Big Thunder Mountain

Report by Regan B. Pederson

The Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is significantly wilder than the versions in the states. The trains (especially their paint jobs) are also a lot more realistic. Overall, Disneyland-Paris's Big Thunder is a fantastic version of an old classic. As with the stateside rides, there are still three climbs and they're mostly similar to the ones in the states.

The first climb comes right after you go through the tunnel under the river so it's much more of a true cave feeling, although you go by stalactites, stalagmites, and rainbow pools that look just like the ones in the US. You go under the waterfall here as well. The second climb is again outdoors, although here there is no town of Tumbleweed to look at like at WDW. At DL-P a cranky old mill has to suffice. The third climb involves a mining explosion instead of an earthquake. This was a smart decision, and although the scene is similar to its predecessors, the explosion effects are enhanced with some great fibre optics.

The long tunnels though which you go under the Rivers of the Far West are pitch black and very exciting. Other than the missing town of Tumbleweed, the visuals and animatronics around the mountain are better here in France, and the sights that are found on and around the Rivers add measurably to the fun.

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