Big Thunder Mountain
7/10
Photos (5)
Highs and lows
Highs
- Amazing theming & Location
- Insanely Long Ride
- Unique Elements & Effects
- A real sense of Adventure
Lows
- Pacing is not the best
- Still a bit bumpy at times
The numbers
40.4mph
Top speed
72.2ft
Height
3,953ft
Length
0
Inversions
Our review
Introduction
Big Thunder Mountain is a 1992 Vekoma mine train coaster at Disneyland Park in Paris, France. This, together with Space Mountain, forms an iconic duo of coasters that appear at most Disney resorts around the world. However, this does not mean that the rides are exact clones; in fact, they are often quite different depending on which resort you are visiting. At the time of this review, we have only visited the Paris resort and, therefore, won't be drawing many comparisons between the different versions of Big Thunder.
We were very excited to ride this magnificent island-based mine train coaster, and it definitely lived up to the hype as one of the best family coasters we have ridden.
We were very excited to ride this magnificent island-based mine train coaster, and it definitely lived up to the hype as one of the best family coasters we have ridden.
The Bigger the Mountain, the Bigger the Thunder
The Bigger the Mountain, the Bigger the Thunder:Situated in the Rivers of the Far West area of the park, Big Thunder Mountain sits proudly as the land's centerpiece, surrounded by a large lake that the Molly Brown and Mark Twain riverboats traverse. Though the station sits on the mainland, the large mountain peak isn't just a cool piece of theming for the area, but an actual part of the ride that the coaster is centered around.
The Paris version of Big Thunder Mountain is currently the longest in the world, and this is because the coaster has to travel from the station out to the island, traverse the island course, and then make its way back again. It does this by utilizing two large underwater tunnels that both start and end this epic family coaster.
The almost 4,000-foot-long track length can really be felt, as Big Thunder feels like a proper adventure - constantly diving in and out of tunnels and caves around its large mountain structure. This just proves that for mine train coasters, size really does matter.
The Paris version of Big Thunder Mountain is currently the longest in the world, and this is because the coaster has to travel from the station out to the island, traverse the island course, and then make its way back again. It does this by utilizing two large underwater tunnels that both start and end this epic family coaster.
The almost 4,000-foot-long track length can really be felt, as Big Thunder feels like a proper adventure - constantly diving in and out of tunnels and caves around its large mountain structure. This just proves that for mine train coasters, size really does matter.
Teaching an Old Dog, Old Tricks
In June 2025, Big Thunder Mountain reopened after a six-month major refurbishment. This included technical upgrades, major TLC for the scenery and mountain facade, the restoration of animatronics, and some retracking work. It's fantastic to see how well they take care of this coaster, and while we hadn't ridden it prior to this refurbishment, we can safely say that these upgrades are important because this ride really does have quite a lot of tricks up its sleeves.
First off, Big Thunder has two massive tunnel sections taking place in complete darkness - one at the beginning and one at the end of the ride. These are the moments when the coaster travels to and from the island where the main layout takes place. During the ride itself, you get treated to many interesting and unique elements. We should also mention that this coaster has four, yes four, chain lifts. While the final one is just a supporting mechanism to get you back to the station, the other three are actual hills you climb during the layout. During these many lift hills, you will be subjected to loud and immersive sound effects, animal animatronics, and waterfalls, and one of the chain lifts is even slightly tilted. One of them also has the unique distinction of being insanely loud near the peak.
These effects, along with the splashdown water cannons on the final drop outside, are exactly what have been refurbished and restored to their former glory, ensuring that this monster mine train can thrill families for many years to come.
First off, Big Thunder has two massive tunnel sections taking place in complete darkness - one at the beginning and one at the end of the ride. These are the moments when the coaster travels to and from the island where the main layout takes place. During the ride itself, you get treated to many interesting and unique elements. We should also mention that this coaster has four, yes four, chain lifts. While the final one is just a supporting mechanism to get you back to the station, the other three are actual hills you climb during the layout. During these many lift hills, you will be subjected to loud and immersive sound effects, animal animatronics, and waterfalls, and one of the chain lifts is even slightly tilted. One of them also has the unique distinction of being insanely loud near the peak.
These effects, along with the splashdown water cannons on the final drop outside, are exactly what have been refurbished and restored to their former glory, ensuring that this monster mine train can thrill families for many years to come.
Disney After Dark
Disney After Dark:Normally, we like to get several rides in on every major coaster at a park to make sure we get a proper feel for the layout, and perhaps try it near both the front and the back of the train. However, that can be hard to do at a place like Disneyland Paris, where the queues can get very long. Big Thunder Mountain's queue sat at around an hour for most of our visit (though when the posted wait dropped to 40–45 minutes, it was always undershot by at least 15 minutes). Despite this, we knew we had to secure at least two rides on this coaster, and one of them had to be a night ride, which we finally achieved at the end of day two.
This really is one of those golden night rides. Being out on that island in the dark, feeling isolated from the rest of the park while simultaneously being the lit-up centerpiece that people all around the river are taking pictures of - is a truly special feeling. The already immersive ride experience becomes extra adventurous and exciting at night (not that it wasn't already!), making it a must-do experience that you should absolutely prioritize during your visit.
This really is one of those golden night rides. Being out on that island in the dark, feeling isolated from the rest of the park while simultaneously being the lit-up centerpiece that people all around the river are taking pictures of - is a truly special feeling. The already immersive ride experience becomes extra adventurous and exciting at night (not that it wasn't already!), making it a must-do experience that you should absolutely prioritize during your visit.
The Nerdy Stuff
For the more nerdy enthusiasts, we do quickly want to mention the ride experience, forces, and comfort. As previously mentioned, Big Thunder Mountain is a very large family-thrill coaster, sitting at roughly 4,000 feet long, 72 feet tall, and with a top speed of 40 mph. This top speed is actually quite interesting considering the relatively modest 39-foot maximum drop, but this is very much a coaster that spends a large portion of its layout slowly picking up speed, culminating in the final underwater tunnel. The ride is not particularly forceful, mostly dipping into mild positives and laterals, and you won't find much airtime on a ride like this. Big Thunder focuses much more on speed, and the tunnels in particular can provoke a bit of that "out-of-control" feeling that most enthusiasts enjoy, given that they are quite loud and pitch black. Thankfully, these tunnel sections are also very smooth, thanks to the 2025 refurbishment where the majority of that specific track was replaced. You shouldn't, however, expect a glass-smooth ride, as the 30-plus years of age on this classic mine train can still be felt. It can be a bit bumpy at times, and the final lift hill - where the chain abruptly catches the train - can be a bit jarring if you're not expecting it, so be mindful of that.
Conclusion
Big Thunder Mountain is an elite family coaster. Scores of 7.0 and higher are almost exclusively reserved for thrill coasters, so achieving this really speaks to the overall quality of the ride - but it comes as no surprise when you take into account the full Big Thunder experience. The coaster is incredibly impressive in terms of scale, theming, and immersion, largely thanks to its beautiful mid-lake placement. It is also exceptionally long and features many different elements, including some very unique ones. While not overly forceful, the layout is excellent, utilizing its theming and location beautifully, and the sense of speed is fantastic in the enclosed sections. Finally, the track is mostly smooth following its 2025 refurbishment, leaving only a few bumpy spots and a harsh bonk at one of the lift hills.
All in all, Big Thunder Mountain is one of our absolute favorite family coasters out there, and it is a Disney icon for a reason. It feels like a proper adventure - especially at night - and will always remain a top priority when visiting Disneyland Park in Paris.
All in all, Big Thunder Mountain is one of our absolute favorite family coasters out there, and it is a Disney icon for a reason. It feels like a proper adventure - especially at night - and will always remain a top priority when visiting Disneyland Park in Paris.
All photos
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