Is Big Thunder Mountain Railroad LAME?

[MaxPower]

Does anyone think that Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is lame?

A friend of mine thinks it is. He was talking about how it's kind of false advertising to someone who wants to ride a roller coaster. Why? Because even though it is a coaster, it lacks many of the fun elements loved by coaster enthusiasts - there is no big drop (even though there IS a big climb). And even though there are some banked turns, the ride is fairly calm -almost like a kiddie coaster in adult size.

I know what he means. I also think, that with a lot of Disney attractions, it too was designed with the theming in mind rather than the thrills associated with coasters ( and I believe Disney also tried to modify this imbalance with Expedition Everest).

But I've never really thought of this: Someone who has never been to the Magic Kingdom before sees the ride from the queue, decides that it looks like a fun roller coaster and then waits a long time in line to ride it - I bet he would come out disappointed. It's definitely not what you'd think it would be just from observation.

What do you think?

[faline]

I'll admit - I'm a roller coaster chicken. However, I have ridden every coaster that Disney has - including Rock n Roller Coaster. Over the years, what I've appreciated about Disney is that those of us who are not thrilled with a thrill a second coasters have many choices at Disney. I've never thought this is "lame". If your friend thinks so, he needn't ride it. That, in fact, is one of Disney's attractions - there's something for everyone!

[Jillirose]

Over the years, what I've appreciated about Disney is that those of us who are not thrilled with a thrill a second coasters have many choices at Disney. Agree - BTM is just my speed. Even the coaster lovers in my family appreciate it - it's nostalgic like Splash.

[SBETigg]

I love that it doesn't go for big thrills. I think it's just right. If you're a big coaster enthusiast looking for the big thrills, yes, it's lame. But I think it's wonderful.

[joonyer]

Not lame, just tame. When compared to big high speed thrill coasters.

[gottaluvtink]

If I want thrill coasters, I go to Six Flags. I am glad that Disney does have "Milder" thrills. It is still fun for adults, and to those guests who aren't looking to be scared to death, it is something they can ride and enjoy. I am a coaster enthusiast, and a Six Flags season pass holder, but I thoroughly enjoy my annual trip to Disney for the theming and fun!

[Kenny1113]

No I would not say it is lame. I think fun is a more appropriate word. ;) It does not have the adrenaline rush, but IMHO that does not make it lame.

[ibelieveindisneymagic]

A lot of "first timers" to Disney are surprised that it doesn't have the big "thrill rides" like their local amusement park does. But, what they don't realize is that there is more to each ride, not just the big thrills.

I'm with Faline, I'm a huge chicken when it comes to rides, and I love how much there is that I CAN do at Disney, compared to a "regular" theme park.

[PETE FROM NYC]

I am definitely NOT a coaster person. I hate drops.
I rode Splash Mtn ONCE !!
Thunder Mtn is not too bad for me, I usually ride it at least once each trip.

[SandmanGStefani24]

can we have just one coaster that doesn't scare the :thedolls: out of us?? LOL

Thanks to WDW we have several! I like coasters, but don't care for ones that have extremes. (Intimidator 305 and Kingda Ka come to mind) I like a little fun, some minor Gs and some speed, but nothing too big. I prefer to have my thrills on the track. ;)

Lame is a bad word for it. I think it's more of a ride that's for everyone. Old, young, coaster chicken, and coaster king. For those looking for a near death experience, the Tower and Aerosmith's ride are waiting. :D

[MstngDrvnDsnyLvr]

As a coaster chicken - BIG ONE - I hate the click, click, click of the big climb and actually chickened out and left hubby to ride alone last time we visited. I'm hoping I don't do the same next summer with my DD. As for Splash Mtn and Space Mtn....Nope, Bock, Bock, Bock - ain't riding. And don't even mention RockNRoller or Everest. :hide2::scared::medic:

[dtootsie42]

Nope I don't think it is lame. I have ridden it in the past but my fear of coasters has gotten really out of control and I have not been able to ride it in some time. My girls (ages 20, 22 and 23) and my hubby love it and it is a must do every trip!

[AgentC]

I love love scary roller coaster with big drops. If I were rating BTM on that scale, I suppose it would be lame. I don't think it has one moment where you feel your stomach drop :) and when I was younger I was a bit disappointed with both BTM and SM.

But as I have gotten older, I really appreciate it for what it is. I love to ride it. It's fast enough to be fun and the theming is terrific.

There are enough parks that focus on scare the pants off of you roller coasts to make the enthusiasts happy. I like that Disney can give me am immersive experience that is still fun.

[Tink#64]

Everyone has their own feeling, opinions & expectations! Yes compared to other amusement parks coasters, BTM is tame, but that's what I love about WDW! We can ride all the rides as a family! I'm NOT a thrill junky, but I love the milder thrills at WDW & can enjoy them all with my DH & DS's! IMHO, EE is very much a thrill ride, but I do love it! But once per trip is really enough for me! I could ride BTM over & over, I love the twists & turns!

One reason I don't enjoy amusement parks for the most part is two fold: the long lines - absent of any type of themed que and most rides fall in two categories - kiddie or thrill rides! Neither of those two categories fit our family vacation.

There are alot of amusement parks out there for the thrill seekers & I'm just so glad for Walt's dream that we have all of the Disney parks that give the rest of us a place to enjoy, with a dollop of thrill rides thrown in for those that so choose! :mickey:

[disneydeb]

Not lame, just tame. When compared to big high speed thrill coasters.

Exactly what I was thinking! Disney has better "themed" rides than anyone. Others may have more thrilling coasters, but I'll take themed variety over thrills anyday!
:mickey:

[SelfmadeWade]

everybody seems to be missing the point of the original post.

i agree that BTMR is tame, or lame or whatever you wanna call it.

the point of the original post was that the guy thought it was false advertising - because it looks like a normal roller coaster ride from the front, but it's a different experience when you ride it.

if i had never ridden before and i was in front of BTMR, i would expect it to be a normal coaster- not just a quaint ride through some theming.

I bet some folks have waited a LONG time in line to take their first ever ride on BTMR and then exited disappointed.

if you are in front of the now-extinct Goofy's Barnstormer, you know that it's a kiddie ride - but in front of BTMR, it's kind of deceiving because until you ride it , you dont' realize it's basically a kiddie ride too.

no one denies that many people & children love non-thrill rides -but the fact that Disney built this ride in Frontierland and kind of pretend that it's a regular coaster is the question brought up in the original post. not whether or not there should be tamer rides.

[AgentC]

I'm not sure that it is false advertising. Of course, I might be biased since I knew what BTMR was like before I ever got on it. I tend to be an obsessive planner. ;)

I understand the point that you can't tell it is a mild coaster, but I think most wild coasters are obvious just from looking at them.

For example if you contrast BTMR with Sheikra at Busch Gardens Tampa, Sheikra dominates the skyline and the thrills (and super scary drop) are clear to the eye. In fact, I can not think of one coaster at BG that you can not see the dips, loops or turns before you get on. And when you compare it to Splash Mountain right next door, it is obvious Splash Mountain has a great drop at the end, but not so obvious what to expect from BTMR.

So I'm not really sure that it is false advertising on Disney's part as much as the popularity of the ride that makes people assume that the ride is more exciting than it is. Disney did create a theme that emphasize wild west but even the Disney website says "mild". I think it is the line of people that makes people think,
"wow, that ride must be something."

[Disney Hungarian]

Seriously???

A run-away mine train is false advertising it's self as a major thrill ride? I have been on many run-away mine trains. Six flags at Arlington and Knotts berry farms come to mind. I do not think I could confuse any of them nor the BTMRR to be a true "thrill ride." BTMRR is a classic in the true Disney sense. I have taken my 4 year old nephew on it as well as my then FIL at 76 years of age (RiP). He even had a pacemaker then and still loved it. Disney's parks are built on the premise that families can enjoy the rides together as a family. That is what Disney has excelled at. And thank goodness for that. If you want to have your lunch churned in your stomach on a ride; then there are plenty of other "amusement" parks to go to.

[JasonH]

IMO, I do not think it is false advertising. It is a roller coaster by all technical terms and as was stated earlier, it is even listed as being mild on their website. So it's a mild roller coaster, has the same or slightly less thrills like other mine train coasters I've been on, but unlike those others, this one is heavy on themeing and makes it a standout mine train coaster. If your friend thinks it's false advertising, also let him know that this coaster is about 40 years old too. You were lucky to find a coaster that had an upside down loop in it at that time. A lot has changed since then in the idea of what now is considered to be a true coaster when it comes to it's enthusiasts.

[DigitalDaredevil]

I love coasters. I have ridden the 400 footers and I have ridden the little ones. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad never disappoints me. It has some nice action to it, a great theme, and nice views of the area.
It is aggressive enough to satisfy hardcore coaster fans, but tame enough not to intimidate others. I always want to ride it again.

[btharvey]

Yet another for the "glad it's not Six Flags" category. I go to Disney for the environment, not for the thrill. Splash Mountain isn't about the drop (even though it is fun) ... it's about the ride. Same with PotC. BTMR is a quick little thrill that has three pulls and three twisty drops -- fun for all who are big enough to ride it.

Test Track isn't about the 60+ m.p.h. circuit of the building, it's about getting there. The end is strictly that -- the end. It's all part of the experience.

I don't think I'll ever go to a "thrills-only" park. Theming is too important to me.

[BigRedDad]

It is most likely the perception people have of thrill rides. Thrill rides are cutting edge, new technology. Something WDW was famous for until the early 80s and then again with RnRC and ToT. Unfortunately, everything that was once a "thrill" ride is now nothing much more than you would see at a State Fair. There are far more thrill rides at State Fairs now than WDW.

So, to consider them lame, I would tend to agree from a thrill perspective. However, from a theme perspective, there is not much competition for WDW. Seaworld, US, IoA, BG all have better thrill rides. I do wish WDW would innovate again.

[TheVBs]

I'm not sure how you can look at BTMRR and mistake it for a thrill coaster comperable to something at Six Flags or Busch Gardens. So, no, I don't think it's false advertising, especially when you can get online and research what it is.

I'm another chicken when it comes to roller coasters, even though I've tried all of WDW's at least once. I love that there are tamer coasters there that our whole family can enjoy. :mickey:

[indytraveler]

...Disney's parks are built on the premise that families can enjoy the rides together as a family. That is what Disney has excelled at. And thank goodness for that. If you want to have your lunch churned in your stomach on a ride; then there are plenty of other "amusement" parks to go to.

I agree totally, this is the same type of person who spends one day at WDW and says there's nothing to do. If you want fast coasters thrill rides, then there are several other parks in the country you can go to. Disney is themeing and family fun. It called the Most Magical or Happiest Place on Earth. Not the Wildest.

So yes, if you went to WDW in those pretenses that you wanted to be wowed and awed by the rides then you'd be disappointed in BTMRR. However, if you were there for the experience then you'd see the ride for what it is. A runaway train going thru the old west, er the wildest ride in the wilderness.

[MOJoe]

In defense of the guy who thought BTMR was not "as advertised", i may have an answer. This roller coaster provides both a thrilling ride and a much tamer version, depending on where you sit in the train. I suspect he was seated in front, where it seems you have to go halfway down the hill or around the turn before you gain enough speed to "have fun."
The back seat, however, gives a totally different experience. Here you find yourself jostled around at a much faster pace and given the feeling you are going to be thrown from your seat. So if you are expecting big thrills, you'll get them here. But not in the front of the train.

[plutosnana]

Not lame, just tame. When compared to big high speed thrill coasters.

Exactly.

:goofy:

[Patricia]

In defense of the guy who thought BTMR was not "as advertised", i may have an answer. This roller coaster provides both a thrilling ride and a much tamer version, depending on where you sit in the train.

It also gets more thrilling later in the day.. once the wheel lubricant's warm up, speeds can reach 36 mph. In the morning or after the ride has been down, the lubricant is cooler and top speeds are as low as 28 mph.

Not that 36 is really fast, but I do prefer the ride later in the day and it's even better in the dark.

[Mousemates]

Is it lame? Well, if the comparison is to the high-end coasters at Busch Gardens (say the Griffin at Williamsburg or SheiKra at Tampa-both of which i absolutely love) then it is somewhat on the lame (or weak) side in terms of the pure adrenaline rush it offers.

However, to me it and so many of the other rides at Disney are about so much more than just engaging the adrenal glands in an attempt to get them to dump their load into our bloodstream.

Disney rides are designed to engage the mind and the imagination as well, they tell and put you in a story...and thus to fully enjoy them requires a certain child-like willingness to let yourself become part of the story.

Those who have lost the willingness to mentally insert themselves into the storyline or who simply want the adrenaline dump will invariably find much of what Disney offers to be a little lame...but those of us who enjoy the story element, will continue to find magic in what we experience there.

All this coming from a guy who still enjoys the rush from big coasters too.

[Tink#64]

Wow! Kudo's Mousemates! Very well said! :tiphat:

[MissMaryPoppins]

I've never thought of Big Thunder Mountain as lame. I understand what your friend means but that's exactly why I like it. I always thought of that being more for fun with all the twists and the bumps instead of big drops for thrills.

My brother had a Disney wedding last month so most of our family was down for it. My mom and I took my 3 youngest boy cousins to the Magic Kingdom one evening and we had a great time. They knew exactly which rides they wanted to do and were really enjoying themselves. As we were getting out of our boat at the Pirates my youngest cousin, who's 11 looked at me and said "hmm...I didn't really like that one." I was a little shocked. I said "What? Are you nuts?" I told him how that was always a favorite of mine and my brother's and if the line wasn't too long we'd go again. I really thought he was enjoying it. I pointed out all the things I thought were cool when I was his age like the guy sitting on the bridge with his hairy leg, the drunk pirate giving beer to the cats, we wants the redhead. I mean, what's not to like?

[MstngDrvnDsnyLvr]

BTMR is exactly what it says it is - a runaway mine train ride. Carowinds has one at it's SC/NC park and guess what - it is almost exactly like the Disney ride in that there are no big drops, just twists and turns but it doesn't have the cool "landscaping" of the Disney ride. Same with ANY runaway mine train ride in any other park. It isn't for the drops, its for the twists and turns.
BTMR, Space Mountain, and Splash Mountain are all to be ridden for the experience that Disney is so famous for and not the thrills. You want Thrills, head to Busch Gardens, Six Flags, Carowinds, Kings Dominion, or any of the many other amusement parks.

[Stu29573]

At Six Flags Over Texas the Runaway Mine Train (the grandfather of all mine rides, having been built in 1966 by Arrow Dynamics as the first mine train coaster) is mainly quick twists and turns and short drops through trees. There is a big drop at the end (that goes into a tunnel under a lake) but it is not absolutely huge by today's standards. This seems to have set the norm for mine rides, and I love 'em! In other words, by definition, a mine train coaster isn't a hyper-coaster and one shouldn't expect it to be!

[darthmacho]

Not lame, just tame.

I was going to use that exact same phrase. I don't think Big Thunder Mountain misrepresents itself in any way. It advertises itself as a runaway mine train, and that's what it is. Sure it's a rollercoaster that has mild dips, short drops, but it has some pretty good twists and turns, and all at moderate speeds. There's also a LOT of theming and a fabulous backstory. How many rollercoasters in the world even have a backstory, let alone such an intricate one? None, probably. While die-hard rollercoaster fans might not find it thrilling enough, if they can't see what it is from the base of the mountain, then they aren't very bright. This is a ride I can enjoy with my whole family, day or night, and we'll have lot's to talk about afterwards. That's not lame. :mickey:

Also, if it's lame, why do I hear the screams of thrilled riders from across the park? :D

[Hog]

I enjoy BTMR it's fun, but as far as coasters go it is lame. I love Cedar Point its coasters are 2nd to none. But it's Disney it's supposed to be able to be enjoyed by the entire family so I don't fault it for that. Although I must say that between visits Expedition Everest was put in, and I heard great things about it such as how intense and fun it was... I was very disappointed when i rode that, maybe my expectations were too high. But the theming is neat and that would bring me back...

[brownie]

It may not be the most thrilling coaster, so if you're an adrenaline junkie you'd probably think it's sort of tame.

Personally, I like it and think it's a great coaster.

[Daisy'sMom]

A lot of "first timers" to Disney are surprised that it doesn't have the big "thrill rides" like their local amusement park does. But, what they don't realize is that there is more to each ride, not just the big thrills.

I'm with Faline, I'm a huge chicken when it comes to rides, and I love how much there is that I CAN do at Disney, compared to a "regular" theme park.

I agree with everything you have said.:mickey:

[sixshot19]

If I want thrill coasters, I go to Six Flags. !

I agree.

Disney is about the total experience for me. I love the big Giga coasters and launch coasters and all that goodness, but Disney rides have that little something that just brings everything alive.

Even waiting in line is an experience.

And I love Thunder Mountain.

[AndrewJackson]

No. It is quintessential Disney. 'Nough said.

[AndyMan]

With all Disney attractions, you decide how lame they are by how long you're willing to wait in line for them.

Would you be willing to wait 60 minutes for Big Thunder Mountain Railroad?

That's what the wait is typically.

If you had never been on it before and you saw a 60 minute wait, I bet you would think there is more to it than there actually is.

So I agree that it is a bit deceiving considering what most people would assume it is like from observing it out front.

Also, I have to add that this is the one queue in Walt Disney World that makes me feel like I am at a Six Flags. It's a horrible queue - and even worse when it's hot.

[RAIDER]

Its your friends opinion which is far enough ,personally its one of my favourites .Then again if i went on a proper rollercoaster with loops etc ...I would be sick as a dog :sick:

[Mogie]

I would not call it lame. It may not match up to the size, technology or thrills of say Expedition Everest. BTMRR may not be as big a thrill for adults who have been riding it their entire lives. I admit it seems a lot smaller at 30 years old than it did when I was 5 years old. It seemed HUGE.
Lame would be Goofy's Barnstormer (which is being rethemed) or Flight of the Hippogriff at Islands of Adventure. Those are truly lame roller coasters meant for kiddies. BTMRR is still one of my favorites.

[Mousemates]

Also, I have to add that this is the one queue in Walt Disney World that makes me feel like I am at a Six Flags. It's a horrible queue - and even worse when it's hot.

:ditto:

[GBBT]

I say if you think anything at Disney World is lame,then u should go to Universal or Six Flags and leave Disney to us Disney lovers.;)

[MinnieMommie]

I don't think this is false advertising in any way. BTM is a coaster. It is not described as a high speed thrills ride. Wait time goes with the territory and depending on the time of year and time of day/night some wait times will be longer than others. I don't think being disappointed after waiting to experience something can be blamed on false advertising. It is more related to personal taste. My kids are coaster enthusiasts and really like BTM because it is a fun ride and experience. Gotta love BTM!!! (at least I do) :thumbsup:

[sacandjac]

I love this ride and the theming. I try and appreciate every ride/attraction for what it is. I think it is fun and am just thankful to be in Disney riding whatever. I find myself quoting, "the wildest ride in the wilderness!" Just makes me happy!!!