Something big is happening at Magic Kingdom Park, and if you blinked, you might have missed it. Construction crews have been hard at work in Frontierland, and now, a major transformation is underway at one of Walt Disney World Resort’s most iconic attractions: Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad: Closed for a Year
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, a fan-favorite roller coaster in Frontierland, is now completely inaccessible to guests. The attraction closed on January 6, 2025, and has been blocked off by construction walls as refurbishment efforts continue. Walt Disney World Resort confirmed the ride would be closed for nearly all of 2025 as part of a year-long overhaul designed to breathe new life into the classic coaster.
While Disney has remained tight-lipped about the details, they did promise that the closure would bring “a little bit of new magic” to the decades-old Frontierland roller coaster.
Demolition Crews and New Tracks
Speculation about the scope of the refurbishment reached a fever pitch earlier this year when cranes appeared in Frontierland, prompting Disney Parks fans to theorize that a complete track replacement was underway. Their suspicions were confirmed in February when guests spotted new roller coaster tracks arriving at Magic Kingdom Park on flatbeds.
More recently, visitors aboard the Walt Disney World Railroad reportedly spotted construction workers actively replacing parts of the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad tracks. According to WDWNT, crews were visible near the Gold Dust Saloon facade, which was surrounded by scaffolding and new track pieces. The sight suggests that much of the ride’s track will be replaced in the coming months.
Although Walt Disney World Resort hasn’t confirmed when Big Thunder Mountain Railroad will reopen, current estimates point to an early 2026 return.
The Legacy of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad has been a staple of Magic Kingdom Park since 1980, opening one year after its Disneyland Park counterpart. Its popularity spurred Walt Disney Imagineers to create additional versions in Tokyo Disneyland and Disneyland Paris.
The attraction even gained a reputation beyond Disney Parks’ fandom. A scientific study confirmed that the roller coaster could help guests pass kidney stones – a claim that only added to the ride’s legend.
After over four decades of operation with occasional maintenance closures, the current refurbishment marks the Frontierland attraction’s most significant update yet.
Frontierland Faces the Future
The changes to Big Thunder Mountain Railroad are just one part of a much larger story. Frontierland at Magic Kingdom Park is undergoing a massive transformation, with several attractions already closed or reimagined.
Last year alone, Country Bear Jamboree was replaced with Country Bear Musical Jamboree, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure opened in place of Splash Mountain, and the Frontierland Shootin’ Arcade permanently closed.
At D23 Expo, Disney announced that Tom Sawyer Island and the Liberty Square Riverboat would be closed and demolished to make way for a new Cars (2006) area. Once Tom Sawyer Island is bulldozed and the Rivers of America is filled in, two brand-new rides will take over the space.
Crews are also focusing efforts beyond Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, where Disney plans to create an all-new Disney Villains Land. The expansion will utilize unused land behind the roller coaster, vastly expanding Magic Kingdom Park’s footprint.
Walt Disney World Resort has not confirmed opening dates for the Cars and Disney Villains expansions. Follow Disney Fanatic for updates on these and other construction projects at Magic Kingdom Park, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park.
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