As Walt Disney World moves through its packed 2025, major changes are reshaping the landscape of its iconic parks. With EPCOT’s International Flower & Garden Festival on the horizon, Blizzard Beach Water Park celebrating its 30th anniversary, and the end of the virtual queue system, Disney is diving headfirst into an era of transformation—one that’s sparking both excitement and debate among fans.
Among the most striking developments is the indefinite closure of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at Magic Kingdom. The beloved Frontierland coaster took its final riders on January 5, 2025, before Disney confirmed on its official website that the ride would “temporarily close for refurbishment on January 6, 2025” and reopen “with a little bit of new magic in 2026.” Though Disney has yet to reveal specifics, many speculate the updates could echo changes made to Disneyland’s version over a decade ago.
Construction crews wasted no time. Mere days after the closure, images hit social media showing a massive piece of track being removed by crane, a sight visible from the Haunted Mansion queue in Liberty Square. This highly visible work signaled the beginning of the significant overhaul.
Further evidence of the extensive refurbishment came from documents filed in late 2024, listing Disney Imagineering’s long-time collaborators, Elite AV Systems Inc. and DPR Construction, as key players in the project. Now, a fresh Notice of Commencement may indicate that the next phase is about to begin.
“Another milestone in the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad refurbishment has been reached, as Walt Disney Imagineering (WDI) has filed a new Notice of Commencement for the Magic Kingdom attraction,” WDWMagic reported. “The document, which lists the work as ‘Install set elements,’ is assigned to Icarus Exhibits, Inc., a company known for themed set fabrication and installation.”
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad’s closure is just one piece of a broader transformation sweeping through Frontierland. At the 2024 D23 Expo, Disney announced plans to integrate the Pixar Cars franchise into the area, connecting it with both Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. As part of the overhaul, longtime fixtures like Tom Sawyer Island and the Rivers of America will be permanently removed from Disney World’s iteration of the park.
Meanwhile, over at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, change is also in full swing. On January 13, 2025, three attractions—TriceraTop Spin, Chester & Hester’s Dinosaur Treasures, and Fossil Fun Games—closed permanently to make way for the park’s new Tropical Americas-inspired land, Pueblo Esperanza. While this shift has fueled speculation about the fate of the area’s signature ride, DINOSAUR, Disney has confirmed it will remain operational throughout 2025.
The accelerated timeline of these changes has caught some fans off guard. Disney has long faced criticism for drawn-out construction schedules, but with Universal’s Epic Universe set to debut in 2025, the company seems eager to keep pace. Speaking at the INBOUND conference in Boston, Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D’Amaro acknowledged the difficulties of large-scale projects, stating that while not every decision is perfect, each is made with future generations in mind.
As Disney World embarks on this ambitious new chapter, fans are left wondering—what will these transformations bring? Let us know your thoughts!
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