What is going on with Big Thunder?

[Just_Joe1087]

So we are staying for 8 days (11/13-11/21) and our first Magic Kingdom day was the 14th. While in the fast pass line, the ride went down. We came back later that day around 4:30ish and the fast pass line was huge and unorganized. We decided to do Haunted Mansion instead. We said forget Big Thunder for the day and went to California Grill for our dinner. The next time we went back to the Magic Kingdom was on 11/16 for the Christmas party. After the first parade I saw that Big Thunder was a 5 minute wait. Then during our short walk it jumped to a 55 minute and then it went down again. Now today is our next Magic Kingdom day, and the MDE app says it’s down again. This is pretty bad if we have an 8 day stay and can’t ride Big Thunder once. I feel bad for those with shorter stays. Anyone know what is going on?

 

[jimmymc]

It's an old ride that definitely needs constant maintenance. I think you just had back luck with breakdown timing.

 

[Micca]

Has it been raining much? I think BTMR doesn't run when it rains. Hope you get to ride before you leave.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

It happens. We also experienced this on our MNSSHP in August. BTMRR was down most of the day and didn't start running again until later in the evening. By that point, we were already participating in other party activities and never made it back over to ride. That was our only MK day that trip, so no BTMRR for us. We've have multiple trips where Test Track was down virtually the entire time as well.

 

[jimim]

Today pirates, mansion, and big thunder at same time

 

[jaysmom4285]

If you didn't get to use your FP+ because the ride broke down, the usual protocol is that you would get an email letting you know that you have any anytime FP+ to make up for it. Did you not get this?

 

[connorlevismom]

If you didn't get to use your FP+ because the ride broke down, the usual protocol is that you would get an email letting you know that you have any anytime FP+ to make up for it. Did you not get this?

I wish this was more consistent. My last trip we had a FP for Test Track and I got the cancellation email the morning after. Not helpful!

 

[afan]

Has it been raining much? I think BTMR doesn't run when it rains. Hope you get to ride before you leave.

It was running in the rain on the 2nd. We waited to the side of the 2nd fp tap for the rain to stop and they were still running. Started pouring.halfway through our ride, so not happy there.

 

[bryanb]

The most frequent cause of downtime for BTMRR is because of a "slow moving guest." The ride has two sides to the station, but can run five trains at the same time. If someone takes too long to get on or off the train, and another train is too close to approaching the station, the computer will shut everything down.

Then it needs to be manually restarted one train at a time which can take a while due to safety protocols. Newer rollercoasters have more flexibility to switch trains off to a side track, though even BTMRR allows most people in wheelchairs to get on or off in the time allotted. But stuff happens... and sometimes it can be caused by a guest who decides they don't want to ride after all the lap bar checks have been completed and the train is at its dispatch window.

The ride can run during the rain quite well (which is essential). But it does have very sensitive safety sensors, so if the computers detect that one sensor is even off by a little bit, it will trigger the brakes.