Heads up if Frontierland is on your Magic Kingdom must-do list this week: Big Thunder Mountain Railroad has closed again, and it’s the latest twist in what’s already been a wild ride of change for this corner of the park.
The beloved runaway mine train spent over a year behind construction walls after shutting down on January 6, 2025, for a major refurbishment. When it finally reopened on May 3, 2026, guests got a refreshed version of the classic, complete with new track sections, updated scenes, revamped effects and theming, and an improved Rainbow Caverns moment. Families also got a nice bonus: the minimum height requirement dropped to 38 inches, opening the ride up to more little ones.
But on August 25, 2026, the coaster went down again during the afternoon, right as the park geared up for that night’s Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. Disney posted an apology through the My Disney Experience app, and as of August 26 the ride was still showing as “temporarily unavailable.”
The notification read, “On behalf of the entire team at Magic Kingdom, I’d like to apologize that Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is currently unavailable. Our Cast Members are working diligently to get this attraction up and running again. We are sorry you are not able to experience this attraction at this time. I hope you will enjoy some of our other attractions during your experience in the park today,” per Kenny the Pirate.
Our advice: check the app before you trek over to Frontierland so you’re not caught off guard.
This hiccup comes as Frontierland undergoes one of the biggest transformations Magic Kingdom has seen in decades. Disney is building Piston Peak National Park, a sprawling Cars-inspired expansion replacing the former Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island, both closed since July 2025.
Rather than mirroring Cars Land at Disney California Adventure, this new land reimagines Pixar’s Cars characters within a Rocky Mountain-style national park, complete with waterfalls, geysers, trails, and park-lodge architecture. A visitor lodge and Ranger HQ are also planned, along with two attractions: the headliner Ridge Run Rally, an off-road racing adventure through mountain terrain and a geyser field, and a second, family-friendly attraction starring Miss Fritter from 2017’s Cars 3. Villains Land is also rising nearby.
Adding to the chaos, Frontier Trading Company flooded overnight on August 23, closing August 24 and 25 before reopening August 26.
We’ll keep you posted as Frontierland’s transformation continues!
