Frommer's Rating: A Recommended Ages: 8-adult This roller coaster earns high marks for what it is -- a ride designed for those not quite up to the lunch-losing thrills of the Rock 'n' Roller Coaster at Disney's Hollywood Studios. Think of Big Thunder as Roller Coasters 101. (Survive and graduate to the next level.) It sports fun hairpin turns and dark descents rather than sudden, steep drops and near collisions. Your runaway train covers 2,780 feet of track and careens through the ribs of a dinosaur, under a thundering waterfall, past spewing geysers, and over a bottomless volcanic pool. Animatronic characters (such as a long john-clad fellow in a bathtub) and critters (goats, chickens, donkeys) enhance the scenic backdrop, along with several hundred thousand dollars' worth of authentic antique mining equipment. Note: You must be at least 40 inches tall to ride, and Disney discourages expectant mothers, people prone to motion sickness, or those with heart, neck, or back problems from riding. Riding the Rails -- Although it's an oldie, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is still a magnet for the masses. If a FASTPASS isn't available (and that can happen), try riding it late in the day (coaster veterans swear the ride is even better after dark) or during one of the parades that draw visitors away from the attractions.

Copyright: Excerpted from Frommer's Walt Disney World & Orlando 2009, (c) 2008, Wiley Publishing, Inc.

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