In-Depth Disney: Frontierland

The west is still wild in Disneyland. Appropriately located on the west side of the Magic Kingdom, Disneyland’s Frontierland is a wild romp through the days of the wild west, with some top-notch attractions situated along the way. This is the land of shooting galleries, runaway mining trains, and pirate lairs. Along the banks of “The Rivers of America,” you’ll find old-time log cabins and a rowdy dance hall to bide your time with -and enough wild west action to last all day long.

Dominating the Frontierland landscape is Big Thunder Mountain, and if you make your way to it’s base, you’ll find the waiting queue for Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, one of Disneyland’s premiere rides. FastPass is available for this attraction. Hold onto your hats (or remove them altogether) for this wild ride in a runaway mining train. Escape avalanche and flash flood as you dip and dive through caves and caverns replete with bats. Watch out for bighorn sheep and dinosaur bones along the way. This 3-½ minute extravaganza reaches a top speed of 30 miles per hour, but seems much faster as you careen down the mountain. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad possesses some of Disney’s best scenery – if you can keep your eyes open long enough to take it all in!

Need a break from all the screaming? How about a leisurely ride on The Mark Twain Riverboat. Glide along the Rivers of America for a 14-minute sightseeing voyage. The Mark Twain has four levels, three of which are at your disposal. Note: The top level belongs to the captain alone. Keep your eyes peeled as you make a full circle around the Pirate Lair. Scenes include a Native American village, explorer cabins, and assorted wildlife, all done up in perfect Disney fashion. The Mark Twain is a relaxing way to spend a quarter of an hour, and the breeze blowing off the water is a great way to cool off in the hot California sun.

Haven’t had enough of the water yet? Move along to the Sailing Ship Columbia, a replica of an 18th century sailing ship. It’s 84-foot mainmast, ten cannons, and two swivel guns are a sight to behold. The Columbia follows the same route as the Mark Twain, around the Pirate Lair, and takes about fifteen minutes to make the circuit.

If the waterways have sufficiently relaxed you, it’s time to head over to the shooting gallery for a little target practice, Frontierland style. At the Frontierland Shootin’ Exposition, you can insert a few coins and show the world what a top shot you are. The infrared rifle gives you a full cartridge of shots with which to hit your target, and when you do, you’ll be rewarded with surprising animation and sound. This attraction is not included in the price of admission, so you’ll have to pay to play.

The Big Thunder Mountain Ranch serves as a home for non-animatronic animals of the cute and furry persuasion. Kids can enter the wooden barn-like structure and pet farm animals like cows, donkeys, sheep and pigs. If you happen to be visiting during the Christmas season, stop in to meet Santa, Mrs. Claus and the reindeer.

Formerly Tom Sawyer’s Island, the success of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise led Disney to transform the island in the center of the Rivers of America into the new Pirate’s Lair. Board a raft and forge the wild river before being deposited on the shores of a pirate’s dream. Climb to the top of Tom and Huck’s treehouse. Walk across precarious rope bridges. Search for the ghost inside Dead Man’s Grotto. The Pirate’s Lair is an at-your-own-pace attraction, although it does close at dusk to be used as a staging area for Fantasmic!

Frontierland is a place where kids and adults alike can live out their wild west fantasies. There’s still lots more to see, however, so leave Frontierland in the capable hands of Davy Crockett and Pecos Bill, and move on to your next adventure!


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