Big Thunder Mountain, a ride loved by so many of us, is scheduled to close for a total of 13 months from November 2015 to December 2016. There are many rumoured elements to be added during this refurbishment, I hope that some of these rumours, if not all of them, will actually come true!
Looks like the park is getting ready for a grand 25th anniversary! :D
Ooooh MsRavenswood, please let us in on the rumours! That is a loooong time for it to be closed ???
i hope that they'll change the technic to, so that the ride is a bit more fluent and calm (if you know what i mean?)
a good example for this is Grizzly Gulch in HKDL
Rumoured updates include:
- The addition of an extra wagon
- Reviewing and changing some key parts of the track
- Restoration of the geysers
- Draining the lake and cleaning the bottom and banks of the Rivers of the Wild West
- Restoration of the Mark Twain
- Repainting the Big Thunder Mountain and bringing it back to its original colour
- New interactive queue
- Single Riders queue (under consideration)
- Mapping effects on the TNT explosion and bat cave
- Making the link between BTM and the Ravenswood family more clear
Sounds pretty exciting, doesn't it?
How fab! :D
Sounds interesting.
I would be very impressed if we got all of that, I thought the geysers were a lost cause and they were going to do something else. An interactive que line I would love to see in action I know they have them in America and they seem to work well from what I have seen
Yes, sounds awesome!
Wouldn't get too excited on these rumours!
Everyone thought we get new trains and music for Space Mountain too, which turned out to be false.
Everyone thought we get lots of new things regarding Phantom Manor too, which turned out to be false.
The rumours that are stated above were rumours from the moment we learned about all these major refurbs for the 25th.
However none of the rumours turned out to be true, and all there was is just "backstage refurb".
Quote from: DLRPWonders on January 10, 2015, 04:04:42 PM
Wouldn't get too excited on these rumours!
Everyone thought we get new trains and music for Space Mountain too, which turned out to be false.
From what i head is that SM is going to close for some months to have the new trains installed and be closed even longer to have the ride changed again.
Quote from: Christiaanrem on January 12, 2015, 07:57:23 AM
From what i head is that SM is going to close for some months to have the new trains installed and be closed even longer to have the ride changed again.
Again, just rumours.
There will not be any new trains installed.
Nothing will actually change for guests at Space Mountain, just technical stuff.
Sounds good! It does get a bit loud at points.
They should have build a new e-ticket before starting all these refurbs.. I've got the feeling the main park won't be very attractive to visit before the 25th. Especially when they will start on BTM and PM ::)
Unfortunately these refreshments don't just happen over night, it takes a lot of work and effort but will hopefully pay off in the end.
Im looking forward to visiting for the 25th anniversary. The park will hopefully look as good as it did in the first few years and Im hopeing the TWDC will be more closely involved with the upkeep of the park.
The only thing I'm slightly worried about is them getting rid of original IP in favour of putting film tie ins into the rides/areas.
It's just sad to see that they let the park get to the point where half of it needs to be closed for 2 years so it can look as good as the first day. Not better than before, just as good.
I don't think it'll be worth visiting before 2017, either.
"Half the park" is a bit of an exaggeration, no?
Quote from: msRavenswood on January 09, 2015, 07:15:50 PM
Rumoured updates include:
- The addition of an extra wagon
- Reviewing and changing some key parts of the track
- Restoration of the geysers
- Draining the lake and cleaning the bottom and banks of the Rivers of the Wild West
- Restoration of the Mark Twain
- Repainting the Big Thunder Mountain and bringing it back to its original colour
- New interactive queue
- Single Riders queue (under consideration)
- Mapping effects on the TNT explosion and bat cave
- Making the link between BTM and the Ravenswood family more clear
Sounds pretty exciting, doesn't it?
Ooh these updates sound fantastic. When I first heard of such a long closure I was quite worried as it is a favourite ride for my family. The Single Riders queue would be a good addition too.
How likely do you think the above amendments are?
Quote from: marf91 on April 06, 2015, 02:25:48 PM
Quote from: msRavenswood on January 09, 2015, 07:15:50 PM
Rumoured updates include:
- The addition of an extra wagon
- Reviewing and changing some key parts of the track
- Restoration of the geysers
- Draining the lake and cleaning the bottom and banks of the Rivers of the Wild West
- Restoration of the Mark Twain
- Repainting the Big Thunder Mountain and bringing it back to its original colour
- New interactive queue
- Single Riders queue (under consideration)
- Mapping effects on the TNT explosion and bat cave
- Making the link between BTM and the Ravenswood family more clear
Sounds pretty exciting, doesn't it?
Ooh these updates sound fantastic. When I first heard of such a long closure I was quite worried as it is a favourite ride for my family. The Single Riders queue would be a good addition too.
How likely do you think the above amendments are?
Well, these are just rumours for the time being. We'll just have to wait and see if they will come into realisation.
Anyone know the exact date that it closes in November?
Quote from: Martyn on April 30, 2015, 09:47:23 PM
Anyone know the exact date that it closes in November?
I would be
very interested to know this also...
Foundations for the construction bridge appear to be ready.
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CSEhygJW0AEyiuV.jpg)
Above picture is courtesy of ED92Live (Twitter).
An update on the construction bridge preparations was posted on Twitter by ED92Live.
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CSVDxwkWUAAkbZa.jpg)
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CSVD0NWWIAA9d1A.jpg)
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CSVD3mUXAAAKQRK.jpg)
These certainly are interesting rumours. I personally would like it if the geysers could work again and would definitely like to see the Mark Twain and the Molly Brown running together again. It is a shame that BTM has to be closed for such a long time but hopefully it will be worth it in the long run.
TTFN
I expected the new foundations to be part of the construction bridge, but it appears they are just for the construction sheds.
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CSe_VpOW4AAwBhA.jpg)
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CSe_W6OWoAAWUsZ.jpg)
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CSe_YqbWUAAI6VC.jpg)
Above pictures are courtesy of InsideDLParis (Twitter).
Fingers Crossed for single rider - since on most of my trips I am a single rider and queuing 50 minutes alone isn't much fun.
Quote from: rebecca20 on October 29, 2015, 09:54:05 PM
Fingers Crossed for single rider - since on most of my trips I am a single rider and queuing 50 minutes alone isn't much fun.
I can understand queuing for 50 minutes alone is dull but I always find the queue to be a very social event, I talk to anyone me.
Construction sheds, walkway, draining the river, closed for a year - it does seem that there's a lot of work being put into this. I wonder what they're actually going to do?
Repair the geysers (could have been done without the above).
Repaint the arch
Add a bit more theming to the BTM ride.
Maybe sort out the vegetation?
Put the fisherman's boot on the right way round (unless he really is a contortionist!)?
I'm not entirely sure if a single rider queue would be worth it because there is such a big number of people that go in even numbers that the single riders queue could end up being just as long the main queue depending on the number of people going on single rider.
I know what you mean re single rider queue. Especially since the one for Crush's coaster never opens. The only good thing about being with someone who doesn't like rides is that I can get two fastpasses ;D
How will they make the link between BTM & The Ravenswood Family more clear?? ???
Quote from: DisneyGagaChick on November 02, 2015, 04:41:40 PM
How will they make the link between BTM & The Ravenswood Family more clear?? ???
They would supposedly incorporate the portrait of Henry Ravenswood somewhere in the queue. I'm not sure though if they will eventually add it or if it was just a rumour.
As reported by @DisneylandBerry on Twitter, lots of fences have been placed around Big Thunder Mountain. But how do you fence off a such a huge beast? ;)
(http://dlrpexpress.fr/images/metaUP/0fae5b07c00d630136bc16b3f84cc41c.jpg)
(http://dlrpexpress.fr/images/metaUP/7aaea6a22aaa15cdbf7676d66c6b7d5d.jpg)
(http://dlrpexpress.fr/images/metaUP/5b5c0a588a6599a22d6e3790f63d80dd.jpg)
I guess the walls are land appropriate theme wise, but my goodness that's a heckuva lot of land walled off. And it looks like that'll be a headache to get around when its busy.
I wonder if this would have an effect on the RPM for the Manor?
Quote from: rebecca20 on October 29, 2015, 09:54:05 PM
Fingers Crossed for single rider - since on most of my trips I am a single rider and queuing 50 minutes alone isn't much fun.
I find that to be incredibly sad :-(
Whilst on our recent Disney trip, I read Remco's post about the fences. On our second day we ventured into Frontierland with hopes of sneaking a peak at the drained lake around BTM. However, we found that the only fencing that was up was near PM. We could see BTM and the full lake clearly. We could hear and see empty trains running on BTM but knew that it was closed. I decided not to grab any photos and return to get them the next day.
Alas, when we returned the following day, the fences had been put up all round BTM impeding our view completely. The best way to view this area now is from the queuing area at PM.
Quote from: TappyFish on November 15, 2015, 02:31:14 AM
Whilst on our recent Disney trip, I read Remco's post about the fences. On our second day we ventured into Frontierland with hopes of sneaking a peak at the drained lake around BTM. However, we found that the only fencing that was up was near PM. We could see BTM and the full lake clearly. We could hear and see empty trains running on BTM but knew that it was closed. I decided not to grab any photos and return to get them the next day.
Alas, when we returned the following day, the fences had been put up all round BTM impeding our view completely. The best way to view this area now is from the queuing area at PM.
empty trains huh? Wouldn't that wear out the material too much? ...Or maybe, just maybe, it's the ghosts from PM riding BTM while they have the chance ;D
Hi all, am in the park now and my friend just text me that Big thunder mountain was running last night - can anyone back this up as seems a fib to me!
I'd love to know as I will be going tomorrow!
It was probably running empty/test runs.
Friend is saying there were people on it - what's the nicest way to call someone a big fat fibber ::)
Why on earth would they be running it now?!
Exactly, starting to think she has mixed up her mountains ;D
Quote from: twentythingamabobs on December 20, 2015, 08:41:07 PM
Friend is saying there were people on it - what's the nicest way to call someone a big fat fibber ::)
UH....Imagineers? Workmen? People testing to see what track sections need replaced? I dunno, although all that could be done with test dummies so who knows.
I sincerely hope that the rumours of removing the locomotive are false. It will lose a lot of it's charm having just a generic roller coaster train.
Took this two days ago whilst in line for Haunted Mansion. (Yes i know it is called Phantom Manor but it will be always HM to me!)
Weird seeing the water drained. For some reason i thought it would have been deeper.
(http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q130/julieannbabe/Mobile%20Uploads/20160104_151607_zpspqcyvest.jpg) (http://s135.photobucket.com/user/julieannbabe/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160104_151607_zpspqcyvest.jpg.html)
Two pictures from @DisneylandBerry (Twitter):
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CYHQ0GfWwAAGY3c.jpg)
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CYHQ1fZWAAUQjWj.jpg)
Still lots of work going on around and on Big Thunder Mountain, as reported by @InsideDLParis on Twitter.
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CZFp1OCUYAA5pwq.jpg)
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CZFqBVTUkAA16WX.jpg)
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CZFqCxtUAAA6MfH.jpg)
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CZFqEMiVAAApgFL.jpg)
The scaffolding on Big Thunder Mountain is still growing, as reported by @ED92Live on Twitter.
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CZKVa16WEAAY08c.jpg)
So odd to see cars where usually the water would be
The rocks of Big Thunder Mountain are being cleaned, as reported by @DisneylandBerry on Twitter.
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CaW96T9WIAA3vYR.jpg)
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CaW963OWIAAsEss.jpg)
Will the refurbishment include the new queuing area? I've heard the ones in the US have an updated queuing area?
Quote from: DisneyGagaChick on February 08, 2016, 01:56:15 PM
Will the refurbishment include the new queuing area? I've heard the ones in the US have an updated queuing area?
DLR has nothing special. And as it looks now, the WDW version will be closed when I visit, so can't help you there :)
Does anyone know what date BTM reopens.
Quote from: EmmaH on February 26, 2016, 10:30:35 AM
Does anyone know what date BTM reopens.
I believe it is January 2017. :D
Quote from: EmmaH on February 26, 2016, 10:30:35 AM
Does anyone know what date BTM reopens.
We were told (by the tour guide) on Friday that it hsould be open for Christmas this year. Not sure how reliable that is . . .
A re-opening by Christmas 2016 would be great news :D
On DLP guide it says it'll reopen on 16th December ;D :o
Yeah I saw that too on DLP Guide. I hope it is because I'm going for New Year Eve!
I'm sorry to disappoint you guys, but on the Experience Enhancement Programme page (http://holidays.disneylandparis.co.uk/eep.html) it says BTM will reopen in January 2017.
Quote from: msRavenswood on April 09, 2016, 08:43:15 AM
I'm sorry to disappoint you guys, but on the Experience Enhancement Programme page (http://holidays.disneylandparis.co.uk/eep.html) it says BTM will reopen in January 2017.
DLP guide and ED92 both say mid December so we will have to wait and see :)
Ahhh it would be great to know the exact date as we are hoping to book last week of January 2017 and would dearly love BTM to be open seeing as Pirates and Star Tours will be closed.
Emma
I've seen the 16 December 2016 reopening date in a few places, but the official site still says 'January'. I guess Disney won't commit to a date 'til they're confident on hitting it, but I'm really hoping the sources that say 16 December are accurate. Having BTM reopen for the Christmas rush will be a big coup.
Hello I've been told on the Dlp Facebook page that BTM will be re opening February 2017. : (
It has just been tweeted that BTM is not opening in December as planned due to a delay. Main street station also delayed by a week.
BTM was opening in Feb 2017 so hopefully that means 1st Feb?
Disneylandberry tweeted the following on July 19th:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-cards="hidden" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">A look at the major refurbishment of Big Thunder Mountain, closed until December 16 included <a href="https://t.co/lr4mz9kTKR">pic.twitter.com/lr4mz9kTKR</a></p>— DisneylandBerry (@DisneylandBerry) <a href="https://twitter.com/DisneylandBerry/status/755409641526464512">July 19, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
December 16th???? Do you guys think it's possible???
In the just released video about the refurbishments (watch it here, quite interesting shots: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NuPOlIwkwOs)
Beth Clapperton (Art Director, WDE) says "I can't wait for the guests to discover it at the end of the year". So that does point at a date sooner than somewhere at the start of 2017.
Awesome! ;D ;D ;D I really hope so!
Ooh I really hope it opens for my new year visit!!
Ok so here's a July 25th article from disneylandparis-news.com:
http://disneylandparis-news.com/en/big-thunder-mountain-the-wildest-renovation-in-the-west/
Mine explorations will pick up again on 17 December 2016. Big Thunder Mountain's reopening will mark a new step in the experience enhancement plan of Disneyland Paris, with the refurbishment and enhancement of 10 attractions and shows by 2017.
Let's hope everything progresses as planned and it'll be open for Xmas!
Amazing to have written confirmation of the plan to have BTM back in action by Christmas. This has cheered me up after a long day in the office :)
I'm so excited by BTM opening for Christmas. I've just booked a 4 day trip.
YASSSS!! I'm gutted it won't be open for Halloween but I wasn't expecting it to be open at Christmas either so I'm chuffed!!
OMG I'm so happy to read this!!!
http://www.disneylandparis.com/en/calendars/park-hours/2016-12-18/
Looks like the miners will be back guys!
Maybe I might actually, finally, go on this attraction... :-[
What does the link say, it doesn't work on my mobile and I'm excited!!
Quote from: twentythingamabobs on September 19, 2016, 09:23:18 PM
What does the link say, it doesn't work on my mobile and I'm excited!!
I clicked on Park Hours to see which attractions will be closed on the 19/12/2016, and the closed attractions are the following:
- Railroad Station Fantasy section
- Railroad Station Discovery Station
And star tours....
Hope this helps!
;)
Oooh thank you!!! I cannot wait to get on it again, it has been waaaay too long
Quote from: twentythingamabobs on September 20, 2016, 02:07:14 PM
Oooh thank you!!! I cannot wait to get on it again, it has been waaaay too long
You are most welcome! :)
Glad i could help!
I hope that you have a good time visiting the attraction again!
Unfortunately for me, i will not make it for this year, hopefully i'll visit the parks next year....
Has anyone seen the progress on the mountain lately? I wonder if they've already started filling the river or will do soon? It must take some time to fill!
Be the 1st time my whole family go can actually all ride this together, as every time we've visited one of our kids have been too small and its take in turns. Gonna make the most of this come next Feb.
Big Thunder Mountain on november 19th
[attachment deleted by admin]
Looks gorgeous!
Soft opening of the new BTM quietly announced as commencing 9th December, ahead of the formal re-launch on 17th.
Gonna have to buy a hat and some glasses. I hope we can get to ride it next weekend ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Forgive me for asking, but what's a 'soft' opening? We'll be at DLP from 12th Dec so really hoping this means I'll get to ride...!
Quote from: onceuponadream on December 05, 2016, 05:35:41 PM
Forgive me for asking, but what's a 'soft' opening? We'll be at DLP from 12th Dec so really hoping this means I'll get to ride...!
Soft openings are when the attraction operates on a limited basis, usually unnanounced and at random times of the day. Its so they can test out how the attraction will fare with regular guests.
There's no guarentee it will be open, and you may see Big Thunder running but with signs indicating it is closed. Usually they just allow a certain amount of guests, who happen to be passing by to experience it.
So, don't set your heart on definately going on it, but you never know they may just happen to be running soft openings when you are there. :)
Thank you! We are still going to be there on the official opening day, but am excited that there might be a chance to ride before then :)
Big Thunder Mountain is up and running an the moment, and i'm in line for it.
Have fun!
Just eight more days and I'm gonna be riding it too :)
Choo choo! Can't wait until the 28th!!
Managed to go on it Wednesday and loved it. Faster and better than ever. Didn't realise how much we had missed it.
Isn't it faster??? I thought so too, others in our group said they thought it felt the same. It has a lot more kick now. I would always put my hands up in the air before the slopes, this time I felt like I had to hold on for dear life ;D We thoroughly enjoyed it, so great to have it back.
Quote from: Sugaroo_ on January 17, 2017, 11:36:04 AM
Isn't it faster??? I thought so too, others in our group said they thought it felt the same. It has a lot more kick now. I would always put my hands up in the air before the slopes, this time I felt like I had to hold on for dear life ;D We thoroughly enjoyed it, so great to have it back.
Have to agree, I found it faster than before, unless it was the fact that I hadn't been to DLP since 2014.
We visited 30 Jan through to 3 Feb. We rode BTM more times than we could count. My son has a priority pass so we sat in the back carriage each ride.
We all agree that it is faster and so much fun.
Of the times we rode it the smoke effect was on the once and was great but without it is just as ok.
Hello All,
Anyone going to Disney you must try "Big Thunder Mountain" since the referb the ride is just awesome I think faster than it was before it shut down for it`s referb, and to get the best thrill if you can you want to be in the middle or right at the back, I feel right at the back is faster as you get the drag from the front of the train ride yet my daughter thinks differently, but all the same a fantastic ride well worth going on. But please be aware of the Fast Passes as we did have issue`s with that part of the ride even though we had Hotel fast passes, you may find that the fast pass section don`t open till at least 12.30pm even if the ride itself is 40 to 45 min wait...