Disney World's Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Refurbishment Timeline Updated with New Permit

2 hours ago in "Big Thunder Mountain Railroad"

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Big Thunder Mountain Railroad overview

Posted: Friday October 25, 2024 1:45pm ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

Disney has filed a new permit for the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad refurbishment project at Magic Kingdom, with an indication of a possible timeline for completion.

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad will be closed for at least a year at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom

The permit has been assigned to DPR Construction, a company known for its expertise in complex and technical projects, and is valid through March 13, 2026.

This is the second permit, following an earlier filing with Coastal Steel, which carries an expiration of August 8, 2025.

2026 Reopening

This new permit sheds light on a potential reopening timeline for Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Initially, Disney confirmed the attraction would close for refurbishment starting January 6, 2025, with a target reopening in 2026. With DPR Construction assigned to the project and the permit's expiration extending into March 2026, it's possible that guests may not see Big Thunder reopen until at least spring 2026. While permits provide some insight, they aren't always a reliable indicator of a project's exact timeline. For now, however, they offer the best available information.

Magic Kingdom's Big Thunder Mountain will close on January 6, 2025

A Comprehensive Overhaul for the Iconic Attraction

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, a fan-favorite since its debut at Magic Kingdom in 1980, is set for its most extensive refurbishment yet. Earlier permits had already hinted at large-scale updates, focusing on the attraction's core ride system and other essential components. Disney has yet to announce specific details about what new elements might be introduced, but the refurbishment promises "a little bit of new magic" upon reopening.

Disneyland's Big Thunder Mountain Railroad underwent a similar large-scale overhaul in 2012, during which significant updates were made to both the ride system and visual elements.

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad overview

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wdwmagic2 hours ago

Disney World's Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Refurbishment Timeline Updated with New Permit https://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions/big-thunder-mountain-railroad/news/25oct2024-disney-worlds-big-thunder-mountain-railroad-refurbishment-timeline-updated-with-new-permit.htm

Bocabear1 day ago

I really would love to see some show scenes back at Space Mountain....Wouldn't it be great if the figurs on the lift hill were actually moving and doing something? And they REALLY need to put the speed ramp back with a refreshed and all new show scenes. I loved that tongue-in-cheek 60s futurism that they were using during the Fed Ex years...It would be fun to take the show scenes back to a 60s vision of the home of future living...it would be a perfect fit to follow your rocket ride from Space Station 76 back to earth....

splah1 day ago

I would hope they keep SM single file too. That adds to the fun. Smooth out a couple turns, I’m sure there’s some supports they could remove and free up the clearances some, keep the same layout, and bring back the glow in the dark rocket stripes, maybe some on board audio. Do you hear that WDI? That’s the extent of your scope. Don’t do anything else to the ride.

JohnD1 day ago

After the BTMRR refurb, they really need to take SM down for its own refurb. I'm past wanting to ride it anymore. It's too bumpy for my tastes.

Moth1 day ago

I wouldn't mind an exterior update while still keeping the overall iconic look and a retrack but I'm... fine with Space Mountain being a relatively not-so-flashy coaster like Tokyo is making theirs? Would rather have it stay that way rather than make it a more advanced coaster, like the one next door to it.

ToTBellHop2 days ago

That is not something being considered.

Moth2 days ago

Henry before he got on a bus and left Specifically it was "if it goes good in Japan they'll do it here" which, lol lmao.

lazyboy97o2 days ago

A new track layout at the Magic Kingdom would not necessarily require a new building. The tracks aren’t packed in anywhere near as tightly as the other versions of the attraction.

Bocabear2 days ago

No. And I hope and pray that WDW's Space Mountain never gets that weird Tokyo SM Facelift... It is bizarre....and I think will end up looking bad and dated... The clean lines of our original Space Mountain are as fresh looking now as when it was built even though it is a product of it's age... I can only hope one day all of Tomorrowland will be upgraded and refreshed into it's fantastic 1970s Streamlined fabulousness...instead of the chock-a-block mismatched mess it is now. Even the 90s redo looked better than it currently does...

ToTBellHop2 days ago

Did anyone suggest they would?

PizzaPlanet2 days ago

I don’t think I buy that they would consider demolishing MK’s Space Mountain. Wouldn’t that also mean the Peoplemover tracks would need removed or rebuilt? (By demolish I mean a Tokyo style redo, not the retrack that DL had…)

ToTBellHop2 days ago

Yeah I’m not sure what it is now. They have better simulations of actual space travel elsewhere in WDW and should really just embrace the ridiculousness in Space Mtn again. No one believes it’s a rocket launch.

celluloid2 days ago

Better a great 70s than a modern what? That's how I see it.

ToTBellHop2 days ago

Agreed. I get that the idea with the last refurb was “make it dark like actual space to modernize it!” but honestly, retro is in now. Make it look ‘70s now as the perfect foil for ultra-futuristic Tron.