Disney Parks fans had to say “see you later” to one of the most beloved attractions at Disneyland Paris Resort earlier this year, as Big Thunder Mountain Railroad entered a period of temporary closure. After 33 years of thrilling guests on a journey through the Old West, the iconic roller coaster in Frontierland is undergoing a major refurbishment that will keep it closed until at least the summer of 2025. Here’s the latest update.
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad first opened at Disneyland Park in California in 1979 and has since become a staple of Disney theme parks around the world. The ride’s popularity quickly spread to other Disney resorts, with Magic Kingdom Park in Florida debuting its own version in 1980. Disneyland Paris joined the group in 1992, followed by Tokyo Disneyland in 1987. While each version has a unique storyline, all feature guests riding a mine train through an Old West-style landscape, complete with thrilling drops and hair-raising twists.
Disneyland Paris Resort closed its version of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad on January 6, 2025, with an expected reopening sometime this summer. Though the park hasn’t specified the exact reopening date, it did confirm that the refurbishment would focus on improving the “quality of the experience while respecting its original creative vision” and preserving the ride’s history, which is “intimately linked to that of Frontierland.”
As the months-long closure continues, updates have surfaced showing that crews are already hard at work refurbishing the ride. Photos shared by the X (formerly Twitter) account @DLPReport reveal a noticeable amount of construction equipment and scaffolding around the attraction, hinting at the magnitude of the work that’s underway.
🔧 A look at the ongoing refurbishment of Big Thunder Mountain. This phase is scheduled to end late June.
🔧 A look at the ongoing refurbishment of Big Thunder Mountain. This phase is scheduled to end late June. pic.twitter.com/cHYxZg3UJ2
— DLP Report (@DLPReport) May 1, 2025
The Wildest Ride in the Wilderness may be taking a brief hiatus, but Disney has promised that it will return even more thrilling than before.
While Disneyland Paris is undergoing this update, Walt Disney World Resort is also working on refurbishing Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Magic Kingdom Park’s version of the ride closed on January 6, 2025, for a much longer refurbishment expected to stretch until 2026. Though the specific changes being made to the Florida version of the ride have not been publicly detailed, Disney promised “new magic” for the Wildest Ride in the Wilderness.
Which version of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is the best? Share your opinion with Disney Fanatic in the comments!
NEWS, lets not panic ALL rides must be refurbished, maintained and upgraded. Its just sad when you plan a vacation months or years in advance only to find that the ONE favorite ride or a couple of rides are shut down. Its something we all have to live with but wouldnt you think that if this was the case then, that the theme park should have discounted tickets…..just a thought