BIG THUNDER MOUNTAIN RR

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(Sept. 2, 1979—Present) BACKSTORY: This attraction replaced the Mine Train Through Nature’s Wonderland. The town you pass through at the end of the ride (Rainbow Ridge) was a part of the previous attraction, and many of the animal animatronics throughout the attraction were originally from Nature's Wonderland. Remains of the Rainbow Caverns are seen during the first lift.

The new attraction is an outdoor roller coaster based on the concept of a runaway train careening through an abandoned mine complex. Designed by Imagineer Tony Baxter and ride design engineer, Bill Watkins, the concept comes from Baxter’s work on the runaway mine train segment of Marc Davis’ Western River Expedition showroom, Thunder Mesa. The design is based on the hoodoos of Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah. Across the way is Big Thunder Ranch, a Frontierland version of a petting zoo. At Christmas, this area hosts Santa Claus & his reindeer and is called Reindeer Roundup.

Starting in 2009, guests could celebrate special occasions at the Celebration BBQ, located inside of the Big Thunder Ranch area. Entertainment was provided by Woody, Jessie, and a cast of talented cast members. A delicious family-style bbq meal was served as well. Reservations can be made by calling Disney Dining, 714.781.3463.

Most photos available for purchase as enlargements; email your request. To view photos, please allow popups in your web browser & click thumbnails below.

Rainbow Ridge

2006
Summer 2006
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Rainbow Ridge 2007
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Rainbow Ridge, February 2007
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Rainbow Ridge, February 2007
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Rainbow Ridge, February 2007
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Rainbow Ridge, February 2007
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Rainbow Ridge, April 2007
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Rainbow Ridge, April 2007
April 2007
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Rainbow Ridge, September 2007
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Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Rainbow Ridge, September 2007
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Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Rainbow Ridge, September 2007
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Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Rainbow Ridge, April 2008
April 2008
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, September 2008
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Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, September 2008
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Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, September 2008
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Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, September 2008
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Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, October 2008
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Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, December 2008
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Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, December 2008
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Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, February 2009
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Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, December 2009
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Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, December 2009
Dec. 2009

Raychel remembers…

One time we went to Disneyland and had a crowd of 18 people with us—WOW! My favorite part of that trip was watching the cast members’ faces when they asked for the number of people in our group and we said “18.” Quite a few jaws dropped, though I’m sure there have been bigger groups than that at the park.

My family and I went last March (2009) and had a blast! It was just the four of us, which is pretty unusual. It was my mom, my dad, my brother, and me. My mom had gotten exhausted early on in the day and went back to the hotel. It was about 11pm on our last day at Disneyland. Originally my dad wanted to leave the park, but my brother and I convinced him to let us go on one more ride. We chose Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, which has always been one of our favorites (the goat chewing on dynamite reminded us of our dog, may he rest in peace, which was one of our favorite parts). We got on the attraction and all was going well until we entered the tunnel where the rocks are “falling.” The train stopped and everything got quiet. I turned and looked at my brother and smiled. This was the first time we had ever gotten stuck on an attraction before (we were on our ninth trip), and it just so happened to be one of our favorites. Luckily we were in a train full of funny people that all liked to talk, so we all chatted and cracked jokes for about ten minutes (or so it seemed) until a few cast members came to let us out. We were able to walk through th eattraction next to the tracks and take pictures/videos. Now that's what I call Disney magic! Sadly both the videos and pictures were lost when my dog chewed up the memory card, but I will always have the memory!
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, November 1980
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Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, December 1980
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Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, December 1980
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Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, December 1980
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Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, December 1980
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Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, 1980
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Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, 1980
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Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, 1980
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Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, 1980
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2006
Summer 2006
2006
Summer 2006
Thunder Mountain Interior 2007
Interior, 2007
Nature Wonderland Tunnel, April 2007
Nature’s Wonderland Tunnel, April 2007
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, April 2007
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Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, April 2007
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Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, April 2007
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Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, May 2007
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Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, June 2007
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Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, June 2007
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Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Rainbow Ridge, June 2007
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Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Rainbow Ridge, September 2007
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Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Rainbow Ridge, September 2007
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Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Rainbow Ridge, September 2007
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Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Rainbow Ridge, September 2007
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Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Rainbow Ridge, September 2007
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Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Rainbow Ridge, October 2007
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Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Rainbow Ridge, October 2007
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Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Rainbow Ridge, October 2007
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Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Rainbow Ridge, October 2007
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Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Rainbow Ridge, December 2007
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Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Rainbow Ridge, December 2007
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Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Rainbow Ridge, December 2007
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Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Rainbow Ridge, December 2007
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Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Rainbow Ridge, December 2007
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Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Rainbow Ridge, April 2008
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Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Rainbow Ridge, April 2008
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Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Rainbow Ridge, July 2008
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Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, September 2008
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Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, September 2008
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Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, September 2008
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Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, September 2008
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Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, September 2008
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Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, September 2008
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Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, September 2008
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Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, September 2008
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Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, September 2008
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Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, September 2008
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Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, September 2008
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Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, September 2008
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Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, September 2008
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Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, October 2008
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Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, October 2008
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Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, December 2008
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Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, December 2008
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Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, December 2008
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Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, December 2008
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Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, December 2008
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Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, December 2008
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Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, December 2008
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Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, February 2009
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Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, February 2009
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Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, February 2009
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Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, February 2009
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Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, February 2009
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Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, February 2009
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Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, February 2009
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Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, April 2009
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Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, April 2009
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Disneyland's Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, September 2009
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Disneyland's Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, September 2009
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Disneyland's Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, September 2009
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Disneyland's Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, September 2009
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Disneyland's Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, September 2009
Sept. 2009

Big Thunder Ranch & Reindeer Roundup

Big Thunder Mountain Ranch, June 2008
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Big Thunder Mountain Ranch, June 2008
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Big Thunder Mountain Ranch, June 2008
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Big Thunder Mountain Ranch, June 2008
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Big Thunder Mountain Ranch, June 2008
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Big Thunder Mountain Ranch, June 2008
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Big Thunder Mountain Ranch, June 2008
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Big Thunder Mountain Ranch, June 2008
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Big Thunder Mountain Ranch, October 2008
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Big Thunder Mountain Ranch, March 2009
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Big Thunder Mountain Ranch, March 2009
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Big Thunder Mountain Ranch Reindeer Roundup, December 2009
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Big Thunder Mountain Ranch Reindeer Roundup, December 2009
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Big Thunder Mountain Ranch Reindeer Roundup, December 2009
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Big Thunder Mountain Ranch Reindeer Roundup, December 2009
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Big Thunder Mountain Ranch Reindeer Roundup, December 2009
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Big Thunder Mountain Ranch Reindeer Roundup, December 2009
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Big Thunder Mountain Ranch Reindeer Roundup, December 2009
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Big Thunder Mountain Ranch Reindeer Roundup, December 2009
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Big Thunder Mountain Ranch Reindeer Roundup, December 2009
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Big Thunder Mountain Ranch Reindeer Roundup, December 2009
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Big Thunder Mountain Ranch Reindeer Roundup, December 2009
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Big Thunder Mountain Ranch Reindeer Roundup, December 2009
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Big Thunder Mountain Ranch Reindeer Roundup, December 2009
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Big Thunder Mountain Ranch Reindeer Roundup, December 2009
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Big Thunder Mountain Ranch Reindeer Roundup, December 2009
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Big Thunder Mountain Ranch Reindeer Roundup, December 2009
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Celebration BBQ

Big Thunder Mountain Ranch, May 2009
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Big Thunder Mountain Ranch, May 2009
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Big Thunder Mountain Ranch, May 2009
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Big Thunder Mountain Ranch, May 2009
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Big Thunder Mountain Ranch, May 2009
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Big Thunder Mountain Ranch, May 2009
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Big Thunder Mountain Ranch, May 2009
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Big Thunder Mountain Ranch, May 2009
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Big Thunder Mountain Ranch, May 2009
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Big Thunder Mountain Ranch, May 2009
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Big Thunder Mountain Ranch, May 2009
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Big Thunder Mountain Ranch, May 2009
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Big Thunder Mountain Ranch, May 2009
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Big Thunder Mountain Ranch, May 2009
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Big Thunder Mountain Ranch, May 2009
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Big Thunder Mountain Ranch, May 2009
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Big Thunder Mountain Ranch, May 2009
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Big Thunder Mountain Ranch, May 2009
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Big Thunder Mountain Ranch, May 2009
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Big Thunder Mountain Ranch, May 2009
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Big Thunder Mountain Ranch, May 2009
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Big Thunder Mountain Ranch, May 2009
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Big Thunder Mountain Ranch, May 2009
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Big Thunder Mountain Ranch, May 2009
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Big Thunder Mountain Ranch, May 2009
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Big Thunder Mountain Ranch, May 2009
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Big Thunder Mountain Ranch, May 2009
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Big Thunder Mountain Ranch, May 2009
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Big Thunder Mountain Ranch, May 2009
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Big Thunder Mountain Ranch, May 2009
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Big Thunder Mountain Ranch, May 2009
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Big Thunder Mountain Ranch, May 2009
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Big Thunder Mountain Ranch, May 2009
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