Big Thunder Mountain Railroad..how fast compared to Barnstormer?

[JUJU814]

My little girl, age 6, *thinks* she wants to do the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad this trip. She wants to know if it's like the "Barnstormer" in toontown.

I know it's a longer and much bigger ride. Can you compare the speed for me? Is it a lot faster/scarier than Goofy's Barnstormer?

Last trip we got to the ride and she freaked out so we had to skip it. She says she wants to try again. I've never been on it so I don't want to give her a false impression of what the ride is like.

Thanks!

 

[txmomto1]

I would not say it's a lot faster, it's just a lot longer. My seven year old son LOVES it! He likes TOT and Rock and Roller coaster though too. He went on BTMR for the first time when he was five.

I'd say if she likes Barnstormer, she'll like BTMR!

 

[ElizabethG]

They are similar. Ask the CM to sit towards the front. You don't get to full speed until you are at the bottom of the hill. My DD5 loves it. Barnstormer and Thunder Mountain are the only Disney roller coasters she has been on. However, I think she has been in every seat of BTM by now! It's her favorite ride.

 

[Princess Sleepy]

Last year my DD5 had to be talked on to Barnstormer, then loved it and thought it was too short. I convinced her that BTMRR was just a longer version of the same ride. She agreed to try it and it is now her favorite ride. When we each got to pick one favorite to do the last day, that was her choice. This year her DD3 can't wait to ride it too. (I mean my DD3!)

 

[Momtomouselover]

I would say it is louder and bumpier but not any faster. I bet she would like it if she is good with the Barnstormer.

 

[DISHoppy]

IMO, it's a bit faster, but not a lot...it's longer and curvier (which reduces the speed). DD3 loved it this past trip....DD6 wouldn't ride it.

-Kevin

 

[kathyell]

There are several "on ride" videos of it on YouTube. You can watch it yourself to refresh your memory or let your daughter watch it so she can get an idea what the ride would be like. I did this with my daughter before our first visit and she couldn't *wait* to ride BTMRR when we got there. She yelled "whee" through the whole thing and wasn't worried at all because she kind of knew what to expect.

 

[disney1990]

My DD started riding this at age 3 and has always loved it. I don't think it is faster than Barnstormer, just longer, like others have said.

 

[TillyMarigold]

According to Wikipedia, the top speed of the Barnstormer is 20mph and the top speed of Big Thunder is 30mph.

 

[savannahjean85]

yea thunder is actually the fastest rollercoaster in mk, topping out at 35 mph. personally I think barnstormer is a little scarier than thunder because it is up in the trees. when parents asked us to explain thunder my answer always was : there are no steep drops every time you go up a hill you just turn around a bend, you really just go in fast circles. the front of the train is slower than the rest and is a good place for first time riders.

 

[MomiTo2SwtGuys]

Both of my boys like to ride it. My youngest was 3 1/2 last time we were there and he loves it. My oldest was 5 and he really likes it too. But, for some reason they both are terrified of Splash Mountain. They say it makes their belly tickle.

 

[jdisnut]

In my experience the Barnstormer feels zippier than Big Thunder Mountain Railroad because the vehicle is small and the turns are tight. Big Thunder is certainly longer and curvier, but it's really not super intense. If your daughter is comfortable with the Barnstormer, advancing to Big Thunder is a natural progression. I suspect she will love it.

 

[nytimez]

My daughter (4) just "graduated" from the Barnstormer to Big Thunder... she loves both, but I'd say Big Thunder is definitely a bit faster (and obviously longer, with more bumps and curves).

 

[PrincessPiperMommy]

Last year my DD5 had to be talked on to Barnstormer, then loved it and thought it was too short. I convinced her that BTMRR was just a longer version of the same ride. She agreed to try it and it is now her favorite ride. When we each got to pick one favorite to do the last day, that was her choice. This year her DD3 can't wait to ride it too. (I mean my DD3!)

I agree with all the posters, and I'm glad to see other parents whose 3 year old went on the ride. My DD2 (turning 3) wants to ride this and since she meets the hight requirement we were going to try. She LOVES barnstormer.

 

[iheartdolewhips]

If she can handle Barnstormer, she'll love Big Thunder! I don't think it's much more intense - just longer. Take her one it!

 

[RMulieri]

Big Thunder isn't bad..But I will warn you it is LOUD...That was the biggest thing that my 5 yr old didn't like ( she held her ears the whole ride)

 

[LaurenT]

My 7 year old daughter has been riding BTMM since she was 5. She loves it, she rode Space Mountain the first timre in February and, though she said she liked it, did not want to ride it again.
I think it's just a tiny bit faster than Goofy - she'll be fine..it's not an intense or scary coaster.

 

[jlfabbri]

I have a (now 4yr old) thrill-seeking little girl who LOVES anything that goes fast - of course she just recently hit the height requirments to enjoy those rides... but she absolutely LOVED Big Thunder Mtn. RR - if the line hadn't been so long, when we were down the last time, we would have ridden it quite a few times.

I would agree with others that it isn't really faster or more 'jarring' it's just a longer version of the Barnstormer.

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

I thought BTMR went about 30mph? Barnstormer seems just slightly faster, but maybe only because it's so short.

 

[iwrbnd]

My son loved Big Thunder Mountain but the Barnstormer almost sent him into therapy!