Disney Closes Tiana’s Bayou Adventure and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Starting September 28

Magic Kingdom Park guests found two of the biggest attractions in Frontierland offline on Monday, as Tiana’s Bayou Adventure and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad both shut down unexpectedly within hours of one another.

Walt Disney World Resort has not offered any explanation for either closure, which both took place on September 28 without warning.

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Loses Its Water

WDWNT reported that Tiana’s Bayou Adventure went down around 10:11 a.m., with cast members citing vague “technical difficulties” as the cause. About an hour later, Magic Kingdom Park guests noticed the ride had been almost entirely drained of water.

Water eventually began returning to the attraction in the early afternoon, and empty log vehicles were lined up near the entrance of the former Splash Mountain ride.

The Princess and the Frog (2009)-themed attraction already has a separate refurbishment scheduled to begin November 2, though it’s unclear whether Monday’s sudden closure has any connection to whatever maintenance Disney plans to conduct during that later closure.

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Follows Suit

Roughly three hours after Tiana’s Bayou Adventure went down, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad also closed, shortly before 1:00 p.m. WDWNT captured a photo showing Disney cast members stationed near the ride’s entrance during the shutdown.

Walt Disney World Resort did not disclose a reason for this closure either. The coaster had only recently returned to service in May, following more than a year of downtime for its most significant refurbishment yet, which included a complete track replacement and a brand-new Rainbow Caverns scene at the ride’s start.

This isn’t the first disruption Big Thunder Mountain Railroad has faced recently. Just the day before, on Sunday, guests reported being evacuated from the ride and its queue following a fire reported inside the attraction. The coaster reopened afterward and operated normally through Monday morning, though whether Monday’s closure is tied to Sunday’s fire remains unconfirmed.

Where Things Stand Now

As of publication, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure had reopened, with the My Disney Experience app showing a posted wait time of 30 minutes. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, however, remains closed, and Walt Disney World Resort has not given any indication of when it might reopen.

Which is the better attraction in Frontierland at Magic Kingdom Park: Tiana’s Bayou Adventure or Big Thunder Mountain Railroad? Share your opinion with Disney Dining in the comments!