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Walt Disney World To Temporarily Close Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

Author Kayla Morgan

The “wildest ride in the wilderness” at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom will close in early January 2025 and will stay closed for the entire year, according to Disney’s website. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, one of the top rides at Magic Kingdom, is set to close for “refurbishment” on January 6, 2025, as stated on the ride’s webpage.

It will reopen “with a little bit of new magic” in 2026, Disney announced. No additional details about the refurbishment have been shared, and the reason for the long closure hasn’t been explained yet.

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is a fast roller coaster designed for both kids and adults, but some parts can be bumpy and even dark.

This summer, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure opened, replacing Splash Mountain. It’s one of the newest rides at Disney’s Florida theme parks. In 2020, Disney decided to re-theme Splash Mountain after fans urged the company to make changes in response to nationwide discussions about racial issues. The original ride was criticized for featuring characters and music from the 1946 movie “Song of the South,” which has been condemned for its stereotypes of Black people and its idealized view of the post-Civil War South.

Earlier this year, Disney revealed plans for new lands, rides, and expansions at Walt Disney World. At Magic Kingdom, a highly anticipated “Villains Land” will open “beyond Big Thunder Mountain,” featuring popular villains from Disney’s animated films.

This new area will include two major attractions, along with dining and shopping, all on an impressive scale. “Be prepared, you poor unfortunate souls,” teased Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D’Amaro. “It’s going to be a fearless new vision for what a Disney experience can be.”

In Frontier Land, a “Cars”-themed area is also set to open, featuring a new ride and another family attraction. As a result, Tom Sawyer Island and Rivers of America will be transformed into vast terrains for a rally race with some of the world’s most iconic racers.

Other Disney announcements include a Monsters, Inc. Land at Hollywood Studios, the re-theming of Test Track at EPCOT, a new “Indiana Jones”-themed ride at Animal Kingdom (replacing the Dinosaur ride), and a “Zootopia”-inspired show coming to the Tree of Life Theatre (which will replace “It’s Tough to be a Bug!”), among others.

Big Thunder Mountain isn’t closed yet, but January will be here before we know it.

Kayla is the midday host on Detroit’s 105.1 The Bounce. She started her career in radio back in 2016 as an intern at another Detroit station and worked her way here. She's made stops in Knoxville, TN, Omaha, Ne and other places before returning to Detroit. She’s done almost everything in radio from promotions to web, creating content on social media, you name it. She’s a true Michigander, born and raised. So, you can catch her camping or vacationing up north to exploring the downtown Detroit or maybe even catching a sports game. During her free time, Kayla enjoys watching movies, roller-skating, crafting, and music festivals. She and her husband together dip into many of the great things Michigan has to offer. Together they also like to travel. A few hobbies of hers include wine and beer tastings, crafting, hiking, roller skating, movies, home improvement projects, gardening, and festivals. She’s always looking to take on more local events happening in the community. She loves connecting with the community. When writing, Kayla covers topics including lifestyle, pop culture, trending stories, hacks, and urban culture.

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