasing your specs across Frontierland.
👨👩👦 For Families & Thrill Seekers
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Suitable for adventurous kids (1.02m+), but not recommended for babies or nervous riders.
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There are no loops, but you will get some serious air time.
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Nervous? Sit in the middle carriages—they’re the smoothest.
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Keep your eyes peeled: every scene tells part of the Thunder Mesa legend.
🍔 Where to Refuel Nearby
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Last Chance Café: Tex-Mex snacks, chicken wings, and fries right next door.
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Casa De Coco Restaurant: Tacos, burritos, and cool drinks in a relaxed setting.
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The Lucky Nugget Saloon: Full table service, live music, burgers and sundaes—worth booking ahead.
Snack tip: If you need a post-ride treat, grab a churro from the cart by the river and watch the next train whoosh by!
🪙 Fun Fact!
Paris’s Big Thunder Mountain is not just the best, it’s the longest and fastest version in the world—nearly twice as long as California’s. The dynamite explosion finale is a Paris exclusive, and eagle-eyed fans will spot a tribute to the original Imagineers in the mining offices.
🎉 Final Thoughts
If you’re only going to do one coaster at Disneyland Paris, make it this one. The story, the setting, the ride—nothing compares! Whether you’re a thrill junkie or just want to tick off a theme park legend, Big Thunder Mountain will leave you grinning, adrenaline buzzing, and probably singing “Heigh-Ho” for the rest of the day. Hold onto your hats, partner… this really is the wildest ride in the wilderness! 🤠
Big Thunder Mountain Tips
Always, always, ALWAYS choose the left hand queue as most people instinctively join the right hand queue as this is the first queue you can enter (plus most people are right handed & its natural)
For the biggest & fastest thrill ask to be seated at the back in rows 12-16. For a much “slower feel” & gentler ride then sit nearer the front or middle.
This is a safe rollercoaster for kids which DOES NOT go upside down or have any inversions.
If you have anyone who is sensitive to noise such as autistic etc then please bear in mind that inside the tunnels & during lift pulls the noise can be very loud.
Make sure you hats & glasses as well as bags are secure on boarding the train.
Only those who measure 102cm or above will be allowed to ride & they are very strict with this.
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