Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Big Thunder was closed in 2013 and 2014.  Most of its track was replaced and some of the special effects were updated.  One of the most obvious changes was the sequence of events that occurs as trains climb up the third lift hill.  What used to be a simulated earthquake with falling rocks threatening to drop on the train has now become a host of lanterns that ignite fuses.  Thanks to projection mapping, it looks like the fuses burn upward toward a cache of dynamite.  Blasts of smoke and light make it look like explosions happen as the train crests the final lift.

As trains pass this area, the water splash is triggered.  The effect looks impressive, but it is engineered.  The trains don't actually contact the water at all!  During cold days, the water canons that create the splash are turned off.

©2018 Joel A. Rogers.