Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Overhaul Preparations Continue as Another Permit is Filed

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Big Thunder Mountain Railroad overview

Posted: Wednesday December 4, 2024 1:47pm ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

Disney has filed a new permit for Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom as preparations continue for the extensive refurbishment project starting in early 2025.

Big Thunder Mountain will be closed for a lengthy refurbishment starting January 6, 2025

The permit, filed today, is assigned to long-time Disney Imagineering partner Elite AV Systems Inc. and expires on December 3, 2025.

Elite AV Systems Inc. has a history of working on recent Disney projects, focusing on technical and electrical components.

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is scheduled to close on January 6, 2025, for what Disney has described as its most extensive refurbishment to date. Previous permits for the project included work with Coastal Steel Inc. for general construction and DPR Construction for complex structural updates. The DPR Construction permit is valid through March 13, 2026.

Disney has previously said it plans to reopen Big Thunder Mountain in 2026, promising the ride will return with "a little bit of new magic."

Early site preparations for a crane installation are already underway

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gerarar1 day ago

Goofyernmost5 days ago

Cool! It will happen just in time for my 93 birthday. Something to look forward too.

Disstevefan16 days ago

Just great! Construction walls around RoA from 2025 to 2043 😉

Raineman6 days ago

I believe so, just like we'll be arguing about Cars Land/ROA in that thread until Cars Land opens in June of 2043.

JoeCamel7 days ago

You don't clock in by 0700 Mickey gonna be big mad.......

flynnibus7 days ago

Just saying people are trying to authoritatively speak on the utilization of the project time and space… and people really don’t even know the daily cadence of the site. Credibility of knowing how fast disney is going vs potential… not so good…. Like i said, they don’t limit themselves to working only at night when working off stage…. Sometimes even on stage. This site is largely separated from guest access. I imagine one of the biggest issues is there is little area to put stuff down within the attraction’s footprint

TrainsOfDisney8 days ago

Why not? For that matter why not 3 shifts? I’m not saying that’s what should happen, but yes, 3 shifts would complete the project quicker I’m sure.

JD808 days ago

You think major progress can be had in a second shift, in an outdoor construction project in an operating themepark? edit to add: Yes there is work done at different hours, but I don't think doubling the crew would gain you any meaningful ROI.

dmc4938 days ago

Good lord are we still back and forth on the timing thing? It was probably always planned this long, and we all stare at permit expiration dates too much and read too much into everything.

Disstevefan18 days ago

Are we going to argue about this until it opens in December of 2026? ;) ;) ;) Please don't get triggered, the winky emoji means I am joking I have no idea when this will open.

flynnibus8 days ago

"You also have to consider about BTM is space. There isn't much space for more people to do more work. Like literal space where people can stand and do things" Solution: you don't work at the same time... but you're right... "sigh"

JD808 days ago

Sigh.

flynnibus8 days ago

Does anyone even know how many shifts are working on the site? This is a dead-end in the park - with the site hundreds of feet from any of the open guest areas.