Construction crews continue to work on the year-long Big Thunder Mountain Railroad refurbishment at Magic Kingdom Park amid multiple other changes in the Frontierland area. The roller coaster remains blocked off by construction walls and inaccessible to guests.
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad has been part of Magic Kingdom Park’s Frontierland since 1980, one year after its sister attraction opened at Disneyland Park. The attraction’s popularity led Walt Disney Imagineers to build more versions at Tokyo Disneyland and Disneyland Paris. The Frontierland roller coaster has an unusual reputation for helping guests pass kidney stones, which a scientific study confirmed.
In 2024, Walt Disney World Resort announced that Big Thunder Mountain Railroad would close for almost all of 2025 for a lengthy refurbishment. After over four decades of operation with short maintenance closures, Walt Disney Imagineers planned to fully refresh the attraction beginning January 6, 2025. Disney promised that the lengthy closure would bring “a little bit of new magic” to the decades-old Frontierland roller coaster.
Walt Disney World Resort hasn’t publicly detailed its refurbishment plans for Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. But when a crane arrived in Frontierland at Magic Kingdom Park earlier this year, Disney Parks fans suspected that crews were planning a complete track replacement for the ride. The rumor was confirmed in February when guests spotted new roller coaster tracks arriving at Magic Kingdom Park on flatbeds. Check out this Instagram post from @fantasylandnewsblog:
Last week, Disney Park guests spotted crews actively replacing some exterior track on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. While riding the Walt Disney World Railroad, WDWNT reportedly spotted construction workers on the closed Frontierland attraction.
New track pieces were visible near the Gold Dust Saloon facade in the middle of the attraction. The presence of scaffolding and workers in the area suggested that crews still have a lot of track to replace in the coming months.
Although Walt Disney World Resort hasn’t confirmed an exact reopening date for Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, the roller coaster is expected to welcome guests again in early 2026.
Beyond Big Thunder Mountain Railroad: Change Overtakes Frontierland
The year-long Big Thunder Mountain Railroad refurbishment is just one small part of a massive overhaul of Frontierland at Magic Kingdom Park. Last year saw three significant changes: the new Country Bear Musical Jamboree attraction replaced the classic Country Bear Jamboree; Tiana’s Bayou Adventure opened in place of Splash Mountain; and the Frontierland Shootin’ Arcade permanently closed.
At D23 Expo, Walt Disney Imagineering announced plans to close Tom Sawyer Island and the Liberty Square Riverboat to make way for a new Cars (2006) area in Frontierland. Two all-new rides will take over the space after crews bulldoze Tom Sawyer Island and fill in the Rivers of America.
Crews are also hard at work “beyond Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.” Walt Disney World Resort has promised to build an all-new Disney Villains land in the unused space behind the roller coaster.
Disney has yet to confirm opening dates for the new Cars rides or the Disney Villains Land. Follow Inside the Magic for updates on these and other construction projects around Magic Kingdom Park, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park.
Have you spotted any ongoing construction at Magic Kingdom Park, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, or Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park? Share your story with Inside the Magic in the comments!
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