Walt Disney World's Big Thunder Mountain Railroad to close for major refurbishment

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, one of the Magic Kingdom's most beloved attractions, is set to close for an extensive refurbishment starting January 6, 2025.

Disney has announced that the popular Frontierland roller coaster will be out of operation for more than a year, with plans to reopen in 2026. The company has teased the return of the ride with "a little bit of new magic."

This refurbishment has been in the pipeline for some time. Disney previously submitted a permit for the project, assigning it to Coastal Steel Inc., a trusted construction partner. The permit, which vaguely describes "General Construction," is valid until August 2025. Although there was earlier speculation of a September 2024 closure, Disney has now confirmed the January 2025 start date, finalizing the timeline for this major overhaul.

The upcoming refurbishment will involve a significant overhaul of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad's ride system, aimed at extending the attraction's lifespan and ensuring smoother operation in the future. Sources close to the project suggest that this will be the most comprehensive update in the ride's history, surpassing the scale of the 2012 renovation, which required a four-month closure.

The 2025 project is expected to mirror Disneyland’s 2012 refurbishment of its own Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, which introduced new ride vehicles, track replacements, and updated scenery. Magic Kingdom’s version is likely to receive similar improvements.

This refurbishment will result in the longest closure Big Thunder Mountain Railroad has ever experienced. Since its debut at Magic Kingdom in 1980, the ride has undergone various short-term closures for maintenance and minor updates.

Keep an eye out for more details as Disney reveals what new features and updates are planned for Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.