Hong Kong Disneyland readies Big Grizzly Mountain for its opening

July 9, 2012, 1:53 AM · Disney's newest mountain roller coaster has opened for previews at Hong Kong Disneyland

Big Grizzly Mountain Runaway Mine Cars

The best way I can describe Big Grizzly Mountain Runaway Mine Cars is that it appears to be a mashup of Thunder Mountain and Expedition: Everest. You can see for yourself what the ride's like in this fan-filmed POV video:

(Disney's not announced any prohibition against filming while on this ride, so I'm going with this video. In fact, Disney seems to have become quite a bit more lenient about on-ride photography in recent years. There are no restrictions against photos and video on Radiator Springs Racers, for example. But that's another topic.)

Big Grizzly Mountain Runaway Mine Cars opens officially in five days, as a the centerpiece of the new Grizzly Gulch section of the theme park, the second of three new mini-lands being added to the Hong Kong park as part of its "whoops, Disney opened a too-small park, yet again" expansion. Toy Story Playland opened last year and Mystic Manor is slated for 2013.

Replies (13)

July 9, 2012 at 2:06 AM · looks fun to me, it also looks like the backwards portion is better/longer then the one in Everest. I also appreciate the fact that there are AAs in a coaster. Maybe someday Grizzly River Run can get some AAs installed
July 9, 2012 at 6:48 AM · I had completely forgotten there was going to be a backwards section, and the way they integrated that ride prop on the side of the lift hill (the cable supposedly pulling the ride snapping) certainly was clever. The launch seemed fun, and the theming was Disney quality as usual.
July 9, 2012 at 6:58 AM · Looks like a pretty solid ride! The fake lift hill into the backwards section looks very well done. Sadly, the launch back into the forward section was much less cleverly done and not hidden at all.
July 9, 2012 at 7:53 AM · I wonder if the grizzly bear will end up "disco"
July 9, 2012 at 8:20 AM · Don't jinx it Daniel ;) This looks like a great coaster, even though I probably won't get to Hong Kong for a LONG time.
July 9, 2012 at 8:34 AM · Watching that, I couldn't help but think that would be a pretty nice replacement for Grizzly River Run. Similar theme, might take up about the same footprint, but would be ride-able year round, important for something that takes up such a huge chunk of land right in the middle of the park.
July 9, 2012 at 8:34 AM · Looks ok but I still want to see this state side maybe for animal kingdom to calm us for the wait for avatar
July 9, 2012 at 10:04 AM · Animal Kingdom has this ride. It's called Expedition Everest. There is no point in putting this ride in that park because the similarities are endless. At least this one appears to have a better layout than the awful one on Everest.
July 9, 2012 at 7:30 PM · Fun to think this may be considered a "classic " hkd attraction in about 20 years...much like big thunder is here. They did a great job bringing an e ticket to hong kong, hopefully mystic manner will be even better.
There's also a lot of room for expasnion south of grizzly gulch...I wonder if they'll put a splash mountain or grizzly river run ride there. It'd be cool if they did cause then the land could be a full size land and hkd doesn't have any water rides yet.
July 9, 2012 at 7:56 PM · Everest doesn't have LIMs, so really the only similarities between this and AK's signature coaster is the backwards section.
July 10, 2012 at 1:53 AM · LOL! I agree about the mashup, but I also thought Bear Country Jamboree and maybe a little Mummy.
July 10, 2012 at 4:37 PM · This coaster is awesome.... but I do think it does have enough differences between Everest to make it pretty different. I mean if two bands use guitar, bass, and drums..... they will have similarities..... but one band might be a blues band and one might be classic rock..... and so the differences start.... and this coaster is kind of like that.

Yes, it is a coaster with a backwards section..... but its not indoors during that section.... its not hidden from the public.... it also has a launch. It is not as mountainish in its landscape eithor. It seems to get speed without having to go too high.

It would be nice to see Disney incorporate some of these unique differences into a different ride here in the states. It does not have to be Big Grizzle Mountain..... but it would be nice to bring something similar to this to maybe California Adventure or even Epcot (would it not be cool to have something like this in one of the lands? Of course we are still waiting to get our version of Mattorhorn!)

I do NOT want them to remove Grizzly River Run from CA Adv though..... that is one of the most family friendly awesome rides that I have seen Disney do..... and it looks so much better than Kali Rapids in Animal Kingdom.

July 10, 2012 at 4:45 PM · Also.... I know this has that new car smell so to speak.... but I do think that Everest is still better. While the launch is cool..... Everest seems like more of an adventure and it seems like a longer ride.

This ride looks great for being a family coaster and that is awesome. I do agree with the post about the part with the launch not looking quit right though. Even if you know its coming.... it's just kind of odd the way you back in and you see the track you are going to end up on..... it almost makes the whole bear blowing the dynamite part seem less effective. If they could enclose that section right before you go to the bear with dynamite scene a little it might that scene more effective and immersive make the whole ride better.

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