Get ready for the wildest ride in the wilderness! On the same day that Walt Disney World Resort confirmed that Big Thunder Mountain Railroad would reopen from its over-a-year-long refurbishment at Magic Kingdom Park, Walt Disney Imagineers reached some new milestones in the roller coaster’s refresh.
NEW: Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at Magic Kingdom will reopen in spring 2026 after a year-long refurbishment that included full track replacement, updates to The Rainbow Caverns, and what Disney calls “new magic.” No exact date has been announced.
NEW: Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at Magic Kingdom will reopen in spring 2026 after a year-long refurbishment that included full track replacement, updates to The Rainbow Caverns, and what Disney calls “new magic.” No exact date has been announced. pic.twitter.com/xYaEMa0RYV
— Scott Gustin (@ScottGustin) December 3, 2025
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad closed on January 6, 2025, and has been surrounded by construction walls ever since. However, by peering over the walls or from nearby attractions like the Walt Disney World Railroad and the former Liberty Square Riverboat, guests have been able to record snippets of the Magic Kingdom Park ride’s transformation.
When the Frontierland attraction closed, little was known about the year-long refurbishment. Walt Disney World Resort promised it would reopen in 2026 with some “new magic,” but it wasn’t until construction began that Disney Parks fans found out that Imagineers were retracking the entire roller coaster. Later, Disney announced that the refresh included an all-new Rainbow Caverns opening scene.
Walt Disney Imagineers were spotted testing Big Thunder Mountain Railroad in October and November, with repainted mine cars finally appearing on the new roller coaster tracks. Now, on the same day that Walt Disney World Resort announced the ride would reopen next spring, Imagineers are once again testing the Frontierland attraction.
On December 3, WDWNT spotted a Big Thunder Mountain Railroad train slowly acsending one of the ride’s hills, not moving at full speed. The attraction vehicle was empty; ride dummies have yet to be used in any of the testing phases so far.
Crews have also moved the construction walls around the entrance to Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, taking up even more of the area than previously before. They now reach the Frontierland train station, which is currently closed due to the ongoing construction of Piston Peak National Park and a Disney Villains land at the Magic Kingdom.
The area around Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is much more cramped now, between the refurbishment construction walls and barricades blocking the view of the former Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island. However, Walt Disney World Resort has added picnic tables and benches in the area to make it more comfortable for guests.
Do any other Walt Disney World Resort attractions need a lengthy refurbishment like this one? Disney Dining would love to hear your ideas in the comments!
