In case you missed it, a beloved ride is finally reopening in Magic Kingdom!

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

In less than a month, you’ll be able to hop back onto the wildest ride in the wilderness, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad! The famous coaster has been closed for over a year, and this reopening marks a few changes for the ride. If you’re curious about skipping that inevitably long line, Disney has confirmed where the ride will fall on the Lightning Lane tier list!

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is reopening on May 3rd, 2026, and we couldn’t be more excited! The attraction, which has been closed since January 2025, will be sure to cause some fun chaos in Frontierland and long lines. To skip those long lines, you’ll need to look into Disney’s Lightning Lane Multi Pass service.

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad construction

This is Disney’s paid skip-the-line service, and it can be a big time saver when you’re in the parks. Previously, Big Thunder Mountain was in the Tier 1 category before its closure. When it reopens, Disney has confirmed Big Thunder Mountain will remain in Tier 1. 

Big Thunder Mountain before it closed

There are two tiers when it comes to using Multi Pass. Ahead of your park visit, you can select 3 Lightning Lanes — one in Tier 1 and two in Tier 2. If you’re staying at a Disney hotel, you can select them 7 days before your visit. If you’re staying off property, you can select them 3 days before.

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

It’s not a huge surprise that this very popular attraction will remain in Tier 1, and we expect it will be a tough one to grab in the first few weeks of opening. Lightning Lanes are definitely not a necessity on your trips, but they can be a great way to maximize your park day. When it comes to Big Thunder Mountain, there are a lot of changes ahead for the coaster.

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

The ride will be lowering its height requirement to 38 inches instead of 40, which means even more guests will be able to enjoy the ride! During its closure, Disney hinted at a touch of new magic in 2026! We also know that refurbishment was 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 refurbishments, Disney is also adding the Rainbow Caverns, and “shimmering and illuminating iridescent” will help bring the mountain to life.

©Disney

The rest of Frontierland is also undergoing a transformation, including Piston Peak, the Cars-themed land! Disney has confirmed this new land will feature 2 new attractions, but they haven’t given an opening timeline just yet. Disney is also busy working away at Villains land in Magic Kingdom! This new land will be behind Big Thunder Mountain, and it will be separate from Frontierland. Disney hasn’t confirmed too much about this land, so we are still patiently waiting.

©Disney

We are seriously excited to see this coaster reopening so we can hoot and hollar to our hearts’ content. As always, be sure to keep following DFB for more Disney news, updates, and more.

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