Walt Disney World has finally started restoring a familiar part of one of Magic Kingdom’s most popular attractions.
After months of waiting, visitors are beginning to see the return of characters that disappeared during a major refurbishment earlier this year.
Although the attraction reopened with several improvements, some longtime fans noticed that a few familiar details hadn’t made it back.
Now, Walt Disney Imagineering has confirmed that the missing characters are returning, although the work isn’t completely finished.
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad’s Missing Characters Return
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad reopened at Magic Kingdom on May 3, 2026, following an extensive 16-month refurbishment.
The project included a complete track replacement and updates to several scenes throughout the roller coaster.
While visitors welcomed the smoother ride and refreshed surroundings, something was noticeably absent.
The opossum family that once appeared in the flooded mining town of Tumbleweed had disappeared.
Before the refurbishment, riders could spot the animals hanging from a tree branch above the track. The playful scene had become a familiar detail for visitors who regularly rode the attraction.
However, when the roller coaster reopened, the opossums were nowhere to be found.
Disney previously indicated that the animals would eventually return, but months passed without any major developments.
That changed on November 3, when Walt Disney Imagineering confirmed that the mother and father opossums had officially returned to their tree.
The remaining members of the family are also expected to make their comeback.
For now, visitors can spot two opossums positioned along the tree trunk.
One sits higher in the tree, while the other appears to be climbing downward.
Both feature blue-gray fur, pale faces, and pink noses.
Why Did Disney Remove the Opossums?
The animals reportedly disappeared because of clearance issues following the roller coaster’s track replacement.
Before the refurbishment, the opossums hung from a branch extending over the ride path.
However, reports indicate that the original arrangement failed a clearance test after Disney installed the new track.
That meant the animals couldn’t immediately return to their previous positions.
Although Disney promised to restore the scene, the company didn’t provide an exact timeline.
Then, in October, signs of possible work began appearing around the tree.
A dark tarp appeared over the upper branches on October 3, near the location where the original opossum branch had been attached.
Five days later, Walt Disney Imagineering filed a permit to install set elements at Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.
At the time, neither development confirmed the animals were returning.
However, their arrival now suggests those earlier preparations were connected to the restoration.
More Work Is Still Coming
Imagineers installed the returning animals overnight, using scaffolding and temporary lighting to complete the work.
This allowed Big Thunder Mountain Railroad to continue operating during regular park hours.
Interestingly, the tarp that appeared in October remains over part of the tree.
That could mean additional work is still planned, particularly since Disney has confirmed that the rest of the opossum family will return.
However, Imagineering hasn’t announced when the remaining animals will appear or whether they’ll hang above the track like they did before the refurbishment.
For longtime Big Thunder Mountain Railroad fans, the restoration is another welcome development.
The roller coaster may have reopened six months ago, but Disney is still working to restore some of the smaller details that made the attraction memorable.
And while the opossum family isn’t completely reunited yet, at least part of the familiar scene has finally returned.
