What is the best time to ride Big Thunder Mountain Railroad?
Around 11 p.m., when the posted standby wait averaged 8 minutes over Oct 14 – 27, 2026. Waits ran longest around 6 p.m. (41 minutes).
20min
Now · 9 min under typical
29min
14-day avgTypical (14-day avg)
80min
Highest posted
Best time to ride: hour by hour
Quietest around 11 p.m. (8 min average), busiest around 6 p.m. (41 min), Oct 14 – 27
Under the 29-min averageAverage, 29 min
| Average wait (min) | |
|---|---|
| 8 a.m. | 10 |
| 9 a.m. | 16 |
| 10 a.m. | 27 |
| 11 a.m. | 30 |
| noon | 33 |
| 1 p.m. | 37 |
| 2 p.m. | 35 |
| 3 p.m. | 36 |
| 4 p.m. | 37 |
| 5 p.m. | 38 |
| 6 p.m. | 41 |
| 7 p.m. | 29 |
| 8 p.m. | 23 |
| 9 p.m. | 18 |
| 10 p.m. | 17 |
| 11 p.m. | 8 |
| 12 a.m. | 11 |
Best day of the week
Thursday was the quietest day, Wednesday the busiest
Average, 29 min
| Average wait (min) | |
|---|---|
| Monday | 33 |
| Tuesday | 23 |
| Wednesday | 43 |
| Thursday | 20 |
| Friday | 23 |
| Saturday | 35 |
| Sunday | 23 |
Book a Lightning Lane for Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
If you already hold Lightning Lane Multi Pass, Booking Assist can watch Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and book an available return time after you link My Disney Experience. Availability is never guaranteed. Or set a free alert in the app for when the standby wait drops.
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad FAQ
How long is the wait for Big Thunder Mountain Railroad?
The posted standby wait at Magic Kingdom averaged 29 minutes over the last 14 park days and reached 80 minutes at its highest.
What day of the week has the shortest wait for Big Thunder Mountain Railroad?
Thursday averaged 20 minutes, the lowest of the week; Wednesday averaged 43 minutes, the highest.
Can Standby book a Lightning Lane for Big Thunder Mountain Railroad?
Yes, if you hold Lightning Lane Multi Pass. After you link My Disney Experience, Booking Assist watches Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and books an available return time for your party. Availability is never guaranteed.
More Magic Kingdom rides
From Standby's own tracking of posted standby waits, Oct 14 – 27, 2026 (14 park days). These are past waits, not a forecast; the live wait refreshes every minute.