Frontierland Shootin’ Exposition

July 1957 – present

LOCATION

Frontierland – When you arrive over the bridge from Main Street USA, keep to the right. You’ll find the Shootin’ Exposition on your right hand side, next to Rancho del Zocalo.

BACKGROUND

When the park first opened in 1955, Frontierland was the quiet section of the park, with little more than coach rides or picnic areas. But over the next few years, Frontierland gradually became a louder and wilder, and one of its most popular new attractions was the Frontierland Shootin’ Gallery. The Gallery guns fired lead pellets, and shooters aimed at various scenes from the fictional western town of Boothill.

Over time, the pellets caused damage to the scenery. In fact, the targets had to be repainted every single night after the paint chipped away throughout the day. So in 1985, the Gallery underwent a brief refurbishment and the pellets were replaced with infrared beams. To commemorate the new era of Frontierland’s shooting range, the Gallery changed its name to the Frontierland Shootin’ Arcade. And in 1996, the Arcade finally became the Frontierland Shootin’ Exposition, as a nod to the loud sound effects when shooters hit a target.

Today, the Shootin’ Exposition is the only shooting gallery in the park, and is a fan favorite in Frontierland. The Exposition is one of the oldest attractions in western Disneyland, and continues to draw guests of all ages time and time again.

EXPERIENCE

Details:

• Single Rider Line – no
• Fast Pass – no
• Height Requirement – none
• Duration – N/A

Adventurous travelers can step up to the platform and take a turn firing an old-fashioned rifle. Each target has a glowing red light to aim for, and when hit, the town of Boothill jumps to life. The animals yelp, lights flash, bells ring, and a piano will let out a short song to celebrate every successful shot. After the dust settles, guests can reload and try their luck again, or continue exploring the wonders of Frontierland.

MY RATING: ★★★★☆

The Shootin’ Exposition is really fun, especially if you compete with your friends. The little town of Boothill is really detailed, and the effects when you hit a target are funny. Even if you’re not normally a person who plays shooting arcade games, try the Shootin’ Exposition at least once; it has stood the test of time in the park for a reason!

VISITING TIPS

Crowds at the Shootin’ Exposition are near impossible to predict. While more crowded days obviously mean more visitors to the shooting gallery, there is no specific time of day that is busier than another. Check out how busy it is as you pass through Frontierland throughout the day, and you’ll definitely find an opportunity to pick up a rifle.

TRIVIA

Like the Haunted Mansion, Boothill’s cemetery has a bunch of tombstones with rhymes or puns. You can see photos and read the inscriptions on the stones here.

The rifles at the Shootin’ Exposition are .54 caliber Hawken rifles.