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Ride
Big Thunder Mountain
at Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom Theme Park
  "All
Aboard!"
In the late 1800's, a group of prospectors
found gold in the hills of Big Thunder Mountain. The little
town of Tumbleweed became an instant success and the
prospectors established The Tumbleweed Mining Company. The
tiny town experience a few years of prosperity. Little did the towns people know
that the very land where they broke ground was actually a sacred place to the
earlier inhabitants. It was then that the town of Tumbleweed, on the foothills
on Big Thunder Mountain, experienced a complete turn around. As easy as success
came to the bustling town, so did its downfall.
Today, you can visit the ghost town at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom.
Experience the adventure as you take to the town, walk through some of the old
abandoned building that still stand as there were over one hundred years ago.
After you make it through the once flourishing town, jump on the old steam train
that runs through the foothills and peaks of Big Thunder Mountain. However, you
must stay on your toes because you never know what lies around the bend. It has
been said that the ride get a bit rough after a somewhat smooth take-off.
So, hold on to your hat as you navigate through breakneck bends and dangerous
dips.
There you have it, a brief history of The Magic Kingdom's Big
Thunder Mountain. Of course, the story may not be exactly 100% historically
accurate, but you will not think that is the case as you make your way through
Frontierland to the tiny town of Tumbleweed. No matter which part of the story
you believe, Big Thunder Mountain will give you and your family a southwestern
adventure of a lifetime. 
The ride itself is one of the most famous rides in all of Walt
Disney World. Actually, the first Big Thunder Mountain opened in Disneyland,
California in 1979. The bigger and faster Big Thunder Mountain opened in 1980,
at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. Built by Disney's talented Imagineers,
it is easy to see why this is one of the most famous rides in the world of Walt
Disney.
Quick Facts About
Big Thunder Mountain
So, you know the story, you know the
a bit of the history about the ride and now it is time for some fun facts about
Big Thunder Mountain.
If you are a more outgoing adventure-seeker and you want a wee
bit of a faster experience, there are a few things that you can do. One, try to
make your way to the back of the train. For some reason, when you sit in the
back, you get more of a feeling of acceleration. Two, get on the train in the
afternoon. In the afternoon, the hottest part of the afternoon, the lubrication
of the tracks of the railroad begins to melt a bit, jumping the high speed a few
more miles per hour. In fact, the Big Thunder Mountain rail carts can reach
speeds up to 30 miles per hour in the morning and can reach up to 35 miles per
hour in the afternoon.
Does any of the landscape look familiar? Well, if you are from the southwest it
should. The idea and design of Big Thunder Mountain is taken directly from the
Grand Canyon. From the color of the rocks, to the shape of the boulders, the
mountain is built to look like what you would see in the southwestern region of
the United States.
Big Thunder Mountain is one of the most famous rides found in the family of Walt
Disney World theme parks, so take a little trip there and experience why for
yourself. |
