Following a 16 month closure, Huge Thunder Mountain Railroad has reopened at Walt Disney World. This covers our overview of the refurbished experience, adjustments to the basic Magic Kingdom attraction, and what else remains to be coming.
As fundamental background, Huge Thunder Mountain Railroad closed for a prolonged refurbishment undertaking early final January. The experience was down for over a full 12 months for a “crevasse-deep to mountain-top refurbishment” along with “new magic” being added to the attraction. The experience returned earlier this month to a lot pleasure and fanfare…plus one minor fireplace.
I’ve had an opportunity to experience the refreshed Huge Thunder Mountain Railroad a number of instances, and am nonetheless within the strategy of doing area testing to replace our 2026 Magic Kingdom Rope Drop & Early Entry Technique. With each Frontierland points of interest up and working with standby traces and Lightning Lanes for the primary time since earlier than Splash Mountain closed, the dynamic is just about again to ~2019 regular. In any case, I needed to share some ideas on the adjustments, beginning with a tease of what’s nonetheless to return…
Opossum Optimism
Throughout a latest media occasion at Walt Disney World, we had an opportunity to listen to a presentation by management about how they reinvest in basic experiences, spending a whole bunch of thousands and thousands of {dollars} every year within the parks & resorts. These efforts and expenditures are a part of a broad effort to make sure present experiences obtain the care, to keep up the visitor expertise.
As a part of that presentation, Michael Hundgen, Imagineering Portfolio Govt for Walt Disney World Resort and Sarah Riles, VP of Magic Kingdom, mentioned the latest refurbishment to Huge Thunder Mountain Railroad. They defined how Imagineering and Amenities Asset Administration collaborated for years on planning and logistics to make sure the undertaking wasn’t derailed.
Regardless of outward appearances, the Huge Thunder Mountain Railroad undertaking was large in magnitude with plenty of transferring components. Suffice to say, it isn’t straightforward to interchange your complete observe, experience automobiles, management system, and different important infrastructure, all in an operational theme park and round present thematic environments.
They had been significantly happy with the engineering crew’s potential to extend the long-lasting experience’s reliability, whereas additionally making it a extra snug expertise that extra friends can get pleasure from by advantage of the lowered peak requirement (as mentioned beneath).
Imagineering likewise was eager to have an prolonged quantity of downtime to repair long-broken results and visible gags, whereas giving the city of Tumbleweed a lot wanted TLC. And they need to be, as a result of it appears to be like improbable. One of many causes that I preserve using time and again is attempting to identify all the updates on this blink and also you’ll miss it scene. (As a facet word, this makes me actually miss the Walt Disney World Railroad much more proper now!)
In addition they touched on one factor about which diehard Walt Disney World followers have been displeased on this scene: The Curious Case of the Omitted Opossums.
For many who haven’t already grabbed the pitchforks over the opossums disappearance and are unfamiliar with these cute (or creepy) critters, this household of little fellas hung by their tails from a tree’s branches outdoors the city of Tumbleweed on one of many straightaways aboard Huge Thunder Mountain. (The tree is simply out of body within the above photograph.)
And simply so everyone seems to be on the identical web page, this can be a household of opossums, versus possums. If we’re going to be sticklers for thematic integrity, we should always do not forget that Huge Thunder Mountain is ready within the American West, not Australasia. And whereas we’re at it, the gorgeous beasts on Dwelling with the Land are bison, not buffalo. (Simply having some enjoyable–I’m a agency supporter of utilizing conversational language and colloquialisms!)
Anyway, the opossums had been eliminated throughout refurbishment and didn’t return when Huge Thunder Mountain Railroad reopened. The rationale they’ve but to return is because of security clearance when Disney performed experience envelope testing. For many who are unfamiliar with that time period, the experience envelope testing checks rider attain to make sure even friends with the widest wingspan can not contact something within the perimeter of the attraction.
The opossums apparently failed that, so Disney is engaged on discovering a technique to deliver them again. However Walt Disney World assured us that the little fellas are returning, they simply have to make some changes first that might not be achieved earlier than the experience reopened.
New Monitor & Trains
As talked about above by Magic Kingdom’s VP, the important thing a part of the refurbishment was putting in a brand new observe and refreshed passenger trains. These updates had been rigorously deliberate to protect the basic attraction’s trademark hootin’ and hollerin’ power, whereas including freshness to the expertise.
When using the refreshed Huge Thunder, the observe substitute is straight away evident. The experience is easy as an alternative of clickety clackety, thrilling as an alternative of needlessly punishing. I do know some followers favor the tough experience for the sake of the runaway mine prepare theme, and I get that. However I’m additionally getting previous. At my age, I can nonetheless do extremely intense coasters, however not tough ones.
To every their very own, however I view the smoother experience as a giant win. I can now loop BTMRR endlessly (and have already got!) with out my again and butt regretting the choice. Huge Thunder Mountain Railroad is each bit as quick and exhilarating as earlier than, simply minus the tough experience.
As a mother or father to a toddler, I’m additionally trying ahead to benefiting from that lowered peak requirement of 38” (down from 40″). This will not appear to be a giant deal, but it surely’s big for younger households. We simply reached the 35″ milestone and did Chip ‘n’ Dale’s GADGETcoaster for the primary time, which was really horrible within the second however has since turn into a degree of delight and pleasure, and look ahead to BTMRR as our daughter’s first “massive” coaster when she’s prepared. Two inches may transfer that ahead by a full 12 months or extra!
No matter all that, putting in a brand new observe & trains and reducing the peak requirement by “solely” two inches shouldn’t be the sort of factor that will get Walt Disney World followers excited. I’m not right here to let you know that it ought to, however I do need to provide a little bit of context.
First, one of these preventative work is essential to increase the lifetime of the curler coaster, guaranteeing the experience’s longevity and operational standing for many years to return. As followers of basic points of interest, we needs to be completely happy to see their future secured. (I’d additionally word that that is particularly vital at BTMRR, which has a observe document of points arising from deferred upkeep.)
Second, one of these asset funding isn’t precisely low cost! We aren’t aware of undertaking budgets, however this principally amounted to constructing a brand new curler coaster and refreshing the present thematic components. Whereas not as costly as a brand-new attraction, this most likely price much more than you’d count on.
Traditionally, that is the kind of non-marketable upkeep undertaking that Walt Disney World has been reluctant to undertake till completely obligatory given the financial and time price, with little needle-moving upside for attendance and visitor spending. For years and years, we’ve virtually begged Walt Disney World to be extra like Disneyland, specializing in upkeep and present high quality requirements. That is that!
Actually, it’s our understanding that Imagineering has tried to take BTMRR down for multi-month or year-long refurbishments a number of instances during the last decade, however identical to the mountain itself, Walt Disney World management pushed again. Because of this, prolonged initiatives that had been beforehand deliberate received truncated into routine ‘duct tape’ upkeep to maintain the curler coaster working slightly longer.
Whereas the experience has had a lot of winter closures for a number of weeks to over a month within the final a number of years, the final prolonged closure was in 2016 when Huge Thunder Mountain Railroad was down for 4 months within the late summer time and early fall. Previous to that, BTMRR had a number of closures in 2012 for upkeep and set up of the interactive queue.
Each different worldwide model of Huge Thunder Mountain Railroad has had lengthier closures in recent times. Essentially the most notable of those was BTMRR at Disneyland in 2013-2014, which yielded a lot of the identical finish outcomes with changed or refreshed infrastructure, together with a whole restoration of the Rainbow Ridge Mining City and an explosive finale. The Disneyland ‘blueprint’ for this undertaking undoubtedly set expectations for lots of Walt Disney World followers.
Expanded BTMRR Backstory
The story of Huge Thunder Mountain Railroad dates again to the early days of America’s first main gold rush. When Barnabas T. Bullion struck gold within the Huge Thunder area, he noticed a future stuffed with riches and hustled to start out the Huge Thunder Mountain Firm. At first, the gold flowed freely.
Nonetheless, these shiny goals hardly ever come with no price, and Bullion rapidly discovered himself in a battle with the forces of nature and in a complete heap of hassle. The simple pickings began to dwindle by the day. Miners had been compelled to dig deeper and deeper into the mountainside.
Unusual and unexplainable issues rapidly began taking place. Regardless of Bullion’s efforts to proceed to push ahead at full velocity, machines and gear started to fail. Cave-ins shut miners out of wealthy strikes, and rumbles of thunder got here from deep contained in the indignant mountain.
As Bullion’s grand operation crumbles beneath the burden of the protecting forces of the mountain, a considerable vein of gold hasn’t been present in months contained in the mines, and only a few miners (outdoors a number of, courageous seekers) stay based mostly within the space.
That’s the experience premise in a nutshell. The Barnabas T. Bullion and Huge Thunder Mining Firm tall story was already certainly one of our favourite backstories at Walt Disney World, and this simply heightens it for me. I additionally admire that it’s not essential to know or perceive all of this to understand BTMRR.
A CliffsNotes model of the story is signposted by the attraction itself and evident to even informal riders. That’s precisely how this needs to be, with a floor degree story that’s clear to all together with deeper particulars and lore for the diehards. Huge Thunder threads that needle completely, and is an effective distinction to close by Tiana’s Bayou Journey, which manages the precise reverse: each method an excessive amount of lore and never sufficient on-ride story.
Enhanced Rainbow Caverns
All through the refurbishment, Imagineering teased that Huge Thunder Mountain Railroad would reopen with “new magic” for Walt Disney World followers to find.
One such second comes when the trains rattle their method underground to spectacular pure caverns stuffed with phosphorescent swimming pools, shimmering and illuminating iridescent stalagmites (those on the ground) and stalactites (those on the ceiling). There’s additionally a veritable swarm of bats.
The brand new lighting bundle here’s a loving nod to Disneyland’s defunct Mine Prepare By means of Nature’s Wonderland. It’s vibrant and majestic, and provides lots to the attraction’s opening act. As one of many longest ‘scenes’ on this curler coaster, bettering this was a wise transfer.
What I most admire is that this scene’s easy and easy conveyance of the aforementioned story. With a flash of lightning, the wonder offers technique to ominous crimson lighting that warns you one thing’s about to go terribly flawed and it is advisable to depart (pictured beneath). This isn’t something mind-blowing, but it surely’s efficient and properly completed.
Mom Lode of Gold Finale
Essentially the most controversial change to Huge Thunder Mountain Railroad comes within the finale. For over a 12 months, Walt Disney World followers had speculated in regards to the explosive ending with dynamite blasting riders out of the mountain discovered at Disneyland.
Whereas we initially assumed that might be added, we’ve been cautioning readers not to get their hopes up for that since final August. Even so, followers had been understandably disillusioned when the dynamite finale wasn’t cloned over. It’s a enjoyable impact that works properly (when it really works).
I’m not going to fixate on this an excessive amount of because it’s certain to be an unpopular opinion, however I just like the Mom Lode of Gold finale at Magic Kingdom’s Huge Thunder Mountain Railroad. However maybe I’m only a MK Mountain Vary contrarian, as a result of I additionally want our Area Mountain!
I admire that the gold finale is completely different on every coast. The shimmering strike being in plain sight however simply out of attain suits each the story and the cautionary story nature of the attraction. If you wish to be pedantic, I additionally suppose it’s attainable to query the why? of the dynamite finale at Disneyland inside the story.
On the identical time, I additionally acknowledge that the Mom Lode of Gold finale was undoubtedly cheaper than the explosive ending at Disneyland. That’s unquestionably the larger wow-moment and extra enjoyable impact. It’s extra bold and spectacular, regardless of being over a decade older.
The Mom Lode of Gold finale may’ve been even higher than that with fashionable expertise, plus a bit extra money and time spent on it. With this being such a prolonged closure, it’s disappointing that Disney didn’t make investments extra in an precise show-stopping scene right here.
I additionally suppose that the execution right here is simply okay, and it may’ve been conveyed extra successfully that the mountain isn’t letting you have got the gold. So whereas this finale is healthier than what was right here earlier than, it nonetheless falls wanting affordable expectations.
Ultimately, the Mom Lode of Gold finale seems like a missed alternative. That is unlucky, particularly since Imagineers clearly put plenty of love into this undertaking, fixing long-dormant results and making Huge Thunder Mountain Railroad appear and feel the very best it has since I’ve been visiting as an grownup. However by failing to grab the chance so as to add one thing show-stopping after such a prolonged undertaking, WDW diehards are going to stroll away saying “that’s it?”
Finally, the refurbishment of Huge Thunder Mountain Railroad doesn’t reinvent the wheel. Few followers are going to expertise this and consider the experience as having been redone or reimagined. Regardless that, satirically sufficient, the observe substitute and new trains make it nearer to “all new” than any of the just lately refreshed rides that we’re extra prone to view as reimagined.
The enhancements to Huge Thunder Mountain Railroad are vital. Most of them simply aren’t as seen as these in different smaller-scale, shorter initiatives. Even so, the expanded backstory, new lighting within the Rainbow Caverns, and Mom Lode of Gold finale, amongst different issues, are all appreciated enhancements.
Huge Thunder Mountain Railroad is a basic for good motive, and it’s nice to have this iconic attraction working at Magic Kingdom for the primary time in over a 12 months. It’s additionally improbable to see Walt Disney World investing in wanted upkeep, preservation, and TLC.
A ton of time, cash, and keenness was invested into this year-plus observe substitute and prime to backside refurbishment undertaking, restoring long-dormant results, bettering present scenes, and different little issues. It may appear fundamental, however that’s the kind of factor we’re used to seeing Disneyland do, however Walt Disney World a lot much less so.
Greater than the guest-facing adjustments, the Huge Thunder Mountain Railroad undertaking is important in what it symbolizes. It’s one of these undertaking that makes me extra assured each Walt Disney Imagineering and Walt Disney World are heading in the right direction, headed within the right path. Right here’s hoping it doesn’t get derailed earlier than future initiatives can come to fruition.
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Your Ideas
Have you ever skilled the refreshed Huge Thunder Mountain Railroad? What did you consider the brand new observe, trains, Rainbow Caverns, Mom Lode of Gold finale, or the rest? Excited for the long-lasting attraction to be again? Do you agree or disagree with our evaluation? Any questions we will help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even once you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!
