So how is big thunder mountain??

[PrincessTiffany]

My kids have been riding BTMRR and ToT since they were about 4 years old.

 

[PoohsFan1]

BTMRR is not as thrilling as say EE or ToT. BTMRR is one of my DD6 and DD8's favorite ride in MK, therefore we are constantly going on this ride (we are always getting FPs for BTMRR, Splash, and Space Mountain). I am like you I don't like ToT at all, in fact I refuse to even try it because I hate rides that free fall. I know I should try it at least once, but I have been on enough of those rides to say "Uh-Uh". If you like TT, then you are going to like BTMRR, there are little dips and some turns, but not much to worry about. The thing with BTMRR is that when you go up on an incline, it looks as if you are going to go down a big drop, but you actually don't....Disney does a great job of psyching people out. Don't worry and have fun

 

[Dixiemom]

I'm poultry as well......I find that the ride videos on You Tube help a LOT!!! They have put me at ease for several rides.......you might want to check them out We'll be riding BTMR for the first time in a couple of weeks. DS (9) refuses to do Splash Mtn. because of that drop.....I am going to try and get him to watch the video with me, even though we watched it come down several times last June......maybe he'll change his mind (although I am still chicken, but would do it if he will)....

 

[Goldenbear6]

Big Thunder is probably the best true roller coaster at WDW. It is not scary, but the atmosphere is really good. Give it a try, you won't be disappointed.

 

[kathyell]

Why take our word for it? (Other than the fact that the people on the DIS are brilliant.) There are first-person perspective videos all over YouTube for pretty much any WDW/DLR/etc. ride that allows video cameras (and some that don't, too, unfortunately.)

So head on over to YouTube and search for Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and I betcha you'll find a dozen or more vids that will give you a rough idea what the ride is like. I wouldn't recommend this to someone who wanted to be surprised by a ride, but I think having a couple of spoilers would put you more at ease.

 

[PrincessBetsy]

If you loved test track, I'm sure you will enjoy BTM. BTM is one of my favorite rides at the MK and is quite tame compared to other roller coasters. The lines can get really long in the afternoon though, so either head over there early or get a fastpass.

I also love ToT! The theme is awesome and there are so many details throughout the attraction! I was kind of scared the first time I rode it, but I absolutely loved it. If you think you can handle it, I would definitely recommend it!

I hope you decide to give BTM a chance, but most important, have a magical trip!!

 

[POB14]

Thunder is the ONLY roller coaster I've ever ridden. Two years ago, DD(then)8 wanted to ride it badly, and since she has Dad wrapped around her little finger . . . well, okay.

So we FASTPASS it, of course, and have some great discussions about that ("Dad, don't all these people know about FASTPASS? Why are they standing in that long line?") while I assess the potential damage to my Dad-Fu if I bolt for the chicken exit.

Anyway, we get to the top, and I don't bail, and we get in and down comes the lap bar, and "Hold on to your glasses, 'cause this here's the WILDEST ride west of the Pecos!" or whatever that goofball says.

And I'm assessing the potential damage to my Dad-Fu, my ego, and my ankle if I jump out of the darned thing RIGHT NOW.

And off we go! Slightly edited transcript of my running commentary on the ride:

"Here we go . . . oof, that was kind of jerky . . . oooOOOOHHHHWE'REGONNA
DIEohthisisn'tsoAAAHHHWE'REALLGONNADIEthisisactuallykindofGONNADIE
RIGHTNOWokaythewindinthehairissortofcoolHOLYCRACKERSMYBUTTJUST
CAUGHTSOMEAIRoohlookcooldinosaurbones . . . wait, it's over already? I can do that!"

And we went back the following year, and I actually enjoyed it (I even put my arms up once)! (Missed MK this trip, so we didn't do it - but I'm sure we'll do it again!

Moral: If I can do it, you can! No big drops at all, just a lot of fast turns. And lots of cool things to see, if you can open your eyes.

 

[BLTLDZ]

If you liked Test Track and Splash then you would probably enjoy BTMR. It doesn't go nearly as fast as TT and the hills are small. Give it a try!

I love thrill rides, but I can't do TOT. It was just too scary for me! Not the theme, which was awesome, but the fact that I didn't know when the drop(s) would come...that freaks me out. You know that feeling you get going down the big drop on Splash? Imagine that, magnified 10 times, for a bit longer...and in the dark. That's TOT.

YIKES!! I wouldn't be able to handle that anxiety.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Actually I credit Disney with helping to turn me into a recovering ride baby.

I don't do roller coasters much, and I am still unsure about certain ones, but after forcing myself to ride ToT and RnRC, I've gotten to the point where I can ride anything at WDW without fear. 2009 was my first time on BTMRR.

There isn't any major drop to the ride, and since it is built around a "mountain", you don't get the feeling that you are high up in the air (like you would on a regular roller coaster). And according to Wikipedia, maximum speed is 30mph.

I think you will like it. It's one of my favorites.

 

[Tomh]

There are a number of thrill rides that I won't go near. I will do Splash, but I don't enjoy it (unfortunately, DS6 LOVES it, so I ride with him). BTMRR is a fantastic ride though, and I completely enjoy it. We rode it many times last trip, and can't wait to get back for our first ride on it this summer.

 

[TillyMarigold]

I consider myself a ride chicken, but I don't even know why people call Test Track a thrill ride! OTOH, Splash terrifies me. I *hate* drops.

Anyway, BTMRR is one of my favorite rides.

So, this is what *I* would do: Start out doing it as "easy" as possible the first time: ride early in the day, preferably standby (not FastPass), and ask to sit near the front. If you sit near the front, you'll go down all the hills slowly because the weight of the rest of the train will slow you down. By the time the whole train is over the top of the hill, you'll be almost at the bottom of the drop.

*But* it seems like you like drops but don't like to go fast around turns, in which case it might not be the right ride for you.

BTW I did ride EE this last time and really liked it. This time I'm planning to try Space Mountain (it was closed when I was there).

 

[emptynestr]

I am a 30 year old baby
I get ride anxiety, but LOVED test track I screamed the whole time, but loved it.

Also, Tower of terror?? I don't think I have the guts for this...

Oh, not sure if this matters, but I also loved SPlash mountain.

I have a love/ hate relationship with ToT! It is thrilling for sure and I definitely think you should try it at least once ( I am a 53 year old grandmother, lol!)

Big Thunder is fun...granddaughter loved it but it broke down twice while we were there. BTW Test Track is my all-time favorite ride next to EE

 

[landshark]

BTMR is pretty tame compared to all of the other coasters there as it's a runaway mine train type; never goes very high/fast, just some sharp turns. If you're ok with TT and SM, BTMR is right up your alley. It's one of my favorite rides so I'll go on every chance I get. Even better later at night when you can just stay on and keep riding. Like TillyMarigold suggested, ride at the front if you're anxious--it really does lessen the intensity of a ride. I found this trick also makes EE more enjoyable for me even though it's much more intense.

ToT is the only ride I will never do again at WDW. To me, it cannot be compared with a roller coaster because it isn't one. If you're ok with the sensation of free-falling, then it might be ok. I'm not and apparently when we rode this past September we got the random sequence a lot of fans hope for--maximum number and distance of drops. Sure a lot of kids ride it, but a lot of kids also get off crying (which I did) so that logic just doesn't work well with me. At the very least though, if/when you do get the courage up, try it just to say you did it. Even if you hated it like I did, you'll still have a story.

 

[Missytara]

It is the first roller coaster I ever rode in my entire life, at the tender age of 31.

I loved it so much, I got right back in line to do it again.

A lady behind me asked how long the ride was, and I said, I dunno, maybe 2-1/2 to 3 minutes.

We timed it and it was 45 seconds. Boy, did I feel embarassed.....

 

[shelie girl]

My mom is NOT a ride person at all, but went on BTM and Test Trak. She wouldn't do BTM a second time ToT is another whole ball game! It's pretty intense, but there is a 'chicken elevator,' which we used twice for DD7.

 

[kaligal]

All the Disney coasters are weenie coasters. WDW is great for people who don't actually want to ride thrill rides, but would like to be a little adventurous. Nothing exciting for thrill junkies. Cedar Point it's not.

If you are truly frightened by all coasters, skip it. But as coasters go, BTMR isn't scary. You go up and down a tiny little bit and make a couple semi-sharp turns.

Tower of Terror goes up and down quickly. You sometimes get lifted a bit from the seat. It's fun, but not exactly the height of freight. Again, if you're too scared, skip it. It's just not that big a deal. Go ride TGMR or Toy Story. Watch Beauty and the Beast. Have a PB&J shake at 50s Prime Time. There's so much else to do.