Not every part of a Disney World attraction returns immediately after a major refurbishment.
Sometimes, even after the ride reopens, certain features remain missing for weeks or months.
That's been the case at Magic Kingdom, where one popular roller coaster has been operating without a familiar group of characters since earlier this year.
Now, after months of questions and speculation, Disney has finally started bringing those characters back.
However, visitors shouldn't expect the entire scene to look exactly as it did before the refurbishment just yet.
Disney World Continues Restoring Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad underwent one of its most significant refurbishments in recent years before reopening on May 3, 2026.
The Frontierland attraction remained closed for approximately 16 months while Disney replaced its track and refreshed several portions of the ride.
The improvements gave visitors a smoother experience while maintaining the roller coaster's familiar twists, turns, and mining-town setting.
However, the reopening also came with a few noticeable differences.
Among them was the disappearance of the opossum family from the Tumbleweed portion of the attraction.
The animals previously hung from a branch above the roller coaster track, creating a humorous moment as trains passed underneath.
Although the characters weren't a major part of the attraction's storyline, they were a recognizable feature for visitors familiar with the ride.
Their absence quickly raised questions about whether Disney intended to restore them.
Disney eventually confirmed that the animals would return, but it didn't announce when that would happen.
Now, six months after the roller coaster reopened, the restoration has officially begun.
Walt Disney Imagineering Confirms the Return
On November 3, Walt Disney Imagineering announced that the mother and father opossums had returned to Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.
The animals are once again positioned along a tree in Tumbleweed, although their placement differs from the original hanging arrangement.
One opossum sits near the upper portion of the trunk, while another appears to be climbing toward the ground.
The characters feature their familiar blue-gray coloring, pink noses, and long tails.
Disney also confirmed that additional members of the family will return later.
However, the company hasn't shared a specific date for their arrival.
It's also unclear whether the remaining animals will eventually hang over the track or appear in different positions.
That uncertainty is particularly important because of the reported reason behind their original disappearance.
Safety Testing Reportedly Delayed the Restoration
According to reports, the opossums didn't pass a clearance test following Big Thunder Mountain Railroad's track replacement.
Their original location placed them above the ride path, meaning Disney needed to ensure the characters met the necessary clearance requirements.
Rather than immediately reinstalling them, Disney reopened the roller coaster without the animals.
In October, however, observers began noticing possible signs of their return.
A dark tarp appeared on the Tumbleweed tree on October 3.
Then, on October 8, Walt Disney Imagineering filed a permit related to installing set elements at the attraction.
Those developments suggested that additional work could be coming, although Disney hadn't confirmed exactly what crews were preparing to install.
The recent return of the first two opossums now provides a clearer picture of what Imagineers have been working on.
Disney Still Has More Work to Complete
Disney completed the latest installation overnight, with Imagineers using scaffolding and work lights around the tree.
By performing the work outside regular operating hours, crews could restore the characters without disrupting daytime riders.
The tarp that appeared in October is still visible over the upper branches, suggesting additional work may be necessary.
For now, visitors can see the mother and father opossums, but the rest of the family remains missing.
Disney hasn't confirmed when the entire scene will be finished.
Still, the return marks another step toward restoring Big Thunder Mountain Railroad following its lengthy refurbishment.
While the new track and refreshed scenes were the biggest parts of the project, smaller details like the opossum family help give the attraction its personality.
And for visitors who missed seeing the animals during their previous rides, their return is a welcome change.
