As the festive spirit sweeps through the Walt Disney World Resort during the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons, the countdown to an ambitious year of changes at Disney parks has quietly begun.
With several transformative projects underway, 2025 is shaping up to be monumental for Disney’s theme parks. Among the most anticipated updates is the overhaul of DinoLand U.S.A. at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, which will close three locations permanently on January 13, 2025.
However, not all is disappearing at Animal Kingdom—DINOSAUR, the iconic headliner of DinoLand U.S.A., has been confirmed to remain operational through 2025, defying fan expectations of its potential closure.
Over at EPCOT, excitement is building for the return of Test Track, now backed by General Motors, which is set to debut its revamped experience in late summer 2025. In a more recent announcement, Disney confirmed that Animal Kingdom’s popular Kali River Rapids will once again close for refurbishment in January, too.
But perhaps the most bittersweet news for Disney enthusiasts centers on Magic Kingdom’s Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Earlier this year, Disney announced that this Frontierland classic would undergo an extensive refurbishment starting January 6, 2025. While the official Disney World website promises that the attraction will reopen in 2026 with “a little bit of new magic,” its indefinite closure beginning January 5, 2025, has left fans speculating about what lies ahead.
Many believe the upgrades will draw inspiration from the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad enhancements at Disneyland Resort in California, which introduced new effects and modernized the ride experience over a decade ago.
Details about the project emerged after filing a new permit for the attraction. The permit assigned to Elite AV Systems Inc.—a frequent collaborator with Disney Imagineering—will remain valid through December 2025. Earlier permits for the refurbishment involved Coastal Steel Inc. for construction work and DPR Construction for structural updates, with DPR’s permit extending through March 2026.
Now, the skyline at Magic Kingdom Park has changed, with the installation of a large crane at the Big Thunder site, a reminder that in under a month, the beloved ride will shutter indefinitely. WDWMagic shared images of the crane towering over the famous roller coaster.
These updates come amid broader changes at Magic Kingdom, including the contentious Frontierland expansion plans. The update, which will incorporate the new Tiana’s Bayou Adventure with a complete Cars franchise reimagining of Tom Sawyer Island and the Rivers of America, was unveiled earlier this year following the D23 Expo.
Meanwhile, Disney also confirmed plans for the Tropical Americas-themed Pueblo Esperanza area at Animal Kingdom, which will feature Encanto and Indiana Jones attractions.
Addressing the skepticism surrounding major changes, Disney Experiences chairman Josh D’Amaro acknowledged at the INBOUND festival that while Disney’s efforts don’t always land perfectly with fans, the goal is to appeal to the next generation of Disney-goers.
With so many beloved attractions transforming, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad’s extended closure marks the end of an era and, hopefully, the promise of a brighter future.
Are you ready to say goodbye—for now—to this fan-favorite ride? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
