Big Thunder Mountain Railroad in Magic Kingdom has been closed for over a year, and we’ve been (not-so-patiently) waiting for Disney to let us know when we can expect to ride the Wildest Ride in the Wilderness again!
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad news!
This was a massive refurbishment, with additional storylines and fresh new tracks hitting the roller coaster — so it’s no wonder it took quite a while. But now, we finally know when we can expect to experience Big Thunder Mountain Railroad again… and it’s happening sooner than you might think!
Disney has revealed that Big Thunder Mountain Railroad will reopen with new magic and the shine and polish of an all-over refurbishment in early May! While an exact reopening date has still not been announced, we’re thrilled to know that we won’t have to wait all summer to experience this ride once again.
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Disney has called this a “mountain-top to cavern-deep refurbishment,” which is a pretty clear signal that something significant is happening here, and it’s honestly one of the more notable ride closures we’ve seen at Disney World in quite some time.
One of the most exciting additions involves the underground portion of the ride. When the trains make their way into the caverns, guests are going to encounter phosphorescent pools along with shimmering, illuminated stalagmites and stalactites — like the former Rainbow Caverns at Disneyland.
©Disney
The backstory of Big Thunder is also getting more of a spotlight. The lore centers on Barnabas T. Bullion, who struck gold in the Big Thunder region during the early days of America’s first gold rush and founded the Big Thunder Mountain Company.
©Disney
His ambitions, however, were no match for the mountain itself. Machines broke down, mines caved in, and no matter how relentlessly the miners dug, the forces of Big Thunder fought back. That’s the world guests are riding through, and it sounds like the refurbishment is going to make sure every inch of the experience reflects that story in a way it hasn’t before.
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
We’ll be on the lookout for an official opening date for Big Thunder, but in the meantime, make sure you stay tuned to the Disney Food Blog for the latest Disney news and more!
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I swear (actually since it’s Disney I should I’m positive) that Barnabas T. Bullion reminds me so much of Donald Sutherland. Do you know if he gave permission to use his profile?