Disney Announces Rule Change for Popular Magic Kingdom Ride

After being closed for over a year, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is finally reopening at Magic Kingdom!

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

Disney announced that the Wildest Ride in the Wilderness will officially reopen on May 3rd, and we can’t WAIT. The ride will reopen with new elements, scenes, and an expanded storyline we’re excited to experience. Not only that, but Disney revealed that after extensive testing, the height requirement has been lowered! Here’s what we know.

Since Big Thunder Mountain Railroad opened at Disney World, the height requirement has been 40″ — but that will officially change when the newly refurbished ride reopens on May 3rd. As part of the reopening announcement, Disney shared that after testing, they’re lowering the height requirement to 38″! That means more kiddos will be able to ride. How fun!

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

This attraction closed on January 6th, 2025, with the promise of a refurbishment and a touch of new magic in 2026. We’ve been not-so-patiently waiting, and now another ride is back open in Frontierland.

The closure brought a refurbishment to “keep the attraction in tip-top shape, ready to delight guests who want to ride the rails for years to come.” Along with general renovations to keep the ride running smoothly, Rainbow Caverns will be added, and “shimmering and illuminating iridescent” will help bring the mountain to life.

©Disney

Disney even teased that there’s even more new magic for guests to discover once the attraction officially reopens. What do you think is coming? I’m hoping for projection mapping like the one at Disneyland.

©Disney

The rest of Frontierland is also undergoing a transformation, including Piston Peak, the Cars-themed land replacing the permanently closed Rivers of America, and Tom Sawyer Island. We don’t have an opening timeline yet, but we’re looking forward to the two Cars attractions.

©Disney

We’ll be on the lookout for more updates from Magic Kingdom and beyond, along with bringing you everything you need to know about the new Big Thunder Mountain Railroad when it opens. In the meantime, make sure you stay tuned to the Disney Food Blog for the latest Disney news and more.

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