When to Ride Big Thunder Mountain?

[Frozen2014]

Hi,

We're coming to Disney World third week in October with my DS9 and DD5.
My DS would like Big Thunder Mountain, but think it's too much for my DD.

I see that it is way off to the left of the map and only other thing near it is Splash Mountain, which is not on our list for either kid (at moment...mind you, maybe DS would like it..is this basically a log flume?)

I'm wondering what you usually ride before / after it?
At the moment, I have Big Thunder (FP option) for my DS while I take DD to BBB, planned right after lunch.

Then after these, I have us all meeting up again at Buzz Light , Monster's Inc planned...which seems far from Big Thunder.

Does this make sense, or is it better to group it with our other MK day when I have Pirates of Carribean, Magic Carpets planned (but those would be for both kids)?

 

[Robo]

Hi,

We're coming to Disney World third week in October with my DS9 and DD5.
My DS would like Big Thunder Mountain, but think it's too much for my DD.

I see that it is way off to the left of the map and only other thing near it is Splash Mountain, which is not on our list for either kid (at moment...mind you, maybe DS would like it..


is this basically a log flume?)

I'm wondering what you usually ride before / after it?
At the moment, I have Big Thunder (FP option) for my DS while I take DD to BBB, planned right after lunch.

Then after these, I have us all meeting up again at Buzz Light , Monster's Inc planned...which seems far from Big Thunder.

Does this make sense, or is it better to group it with our other MK day when I have Pirates of Carribean, Magic Carpets planned (but those would be for both kids)?

I would not diminish one of Disney's most popular and beloved attractions as "basically a log flume."
Its amazing "story" design, filled with whimsical and entertaining animatronic characters, makes it one
of the longest and most immersive of the MK (or WDW, in total) attractions.

Great times to ride BTM and Splash are early in the morning and later at night.

 

[mom2AidanAndEli]

I cannot imagine a 5 and 9 year old not LOVING Splash Mountain!!! It's an absolute must-do and my kids' favorite MK ride since the first time they went on at 5 and 7. We've been known to go on 4 or 5 times in a row when it's quiet.

Is there a reason you've already decided against it? If you're thinking of the "log flumes" at your local small-town amusement parks, you've WAAAYYY underestimated it. I'm sure there are videos on YouTube to check out.

 

[mcconnellfam96]

Hi,

We're coming to Disney World third week in October with my DS9 and DD5.
My DS would like Big Thunder Mountain, but think it's too much for my DD.

I see that it is way off to the left of the map and only other thing near it is Splash Mountain, which is not on our list for either kid (at moment...mind you, maybe DS would like it..is this basically a log flume?)

I'm wondering what you usually ride before / after it?
At the moment, I have Big Thunder (FP option) for my DS while I take DD to BBB, planned right after lunch.

Then after these, I have us all meeting up again at Buzz Light , Monster's Inc planned...which seems far from Big Thunder.

Does this make sense, or is it better to group it with our other MK day when I have Pirates of Carribean, Magic Carpets planned (but those would be for both kids)?

With your kids' ages...Splash Mountain is probably a ride they would both enjoy! I would give it a try when you are in the area for BTMR. BTMR is basically the opposite side of the park from Buzz and Monsters Inc. So, if you are hoping to plan with less walking, it would be best accomplished on the day you are doing PoC and Magic Carpets. But, if you are going to do all four together I would reorder my FP+s.....I would select BTMR, SM and PoC and ride Magic Carpet standby.

 

[Missymouse18]

Frontierland is basically connected to Adventureland, so it would make sense to do BTMRR the same day you do POC & the carpets.
It is one of DH's favorite rides so we usually do it early in the morning and always after dark.

And as Robo said... Splash is definitely not a log flume.

 

[Frozen2014]

With your kids' ages...Splash Mountain is probably a ride they would both enjoy! I would give it a try when you are in the area for BTMR. BTMR is basically the opposite side of the park from Buzz and Monsters Inc. So, if you are hoping to plan with less walking, it would be best accomplished on the day you are doing PoC and Magic Carpets. But, if you are going to do all four together I would reorder my FP+s.....I would select BTMR, SM and PoC and ride Magic Carpet standby.

Thank you...this is all so confusing...

At the moment, I have the following FP and rides planned on our 2 MK days:

Day 1
*Morning*
FP: Peter Pan Flight
FP: Haunted Mansion (DS) and Enchanted Tales (DD)...try for same time
And other close rides (Its a Small World, etc)

*Afternoon*
Magic Carpets of Aladdin
FP?: Pirates of Caribbean
<Big Thunder Mountain (DS) and maybe Splash Mountain (DS) here?>

Dinner at BOG at 5:40pm

Day 2
*Morning*
FP: 7DMT (DS) and A&E (DD)...try for same time
With other close rides (Dumbo, LIttle Mermaid, Barnstormer, etc)

*Afternoon*
BBB (DD)
<Big Thunder Mountain (DS) and maybe Splash Mountain (DS) here?>

Buzz Light
Monster's Inc

Dinner at CRT at 5:50pm

Knowing my DD, I think she would be scared of Splash Mountain, but thinking about it, DS would like it.

On the one hand, it seems to make sense, logically, to include it in Day 1. My delima is (1) will we run out of time?, and (2) what does DD do while DD rides these?

On the other hand, if included in Day 2, DS could ride these while DD is at BBB...but maybe from location it doesn't make sense (although we would be coming from lunch, so it would be more afterwards walking back to Monster's Inc area

 

[mcconnellfam96]

Thank you...this is all so confusing...

At the moment, I have the following FP and rides planned on our 2 MK days:

Day 1
*Morning*
FP: Peter Pan Flight
FP: Haunted Mansion (DS) and Enchanted Tales (DD)...try for same time
And other close rides (Its a Small World, etc)

*Afternoon*
Magic Carpets of Aladdin
FP?: Pirates of Caribbean
<Big Thunder Mountain (DS) and maybe Splash Mountain (DS) here?>

Dinner at BOG at 5:40pm

Day 2
*Morning*
FP: 7DMT (DS) and A&E (DD)...try for same time
With other close rides (Dumbo, LIttle Mermaid, Barnstormer, etc)

*Afternoon*
BBB (DD)
<Big Thunder Mountain (DS) and maybe Splash Mountain (DS) here?>

Buzz Light
Monster's Inc

Dinner at CRT at 5:50pm

Knowing my DD, I think she would be scared of Splash Mountain, but thinking about it, DS would like it.

On the one hand, it seems to make sense, logically, to include it in Day 1. My delima is (1) will we run out of time?, and (2) what does DD do while DD rides these?

On the other hand, if included in Day 2, DS could ride these while DD is at BBB...but maybe from location it doesn't make sense (although we would be coming from lunch, so it would be more afterwards walking back to Monster's Inc area

Will you be utilizing morning EMH or rope drop on your MK days?

 

[Frozen2014]

Will you be utilizing morning EMH or rope drop on your MK days?

Day 1 --> Definitely not as staying for Electrical Parade and would be great if our kids could make it for Wishes too

Day 2 --> Not sure, but it is an option. And looks like this day MK opens at 8am. (We will be leaving after dinner due to MNSSHP night)

 

[amym2]

I agree that your 5yo DD would probably love Big Thunder... and you don't have her riding the new Seven Dwarfs Mine Train? We haven't ridden it but have heard it's very tame. I'm not a fan of the end of Splash (drop is too big) but my kids love it. It sounds like it's a pain to have one kid ride one thing and the other kid ride another. Honestly with a 5 and 9yo I'd just plan the same rides for both so you can stay together. Won't the adult who is with your DS want to see your DD meet A&E? My DH would hate to miss out on a moment like that.

I'd plan to take your DS on rides your DD really doesn't want to ride while she's at the BBB, even if it means trekking across the park. But be back to the BBB before she's done because you'll want to see her in the chair all fixed up. I'll never forget when my dad, DH, and DS came to see DD when she was done and my dad literally had tears in his eyes. You don't want anyone to miss out on those magical moments... and you never know when they will happen!

 

[jrjankowski8]

If you book a FP for BTMRR during Wishes, you can ask the CM if you can wait for the fireworks to start and ride it then. That's a lot of fun to add to the ride.

 

[Frozen2014]

I agree that your 5yo DD would probably love Big Thunder... and you don't have her riding the new Seven Dwarfs Mine Train? We haven't ridden it but have heard it's very tame. I'm not a fan of the end of Splash (drop is too big) but my kids love it. It sounds like it's a pain to have one kid ride one thing and the other kid ride another. Honestly with a 5 and 9yo I'd just plan the same rides for both so you can stay together. Won't the adult who is with your DS want to see your DD meet A&E? My DH would hate to miss out on a moment like that.

I'd plan to take your DS on rides your DD really doesn't want to ride while she's at the BBB, even if it means trekking across the park. But be back to the BBB before she's done because you'll want to see her in the chair all fixed up. I'll never forget when my dad, DH, and DS came to see DD when she was done and my dad literally had tears in his eyes. You don't want anyone to miss out on those magical moments... and you never know when they will happen!

When we can, I plan on having us all do things together...and all meals are together. However, there are thing that my DS would like but DD wouldn't (she's a bit scared of things, so no reason to terrify her...plus, some things she just wouldn't be interested in...so I'm hesitant on things like Big Thunder, 7DMT, etc). And likewise, my DS will already have to sit through 2 princess meals, so I can take DD on those girly things while he goes on the bigger rides.
As with the rides, with the exception of the FP bookings, if DD sees a ride that is noted for DS only and wants to go on, then we'll take her....and vice versa.

Can get your point though....but wouldn't put DS through A&E...or sitting through BBB

 

[Sandy Fisher]

First of all, I'll say that we didn't travel with small children to Disney -- and haven't for quite a few years. However, we've seen a lot of kids on both Big Thunder and Splash, laughing and having a great time.
We always headed that direction first thing (we do rope drop and have for years and years). We do Pirates, Splash, Big Thunder (never did do Magic Carpets) and then cut across to Haunted Mansion and then Hall of Presidents and lunch.
Bear in mind that even though FP+ was available during our most recent trip the first week of May, we didn't use it. Not once. We never used the original fast pass in Magic Kingdom. Not once.
Some of the attractions you have made arrangements to ride or for the kids to do are things we don't bother with. Buzz Lightyear being one of them.
But I'd never skip over the good parts of Frontierland and/or Adventureland. We like Liberty Square too, but in recent years we skipped Fantasyland -- particularly during all the refurb and waiting for Mine Train to be completed. Had Fantasyland not been such a crush of people during our trip, we'd have tried Mine Train.
BUT we knew for sure we could fit all our favorites in each morning at MK and did that rather than sacrifice them all for the Mine Train.
Your kids will probably love Thunder and Splash.

 

[DonaldDuck77]

Splash Mountain is the best attraction WDW has to offer.

 

[williamscm3]

She might surprise you and want to ride Splash or BTMR...my son was 3 last year(almost four) and I didn't have those rides on our list of things to do b/c I assumed they would be too much for him. It wasn't until after talking with a family at Biergarten one night (whose child was the same age as my son and LOVED BTMR) that we decided to give it a try. They were both, hands down, his favorite rides of the trip! He still talks about riding Splash Mountain again as soon as we get back to Disney. At least let her ride the new SDMT...I've heard it's very tame and probably a great way to introduce her to a roller coaster type ride. And I will agree with previous posters here and say that Splash Mountain is one of the best rides Disney has to offer.

 

[shyjade]

DD16 and I both hate Splash Mountain (we can't stand big drops). However, BTMRR is one of our favorite rides so when we arrive at MK we hop on the train and take it over to the first stop (next to Splash). We ride BTMRR and then head over to Pirates or Haunted Mansion.

 

[Frozen2014]

We always headed that direction first thing (we do rope drop and have for years and years). We do Pirates, Splash, Big Thunder (never did do Magic Carpets) and then cut across to Haunted Mansion and then Hall of Presidents and lunch.

This is an idea...maybe I should reverse our plans and start there then with Big Thunder and Splash (without FP...let DD decide if she wants to go...if not, take her to Magic Carpets), and make our way back toward Fanstasyland, left side with rides like Haunted House, Peter Pan (FP), etc, Enchanted Tales (FP), etc . That does kind of make sense as well since we have BOG ADR our first night.

But I'd never skip over the good parts of Frontierland and/or Adventureland. We like Liberty Square too, but in recent years we skipped Fantasyland -- particularly during all the refurb and waiting for Mine Train to be completed. Had Fantasyland not been such a crush of people during our trip, we'd have tried Mine Train.

Maybe I'm missing something since in Frontierland I've only marked Big Thunder, Splash Mountain (new since posting ), and Adventureland, I've only marked Pirates of Carribean, maybe Jungle Cruise, and Magic Carpets. Most rides are in Fantasyland - or at least the ones for my kids ages.

 

[Frozen2014]

Love this site. Everyone is so helpful...which is especially great for a first time Disney traveler.

So here is my revised plan. Let me know if any comments. Much appreciated.

MK Day 1
Big Thunder Mountain (both?)
Splash Mountain - FP, around 10:30am ...for both, or if DD not interested, she'll do Magic Carpet
Pirates of Caribbean
Jungle Cruise
Magic Carpet

Lunch at Columbia Harbour House

Peter Pan Flight- FP around 1:30pm
It's a Small World
Haunted Mansion (DS) / Enchanted Tales (DS) - FP for both around 3pm
Mickey's PhilarMagic - 3D show

BOG at 5:50pm
Electrical Parade
Wishes

MK Day 2

Other side of MK...so rides like 7DMT, A&E, etc Dumbo in morning
BBB after lunch
Buzz Light, etc for afternoon

 

[williamscm3]

Love this site. Everyone is so helpful...which is especially great for a first time Disney traveler. So here is my revised plan. Let me know if any comments. Much appreciated. MK Day 1 Big Thunder Mountain (both?) Splash Mountain - FP, around 10:30am ...for both, or if DD not interested, she'll do Magic Carpet Pirates of Caribbean Jungle Cruise Magic Carpet Lunch at Columbia Harbour House Peter Pan Flight- FP around 1:30pm It's a Small World Haunted Mansion (DS) / Enchanted Tales (DS) - FP for both around 3pm Mickey's PhilarMagic - 3D show BOG at 5:50pm Electrical Parade Wishes MK Day 2 Other side of MK...so rides like 7DMT, A&E, etc Dumbo in morning BBB after lunch Buzz Light, etc for afternoon

I think this sounds like a great plan! I hope you have a great trip!

 

[Sandy Fisher]

The reason I said we don't do Fantasyland as a rule is because we have no children with us (DH and I are retirement age and then some). Even if we enjoyed a couple of the things in that section, it wouldn't have been worth the crowd hassle in recent times. With the refurb, EVERYONE wants to hit F-land and it's just too much for us to mess with
Had we been able to do Mine Train this past time, we would have but only that. We've stood at one of the "entrances" to and from F-land a few times in the last few years and just didn't want to enter.
There are lots of rides there and if you have young children, it's the place to be. Just not for DH and myself.

 

[Drusilla]

Columbia Harbor House is the best! Great choice!!!