Walt Disney World has just announced that Big Thunder Mountain Railroad will be reopening in Spring 2026 following a lengthy refurbishment. Big Thunder closed back in January 2025, and since then, crews have been extremely busy replacing the entire roller coaster track. We’ve been tracking the progress on our dedicated project page, but now it’s time to turn our sights on a reopening! Here’s the announcement.
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Reopening Spring 2026
Fresh mountain air will be calling your name when Big Thunder Mountain Railroad reopens this spring at Magic Kingdom, with touches of new magic and a crevasse-deep to mountain-top refurbishment.Â
Along with an entirely rebuilt track, Walt Disney World says that the attraction will have some “new magic” when it reopens to guests next Spring. An exact reopening date has not yet been announced.
The story of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad dates back to Olden Times, or rather, Golden Times, during the early days of America’s first major gold rush. When Barnabas T. Bullion struck gold in the Big Thunder region, he saw a future full of riches and hustled to start the Big Thunder Mountain Company.
However, them shiny dreams rarely come without a cost, and Bullion quickly found himself in a battle with the forces of nature and in a whole heap of trouble. One day, strange and unexplainable things started happening. Machines failed. Cave-ins shut mines down.
No matter how deep the miners dug into the heart of the mountain, the forces of Big Thunder fought back. And when the attraction reopens next year, the unsuspectin’ passengers who board the runaway trains will learn just how wild the wilderness can get.
One such moment comes when the trains rattle their way underground to spectacular natural caverns full of phosphorescent pools, shimmering and illuminating iridescent stalagmites (the ones on the floor) and stalactites (the ones on the ceiling).
The Rainbow Caverns certainly are beautiful… but they ain’t as friendly as they first appear. In fact, that menacing rumble from deep within the mountain may be a sign that we ain’t welcome.
As always, keep checking back with us here at BlogMickey.com as we continue to bring you the latest news, photos, and info from around the Disney Parks!