Best Time to Ride Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Billed as the 'wildest ride in the wilderness,' Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is a runaway mine train roller coaster that races through the red rock canyons of a haunted gold mining town in the American Southwest. With sharp turns, dips, and excellent theming featuring geysers, falling rocks, and dynamite explosions, this Frontierland coaster delivers thrills without being too intense for younger riders. The outdoor track is especially beautiful after dark when the scenery is dramatically lit.
Hour-by-Hour Wait Guide
Wait Times by Hour
Best Day of the Week
Wait Time Heatmap: Day × Hour
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad averages 53 minutes at 12 AM on Thursdays but only 6 minutes at 5 AM on Tuesdays.
| 7a | 8a | 9a | 10a | 11a | 12p | 1p | 2p | 3p | 4p | 5p | 6p | 7p | 8p | 9p | 10p | 11p | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mon | 14 | 20 | 28 | 33 | 38 | 31 | 28 | 36 | 26 | 30 | 31 | ||||||
| Tue | 29 | 29 | 36 | 35 | 32 | 38 | 30 | 27 | 31 | 34 | 36 | ||||||
| Wed | 25 | 31 | 35 | 37 | 34 | 33 | 27 | 38 | 34 | 40 | 44 | ||||||
| Thu | 10 | 10 | 23 | 32 | 37 | 38 | 38 | 31 | 31 | 32 | 29 | 33 | 32 | ||||
| Fri | 18 | 23 | 28 | 27 | 29 | 30 | 26 | 28 | 34 | 34 | 35 | 39 | |||||
| Sat | 20 | 20 | 27 | 31 | 36 | 38 | 36 | 33 | 33 | 34 | 40 | 38 | |||||
| Sun | 22 | 24 | 27 | 28 | 33 | 24 | 23 | 24 | 35 | 31 | 35 |
Tips for Riding Big Thunder Mountain Railroad with Minimal Wait
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at Magic Kingdom averages a 30-minute wait, but timing makes a huge difference. The data shows waits are shortest around 8AM (19min) and longest around 8PM (38min) — a 19-minute difference just by choosing the right time.
Monday is typically the lightest day of the week with an average wait of 27 minutes. Avoid Wednesday if possible — waits average 34 minutes.
Pro tip: Arrive at Magic Kingdom before opening and head to Big Thunder Mountain Railroad first. Early-morning waits are consistently the shortest across all days of the week.
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