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Getting back to why Big Thunder Mountain Railroad was my first love.



Big Thunder Mountain Railroad was not my first coaster.  By the time I walked through the gates into Disneyland and queued up for this coaster I had already been on several Chance Tobggans, the Old Chicago Loop, a couple of Galaxi coasters and one or two Alan Hirschell kiddie coasters.  All of those coasters terrified me because I have always had a fear of heights.  Speeding around high above the ground on little structure and little track just added panic attack after panic attack keeping me from enjoying them.  Now as a note I was always fascinated with them but they still horrified me.

Big Thunder Mountain was different from those...it was on the ground so to the mind of a eight year old I didn't have to be scared of heights as there were none on this ride.



Throw in the amazing theming and scenery that perfectly played into the mind of a boy who wanted to explore like Ton Sawyer and there was not a single thing for me not to love about Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.



Big Thunder Mountain Railroad was the first coaster where I was able to relax and just enjoy the ride.



All of the depression, massive panic attacks and stuttering that I spent my childhood dealing with went away every time one of Big Thunder's locomotives pulled out of the station with me as a passenger.  That burden went away and I could just be me.



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Paul B. Drabek