Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is finally opening!

The president of WDW posted that Big Thunder is opening May 3. Even better, it has a lower height requirement of 38".

So happy my favorite MK coaster is coming back better then ever.

I'll be there at the beginning of May. Can't wait!

Hooray! How did they lower the height requirements? Seatbelts? A tighter lap bar??

No to seat belts, and restraints look the same this might just be a “modern testing” improvement like Thunderbird.

...possibly combined with re-profiled track. Smooth a few of those transitions out, and it might change things.

I was at WDW over the weekend and managed to get a lap on the reopened ride on Monday. We had every intention of closing out the day on Sunday riding it, but it stayed closed for most of the evening after a fire extinguisher was used on something in the station. We found out the next morning that it reopened right after the 10:00 fireworks. On Monday, we waited just under an hour with the line starting at the bridge over Tiana's big drop. The changes to the ride aren't huge with the most notable ones being the smooth track and the gold mine theming on the last lift. The new track is extremely smooth while still maintaining the wild ride feel. The upper part of the queue gives incredible views of the massive Piston Peak/Villians construction site. It looks like they're in the process of building a higher fence, but I'm guessing it will be hard to hide it completely.

My kid rode it twice last weekend (I bailed earlier and picked him up later). He says it's much smoother, the lifts are quieter and the transitions in particular are better. Sounds like it's exactly what one would expect.

But is it a new credit?

Since the trains are new, I'm counting it as 5 new credits.

No it’s four different credits. Departing and returning to the north station platform, departing from the north platform, returning to the south platform. Departing south platform, returning to north platform and lastly south platform departure and return. Duh.

I wonder which BTMR folks consider to be the best? I’m fascinated by the one in Paris going underwater and over to the island and wonder how it compares to its American counterparts.

I think the one in Paris is generally considered to be the best one, with the added trip to and back from the island being the main reason.

I’ve sadly not been on DLP BTMRR yet (it was closed for refurbishment when I went) but it looked amazing. Parc Disneyland is the most beautiful castle park I’ve ever been to, it was phenomenal. Also if you like Tony Baxter (BTMRR, the original Imagination ride, Splash Mountain, 80s redo of DL Fantasyland and the Indiana Jones Adventure) and his design philosophy you can see it on full display throughout the park as he was the lead designer.