A large crane joins the Magic Kingdom Skyline to refurbish the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Spaceship Earth, the Tree of Life, Hollywood Tower Hotel, and Cinderella Castle are all considered icons of their respective Parks. At Disney’s Magic Kingdom, the skyline is dotted with Space Mountain, Haunted Mansion, and Big Thunder Mountain. Now, we can add a Large Yellow Crane! The massive yellow crane takes up the skyline around Frontierland and beyond.
The construction and prep work has begun for the upcoming Big Thunder Mountain Railroad refurbishment, which starts January 6th, 2025. The refurbishment is expected to last into 2026 making this one of the longest refurbishments that are not considered a retheme. There has been no word from Disney Imagineering about the reason for the long downtime, speculation is the ride will have its track replaced, and pathways for the upcoming Beyond Big Thunder Mountain expansion of Disney’s Magic Kingdom.
Frontierland, the area that BTMRR is located in is due for a massive change in the coming years. A new Car’s Themed Land will be replacing Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island, which will mean the closure of the Liberty Belle steamship. Furthermore, Disney is building a whole new section of the park called Villians Land, which will be a whole Land dedicated to at least 13 Disney Villains, with new rides, shops, and eateries.
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad – Race through a haunted gold mine aboard a speeding train on this thrilling coaster-style ride.
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad will temporarily close for refurbishment on January 6, 2025. The attraction will reopen with a little bit of new magic in 2026.
The Wildest Ride in the Wilderness
Legend has it that soon after gold was first discovered here in the 1850s, eerie things began to happen. Trains would take off and race through tunnels—by themselves.
After you arrive at the legendary Big Thunder Mining Company, descend into an abandoned mine shaft and board your train. As you enter the cursed cavern, the engine speeds up along the rickety track. Dodge exploding dynamite and falling boulders as you swoop around turns, drop into canyons and dart through the mysterious ghost town of Tumbleweed.
Your rip-roaring adventure proves that some legends are true. You’re sure to have a real blast!
How Scary Is it?
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is a fast roller coaster-type attraction designed for kids and adults. However, some parts of this attraction are bumpy and, in some instances, take place in the dark.
