Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Wait Time & Best Time to Ride

5 min right now

At Disneyland Resort's Disneyland, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is a ride worth planning around. This guide shows the current wait, typical wait, best time to ride, ride length, drop and intensity, Lightning Lane, and whether it is worth rope dropping.

Quick answer

Riders must be at least 40 in (102 cm) tall to ride Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at Disneyland. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is usually best at rope drop or in the final hour before Disneyland closes. The ride runs about 3.5 minutes and is rated family coaster. Typical waits are around 24 minutes, with the shortest waits often around 8 AM.

Updated October 24, 2026. Live waits refresh throughout the day.

Typical wait24min

Peak seen85min

Quietest hour8 AM

Best Time to Ride Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

Typical standby wait by hour. Quietest around 8 AM, busiest around 7 PM.

9 8AM

15 9AM

21 10AM

24 11AM

24 12PM

22 1PM

22 2PM

22 3PM

25 4PM

27 5PM

29 6PM

34 7PM

34 8PM

27 9PM

25 10PM

22 11PM

Quick facts

Land: Frontierland
Height: 40 in (102 cm)
Lightning Lane: Yes
Opened: 1979
Ride length: About 3.5 minutes
Thrill: Family coaster

Spotty

Is Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Reliable?

Running about 92 percent of the day over the last 90 days, with most outages lasting about 68 minutes.

Should You Rope Drop Big Thunder Mountain Railroad?

The shortest waits for Big Thunder Mountain Railroad are right at rope drop and in the final hour before Disneyland closes, so arriving for park open is usually worth it. If the line is already long, ride later in the evening or use Lightning Lane.

The Disneyland rope drop plan Best times at Disneyland Plan your Disney day

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad FAQ

What is the best time to ride Big Thunder Mountain Railroad?

At Disneyland, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad typically has its shortest waits around 8 AM and its longest around 7 PM. Riding right at rope drop is your best bet.

How long is the wait for Big Thunder Mountain Railroad?

The standby wait for Big Thunder Mountain Railroad runs about 24 minutes on a typical day and climbs near 85 minutes at its busiest.

Does Big Thunder Mountain Railroad break down a lot?

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is currently graded Spotty for reliability. Running about 92 percent of the day over the last 90 days, with most outages lasting about 68 minutes.

Is there a height requirement for Big Thunder Mountain Railroad?

Yes. Riders must be at least 40 in (102 cm) tall to ride Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.

Does Big Thunder Mountain Railroad have Lightning Lane?

Yes. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad offers Lightning Lane, so you can pay to skip the standby line if you would rather not wait.

More at Disneyland

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run Indiana Jones™ Adventure Jungle Cruise Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room Adventureland Treehouse inspired by Walt Disney's Swiss Family Robinson Mark Twain Riverboat Sailing Ship Columbia Pirate's Lair on Tom Sawyer Island Pirates of the Caribbean Haunted Mansion Tiana's Bayou Adventure The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh Davy Crockett's Explorer Canoes Matterhorn Bobsleds Peter Pan's Flight "it's a small world" Alice in Wonderland Mr. Toad's Wild Ride Pinocchio's Daring Journey Snow White's Enchanted Wish Storybook Land Canal Boats Casey Jr. Circus Train Dumbo the Flying Elephant King Arthur Carrousel Mad Tea Party Sleeping Beauty Castle Walkthrough Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin Chip 'n' Dale's GADGETcoaster Space Mountain Star Tours - The Adventures Continue Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters Astro Orbitor Autopia Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage Disneyland Monorail Disneyland Railroad Main Street Vehicles

Disneyland hours in November 2026 Disneyland hours in December 2026 Disneyland hours in January 2027 Disneyland hours in February 2027 Ride reliability Lightning Lane prices Is Big Thunder Mountain Railroad scary?

Rope Drop News · unofficial, not affiliated with Disney.