Big Update for Magic Kingdom's Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
"Hold onto your hats and glasses" because we have got a BIG update on the "Wildest Ride in the Wilderness". This is what we have been waiting for!
Big Thunder Mountain Closure
This attraction first opened in Walt Disney World in 1980 and has quite a big fan following. Over the years, short refurbishments have been completed, but now a lengthy refurbishment is well underway.
A year-long refurbishment of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad began on January 6, 2025. Work will include moving the tower and replacing some or all of the tracks. The final scene may also be upgraded.
Back in June, we shared an updated look for a train engine for this attraction. Be sure to check this out HERE.
History of Big Thunder Mountain
Disney loves a backstory, and today, they shared the backstory for Big Thunder Mountain with us. Big Thunder Mountain dates back to the "Olden Times" or should we say "Golden Times" as part of America's "Gold Rush".
Disney shares, "When Barnabas T. Bullion (pictured above: who shares a striking resemblance to Disney Imagineer, Tony Baxter) struck gold in the Big Thunder region, he saw a future full of riches and hustled to start the Big Thunder Mountain Company.
However, them shiny dreams rarely come without a cost, and Bullion quickly found himself in a battle with the forces of nature and in a whole heap of trouble. One day, strange and unexplainable things started happening. Machines failed. Cave-ins shut mines down.
No matter how deep the miners dug into the heart of the mountain, the forces of Big Thunder fought back. And when the attraction reopens next year, the unsuspectin' passengers who board the runaway trains will learn just how wild the wilderness can get."
New Scene at Big Thunder Mountain
Now that you have the backstory for this attraction, Disney reveals a new scene added during this lengthy refurbishment. As the trains go underground, guests will experience "Rainbow Caverns".
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is set to reopen in 2026
This will appear breathtaking at first, but a "menacing rumble from deep within the mountain may be a sign that we ain't welcome." We can't wait to experience this when the ride reopens in 2026.
What do you think of this new scene? Share your thoughts with us and share this news with your Disney pals.
