FeaturedMagic Kingdom

The End of an Era as 44-Year-Old Coaster Track Removed at Disney World

A significant chapter of Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World Resort has officially closed indefinitely, marking the end of an era for many fans.

Guests riding Big Thunder Mountain in Disney World
Credit: simon17964, Flickr

Now that the holiday festivities are over, Walt Disney World Resort is underway with its substantial transformations in 2025. From the much-anticipated Test Track overhaul at EPCOT to major developments at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, change is in the air.

As we move through 2025, Disney is bidding farewell to several fan-favorite attractions, paving the way for a new wave of experiences. At Disney’s Animal Kingdom, the transformation of DinoLand U.S.A. into the Tropical Americas-themed Pueblo Esperanza is underway.

Concept art for the Encanto area in the Tropical Americas land at Disney's Animal Kingdom Park at Disney World.
Credit: Disney

While the beloved DINOSAUR attraction will continue to thrill guests through 2025, despite previous closure rumors, the same can’t be said for other parts of DinoLand U.S.A. Attractions like TriceraTop Spin, Chester & Hester’s Dinosaur Treasures, and Fossil Fun Games officially shut down on January 13, 2025, and have since been removed from park maps.

Over at Magic Kingdom, however, the most debated transformation is taking shape. As revealed at the 2024 D23 Expo, Disney plans to integrate the Cars franchise into Frontierland, blending it with Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. This dramatic overhaul means saying goodbye to park staples such as Tom Sawyer Island and the Rivers of America—including the beloved Liberty Belle Riverboat.

Prince Charming's Regal Carrousel lit up at dusk by Cinderella Castle
Credit: Disney

In line with these changes, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad officially closed on January 6, 2025. According to Disney World’s official website, the ride has “temporarily closed for refurbishment on January 6, 2025,” with plans to “reopen with a little bit of new magic in 2026.”

This means that January 5, 2025, marked the final ride for guests—for now. Naturally, speculation is rampant about what the “new magic” could entail, with many pointing to enhancements similar to those introduced at Disneyland’s version in Anaheim, including updated lighting and projection effects.

Aerial view of the 'Cars' area in Frontierland in concept art.
Credit: Disney

Disney filed a permit in late 2024, hinting at a potential reopening timeline. WDWMagic reports, “The permit, filed today, is assigned to long-time Disney Imagineering partner Elite AV Systems Inc. and expires on December 3, 2025.”

Additionally, the report states, “Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is scheduled to close on January 6, 2025, for what Disney has described as its most extensive refurbishment to date. Previous permits for the project included work with Coastal Steel Inc. for general construction and DPR Construction for complex structural updates. The DPR Construction permit is valid through March 13, 2026.”

Guests riding Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at Magic Kingdom in Disney World
Credit: Disney

Since its closure, progress has been swift. Theme park journalist Scott Gustin (@ScottGustin) shared an update on X (formerly Twitter):

“The Big Thunder Mountain Railroad refurbishment work is moving along quickly. Just a few moments ago, crews used a crane to lift and remove a massive piece of track. The ride closed on Monday and is set to reopen next year at Magic Kingdom.”

Theme park guest Madi (@madidavis07) captured the moment and shared photos, captioning:

today while we were in line for haunted mansion!

Three weeks into the closure, significant progress is evident. WDWMagic shared new images showing that much of the track has already been dismantled, signaling the start of a massive transformation.

“…Big Thunder Mountain Railroad’s design is intricately integrated with themed rockwork and other scenic elements,” the report reads. “This adds significant complexity to the track replacement process, requiring crews to carefully dismantle and navigate the ride’s elaborate environment without damaging surrounding theming.”

A nighttime image of the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad entrance at Magic Kingdom.
Credit: Disney

Disney’s rapid pace on this refurbishment is unexpected, given the company’s typical timeline for large-scale projects. Across in Tomorrowland, the Astro Orbiter has been similarly stripped of its main components as Disney works to refurbish that attraction, too.

During the INBOUND conference in Boston, Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D’Amaro addressed the challenges of executing ambitious projects, acknowledging that while they may not always get everything right, their focus remains on the next generation of Disney fans.

Are you surprised by Big Thunder Mountain Railroad’s lengthy closure? What do you think of the quick pace of construction? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Thomas Hitchen

When he’s not thinking about the Magic Kingdom, Thomas is usually reading a book, becoming desperately obsessed with fictional characters, or baking something delicious (his favorite is chocolate cake -- to bake and to eat). He's a dreamer and grew up on Mulan saving the world, Jim Hawkins soaring through the stars, and Padmé Amidala fighting a Nexu. At the Parks, he loves to ride Everest, stroll down Main Street with an overstuffed pin lanyard around his neck, and eat as many Mickey-shaped ice creams as possible. His favorite character is Han Solo (yes, he did shoot first), and his… More »

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Related Articles

Back to top button