Yesterday, October 14, 2024, Walt Disney World announced major news: Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, a fan-favorite in Frontierland, will close for over a year starting January 6, 2025. The attraction, one of the iconic roller coasters, is expected to reopen sometime in 2026, though Disney has yet to offer concrete reasons for this lengthy closure.
The announcement, shared on social media by theme park reporter Scott Gustin (@ScottGustin), sparked plenty of speculation. According to Gustin, Big Thunder will close for “enhancements,” but no specifics were given, leaving Disney fans guessing. Some believe this could follow in the footsteps of Disneyland’s 2013 refurbishment of the same ride.
NEW: Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at Magic Kingdom Park will close for an extended refurbishment on Jan. 6, 2025. The last day to ride before it closes is Jan. 5.
The ride is planned to reopen in 2026 with new enhancements. No other details provided.
NEW: Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at Magic Kingdom Park will close for an extended refurbishment on Jan. 6, 2025. The last day to ride before it closes is Jan. 5.
The ride is planned to reopen in 2026 with new enhancements. No other details provided. pic.twitter.com/TcXOVNnArY
— Scott Gustin (@ScottGustin) October 14, 2024
At the time, Disneyland’s version of the coaster was shuttered for over a year, reopening with new tracks, trains, and a new finale featuring projection mapping and lighting effects. Given the lengthy timeline for this refurbishment, it’s expected that Disney World’s version will receive a similarly extensive overhaul.
Fan reactions across social media were quick and varied.
The American Culturist (@MericaCulture) lamented: “A whole year for what? [Bob] Iger keeps wasting money fixing things that aren’t broken.”
This dig at Disney CEO Bob Iger touches on the broader criticism he has faced since his return to lead the company in late 2022 after Bob Chapek’s controversial exit.
On the other hand, Dee Bee (@RopeDropLife) expressed frustration over the possibility of “a whole year for dynamite lighting effects,” referring to the speculation that enhancements will focus on the ride’s final explosive scene as seen in Disneyland’s version.
In fact, some fans hope the refurbishments will elevate the Magic Kingdom version to the same standard as Disneyland’s. Native Honesty (@Raingoons) chimed in with optimism: “Maybe they’ll take the chance to plus it up to the level Anaheim’s is at, particularly the finale scene with the explosions, smoke, and lit fuses.”
A few speculated on a more significant retheme for Big Thunder. Lex (@wheretolex) wondered if this closure might hint at a much larger project, suggesting, “Radiator Springs Racers in coaster form?? Lol, what is happening?!”
This speculation ties into a larger conversation about Frontierland’s future. At the 2023 D23 Expo in Anaheim, Disney confirmed that a Cars-themed land and a new Disney Villains land would be coming to Magic Kingdom.
These projects, which were teased as early as 2022, are part of Disney’s push to introduce more Intellectual Property (IP) into its theme parks. Josh D’Amaro, chairman of Disney Experiences, described the additions as part of a broader transformation for Frontierland, which has already seen major changes with the closure of Splash Mountain and its retheming into Tiana’s Bayou Adventure.
The Cars-themed land will not be a direct replica of Disneyland’s Cars Land but will offer a new take on the franchise. Two attractions were announced: a “thrilling rally race” designed for older guests and a family-friendly ride. However, the Cars expansion comes with a cost.
Perhaps the most controversial part of this transformation is the removal of Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island. While D’Amaro didn’t address these changes directly during his appearance at the INBOUND conference in Boston, many fans have noted that these classic elements will be phased out to make room for new IP.
The evolution of Frontierland reflects Disney’s ongoing strategy of combining classic themes with popular film franchises. D’Amaro hinted at this blending of old and new during the D23 Expo, saying, “The American West has always been about keeping your eyes on the horizon… that goes for miners in the mountains, bears from the country, a princess from the bayou, or a racecar from the big city.”
As Magic Kingdom prepares for these massive changes, fans are left wondering what the future holds for Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Will the enhancements truly bring the ride to the next level? Or will the closure, as some fans fear, simply be a lengthy disruption for the minimal payoff?
Related: Disney World To Shut Down Controversial Ride Just Weeks After Reopening It
Whatever the case, Disney fans will be watching closely, ready to embrace—or critique—the transformation when Big Thunder reopens in 2026. Until then, we can only speculate what these changes will bring to one of Magic Kingdom’s most beloved rides.