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FastestThings

Walt Disney World

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

Magic Kingdom's mine train in Frontierland. RCDB and Coasterpedia say 36 mph. It reopened in 2026 and is operating.

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad reaches 36 mph (57.9 km/h), a verified measurement.

Also known as Big Thunder Mountain, Magic Kingdom
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Ride speed

Published as 36 mphPublished as 36 mphPublished as 36 mph

Operating speed of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at Magic Kingdom, Frontierland. RCDB says 36 mph and a length of 2,780 ft, with three chain lifts. Coasterpedia says 36 mph for the same installation and lists it as operating after the 2026 reopening. The figure is 36 mph. Anaheim's Big Thunder is 28 mph and is a different layout.

VerifiedRCDB (opens source in a new tab)

In context

  • 1.5× Usain Bolt's 100 m world-record paceSourced · Usain Bolt, 100 m in 9.58 s. World Athletics, Berlin 2009. Averaged over the race
  • 55% of a cheetah's timed top speedSourced · Cheetah, 29 m/s. Sharp 1997, mean of three timed runs over 201.2 m
  • A football field in 5.7 sConstant · American football field, 100 yd (91.44 m)

Worked out from the sourced figure above, which stays the ranked number.

Quick answers

People also ask

How fast is Big Thunder Mountain Railroad?

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad reaches 36 mph (57.9 km/h), a verified measurement.

Is that figure claimed or verified?

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is labeled Verified. Independently measured and published, for example in a peer-reviewed study or with certified timing.

What is the source?

The figure cites RCDB, “Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Magic Kingdom.”

Where does Big Thunder Mountain Railroad rank?

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is 9th of 12 on Fastest Rides in Walt Disney World.

Mechanism

Why it's so fast

Magic Kingdom's Big Thunder Mountain is fast because three chain lifts feed a series of drops, and both coaster databases say 36 mph.

Speed
36 mph
Track
2,780 ft
Lift
Three chains

  1. Where the speed comes from

    The trains climb on chains and take their speed from the drops through the mountain. RCDB says 36 mph and 2,780 feet of track. There is no launch motor.

  2. The number on the row

    Coasterpedia says the same 36 mph and lists the ride as operating after the May 2026 reopening. Anaheim's layout is 28 mph and is not copied here.

See also Disneyland's Big Thunder.

Provenance

Every measurement

Claimed, measured and official figures side by side, each with its source. The ranked figure is marked.

  1. 57.9km/h36mph16.1m/s31.3knRanked figure

    Operating speed of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at Magic Kingdom, Frontierland. RCDB says 36 mph and a length of 2,780 ft, with three chain lifts. Coasterpedia says 36 mph for the same installation and lists it as operating after the 2026 reopening. The figure is 36 mph. Anaheim's Big Thunder is 28 mph and is a different layout.

    Coasterpedia says 36 mph. The ride reopened May 3, 2026.

    Verified
    RCDB (opens source in a new tab)

Reference

Specs

Resort
Walt Disney World
Park
Magic Kingdom
Ride type
Roller coaster
Speed
36 mph
Track
2,780 ft
Lift
Three chain lifts

Context

Background

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at Magic Kingdom is the Frontierland mine train. RCDB says 36 mph and 2,780 feet of track, with three chain lifts. Coasterpedia says 36 mph and lists the ride as operating. The figure is 36 mph, qualifier verified.

The coaster closed in January 2025 for work beside the mountain and reopened May 3, 2026. It is on the list. Anaheim's version is 28 mph. Paris's version is 40.4 mph. Each park keeps its own number.

Spot a wrong number?

Every report is read by a person, and corrections are dated on the page.