The New Lightning Lane Strategy You'll Need at Magic Kingdom in May

After more than a year on the shelf for a major refurbishment, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is reopening on May 3rd… and the return of the “Wildest Ride in the Wilderness” is changing our Lightning Lane strategy for the Magic Kingdom!

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

Upon reopening, the legendary E-Ticket features updated tracks and trains that “preserve the attraction’s classic storytelling and trademark hootin’ an’ hollerin’ energy” while improving the ride experience. These changes — and a “comprehensive review from their safety teams” have even allowed Disney to lower the ride’s height requirement from 40 inches to 38 inches. All of that added together is going to add to some massive crowds coming to Frontierland.

Upon opening, Big Thunder Mountain will NOT be offered as part of Early Entry at the Magic Kingdom, as that hotel guest perk will remain available only in Tomorrowland and Fantasyland for now.

Early Entry at Magic Kingdom

While the coaster won’t be part of Early Entry, it WILL be offered as part of the Magic Kingdom’s Lightning Lane Multi Pass Tier 1 offerings (along with Space Mountain, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, Peter Pan’s Flight, and The Jungle Cruise). Of course, Disney hotel guests can begin booking Lightning Lanes 7 days before their arrival, 4 days earlier than day guests.

@Disney

So, if a hotel guest can snag a Big Thunder Lightning Lane for later in the day, then they can then head to Tomorrowland or Fantasyland to knock out those rides during Early Entry, then head to Frontierland once their window opens.

Let’s ride the wildest train in Magic Kingdom!

However, hotel guests or day guests who didn’t score a Lightning Lane will need a different strategy. If you’re in that position, you can line up as close to Frontierland as possible and (safely) rush to the ride as quickly as possible once the rope drops. That way, you can knock the in-demand ride out as early as possible since crowd levels aren’t likely to drop most of the day, at least in the short term.

Crowds on the last day of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad being open… they may be EVEN BIGGER when the ride reopens.

With Big Thunder Mountain finally back in the Magic Kingdom’s stable of attractions, the best way to approach the park’s Lightning Lane strategy is changing. Stay tuned to AllEars for more.