How scary is Big Thunder Mountain?

[jmcghee2024]

Never been on a roller coaster, scared of heights, is this doable?

 

[JAMIESMITH]

My four year old daughter doesn't like heights, but rode BTMRR about a dozen times on our September trip.

 

[married2mm]

I'm a total ride wimp-even scared on barnstormer!

It took me 10 trips,but I rode big thunder last August- and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

 

[casselsshopper]

It's my five year-old twin DDs favorite ride. They especially like to ride in the back row at night.

 

[Sandy Fisher]

I really don't like heights, especially if I'm in something open. Never minded Big Thunder Mountain. Loved it from the first time. It's bumpy and jerky and some of the drops are quick, but it depends where you sit. I'd try for the middle of the "train" if I were you. I don't really like the front car and the back one bounces around more.
There's so much theming and it's so quick that you really don't have time to think about heights.

 

[Disneyaunt4]

It is the only roller coaster I can raise my arms up in the air

 

[Mousemommy1]

Not scary at all. Not really any heights to speak of either, except when you are "ascending" through the cave to get outside. Even then, it's only on the right side and kind of farther away.

 

[chartle]

On BTMR you pretty much "always on the ground" so you are never have that view of looking over the edge and being up in the air. My wife road it twice last trip and she hadn't been on a roller coaster since 1990.

Just don't think of it as a roller coaster. While yes its a roller coaster its technically, in roller coaster jargon, a run a way mine train ride.

Oh on second thought that description may not help.

 

[karly05]

Check out the videos on You Tube - that's what I did to work myself up for it this last trip. I rode it in '99 and thought, "That was kind of wild!" but tried it again this trip and had fun. I'm a pretty big wimp when it comes to coasters and if I can do it, you can do it! (Oh, and as others have said, height really isn't an issue on this one with all the mountain structure around you.)

 

[MyTwoPrincesses]

It is not scary at all. It is very tame although quite jerky. I don't like coasters either.

 

[siropa]

I don't like coasters either, but can ride BTMR as long as it is light out. Once it is dark, it crosses the line for me. I think being not able to see what is coming as easy makes it worse.

 

[crewmatt]

It's a very tame roller coaster. Sit towards the front and you'll be down the hills before you even speed up. The train is about as long as the longest hill on that track.

 

[katt789]

I would say it's totally doable! I had to warm up to all the rides in WDW, I only did Splash the first trip, and the drop on it is worse than anything on BTMRR. There aren't really any "heights" on BT, just fastness

 

[Hollywoodhaha]

It's the greatest warm-up ride.
Ride it your first time during the day! It's a bit scary and wilder at night

 

[scoolover]

That would be the one to start with. If you can take the drop on Pirates, it's not much worse than that. It just lasts longer.

 

[winnieatepooh]

This was the first roller coaster I had been on in a really long time. I also don't like heights (sweaty palms, heart races, etc.) - I love BTMRR! Especially at night! It doesn't go very fast and the themeing is lovely.

 

[Lizziejane]

not at all scary. There are no drops that give you a tummy-flip - it's a great coaster for people like me!!

 

[kapoof]

i am a ride wimp, while it gives me a thrill, btm is very fun and totally doable.

 

[mhgmom]

DD rode it when she was 5 and loved it! In fact, she rode it repeatedly! She's not much of a dare devil, so you'll probably be fine. You'll never know unless you try.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

When our son was nine, he went in line with us for BTMRR, but bailed at the last minute. It's very interesting, because he does have a issues with heights, but LOVES water slides.

At 10, he finally tried both BTMRR and Splash Mountain. While still unsure about Splash after his first time, he loved BTMRR. He did decide to try Splash a second time and liked it after that.

He even tried Tower of Terror that year. I doubt he'll ever do that one again.

I should mention that Disney helped me get over some of my height issues. I used to not want to go on inverted coasters, for example, but I have no problem with them now that I have tried RnRC. I hated my first time on Everest and Splash, but love both now. Splash is actually probably one of my top 5 rides in WDW, now. BTMRR never really bothered me, though.