It’s Official – Big Thunder Mountain is my Favourite Ride in Disneyland Paris

It was whilst compiling a list of my 10 favourite rides/attractions in Disneyland Paris for my personal blog Steve’s Room, something that I still plan on completing, that the dilemma of which ride is number 1 came up. On pure instinct, I’d say Pirates of the Caribbean, as that’s been my favourite ride since I first visited Disneyland Paris in 2002, and in fact was the favourite of the handful of attractions I experienced during my day trip to Tokyo Disneyland the year previous. After the big refurbishment of Pirates of the Caribbean, I gained even more affection for it, but then something happened. That something being my first ride on Big Thunder Mountain since my ill-fated not so great experience back in 2012. Not only did I not hate it, but as my ride count grew, so did my love and appreciation for it. To the point where I declared From Fear to Obsession – How Big Thunder Mountain in Disneyland Paris Changed Me.

This is a nice trip down memory lane, but after 16 years of being my favourite ride in Disneyland Paris, can Pirates of the Caribbean really have been deposed? Well, the logic I used when putting that list together, was very simple – which ride/attraction would I go on right now, given the opportunity. I figured the answer to that question would ultimately give me the answer to the aforementioned dilemma: Pirates or Big Thunder. The answer dear reader, is Big Thunder Mountain. If I were in Disneyland Paris right now, I’d want to go on Big Thunder Mountain first. It’s still new to me. While you all have been riding Big Thunder Mountain for years, for me it’s like having a brand new e-ticket ride, that I only rode for the first time less than a year ago. I have years of riding Big Thunder Mountain before the new ride thrill fades, and who knows, maybe it never will, having overtaken Pirates of the Caribbean for the top spot, maybe Big Thunder Mountain will remain my favourite.

I also have to take into consideration that my son will be with me, and I know with 100% certainty that he’d choose Big Thunder Mountain, or Big as he now affectionately refers to it as. He’d be ridiculously excited, and combined with my own excitement we’d be a giddy ball of Father and Son anticipation. My wife would be less bothered which we rode first, as she is the calm one of the family, leaving the obsessive traits to us boys. It’s been a head to head battle since last summer, but I’m finally ready to admit that Big Thunder Mountain is now my favourite ride in Disneyland Paris. I almost feel a bit guilty that Pirates of the Caribbean no longer holds that top spot, but it’s hard to vote against The Wildest Ride In The Wilderness.