Which loads faster: BTM or Splash

[Crazy Harry]

I'm figuring its splash but am not sure. When the wife and I go, either one will be the second or third attraction we do and I want to know in which order we should do them, or if it makes any difference that early (we will be starting at open). If splash does load quicker, I would think it would make more sense at that point to do it second because BTM would load slower and people probally go from splash to BTM cuasing lines to build quickly. Maybe I'm wrong, what's your take.
Thanks.

 

[Figment632]

I'm no expert but I would imagine splash.

 

[rsoxguy]

Splash always seems longer to me. I always fastpass each, so its hard for me to know for certain.

 

[Pioneer Hall]

Based on my information, I believe Thunder Mountain has a higher hourly capacity.

 

[blackthidot]

I would say Splash!

 

[Bug715]

W everyone Splash? Is there something I'm not thinking about?

I'd say BTM because there are two trains loading and both load more than the two logs at a time on Splash.

I was there at EMH morning in December and was there at the rope drop for the rest of the areas and was in the second log of Splash then went straight to BTM and walked straight on.

 

[disneydata]

Big Thunder Mountain has a higher hourly capacity if running all five trains. If it's running 4 or less, Splash Mountain has it beat.

 

[yeti]

Daily routine in the Magic Kingdom: go on Pirates, make way up to Fronteirland, walk on Splash, go and see lineup for Big Thunder, 20 minutes, get fastpass, walk on splash again, walk on splash again, ride Big Thunder.

Might I add that this takes place first thing in the morning.

 

[KingStefan]

According to the UG, BTMR can load 100 people in 2 1/2 minutes with 5 trains running, and Splash can load 100 people in 3 1/2 minutes when operating at full capacity.

I'm supposing that that means BTMR loads faster even with 4 trains running (just barely) assuming that with 4 trains it takes 5/4 as long to load 100 people. But with fewer than 4 trains (does it ever run with fewer than 4?) it is slower than Splash.

However, load capacity is not the biggest issue - the number of people arriving in the queue is a much bigger factor.

If you're going first thing in the morning, it probably really does not matter. The UG advises Splash then BTMR. Later in the day, the UG advises FP Splash then standby on BTMR.

Personally, later in the day, I usually try to FP both, or save one for another day.

 

[Chape19714]

But with fewer than 4 trains (does it ever run with fewer than 4?) it is slower than Splash.

Yes, they have been know to run BTMRR with less than 4 trains, and can technically run it with just one or two, I've seen it happen before. Now, it's not typical, but it's possible.

 

[the-reason14]

Usually I do Splash first thing in the morning. And by the time Im off and done with that I head to BTM, and walk right on. In some instances, Ill do Pirates first thing, and have my dad fp Splash for me. In other instances Ill do Space first. But it really all depends. Most of the time its splash, BTM, Pirates, and then the rest is up for grabs.

 

[radiohost]

I'm the expert on this one!

I worked at Big Thunder Mountain during my Disney internship in 2006...

Big Thunder Mountain Loads alot faster due to there being two different queue lines...(Spur Side, Main Side)...We also had a higher guest turnout than splash per hour.


So there you have it!

 

[KingStefan]

I'm the expert on this one!

I worked at Big Thunder Mountain during my Disney internship in 2006...

Big Thunder Mountain Loads alot faster due to there being two different queue lines...(Spur Side, Main Side)...We also had a higher guest turnout than splash per hour.


So there you have it!

See, that is why I was saying guest turnout is important. Even though BTMR loads faster, the wait times are usually comparable, since long wait times tend to turn guests away, so faster loading rides tend to get more guests because the wait time is more attractive.

 

[goodtimes5286]

am i the only one that takes a right when i enter the parks (with the exception of epcot)?

 

[KingStefan]

am i the only one that takes a right when i enter the parks (with the exception of epcot)?

We nearly always take a right, and follow the UG plan. But if this is our second day at MK, sometime we mix it up, depending on what we did the first day.

I LOVE going there on what is expected to be a moderately crowded day and getting SM, Buzz, HM, some fantasyland stuff, and IASW before most people arrive at the park.

But if we know we're coming back another day, sometimes we'll hop (or do something else) and save adventureland and frontierland for the second day and then go in the opposite direction.

 

[goodtimes5286]

I'll b honest I hop to for wait time and fastpass purchases, but i just ALWAYS go right when i enter the park (Space Mountain, Tower of Terror/Rock n Roller Coaster, Dinosaur, n Space Ship Earth (which is my only stright, but I always go to EEA after and thats a hard left)