Just a few days after closing for refurbishment, crew members are dismantling the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad track.
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Refurbishment
Scott Gustin shared a video of a crane lifting a large piece of track from the attraction on Wednesday.
The piece looks to be nearly 40 feet long and is from near the end of the attraction right after the runaway train takes riders under a bridge. You can see that section of the ride in our POV video below at the 18:15 timestamp.
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad closed on January 6 and is expected to be closed for over a year. Disney stated the ride would “reopen with a little bit of new magic” in 2026.
The refurb is in part getting the area ready for the Disney Villains-themed land coming to Magic Kingdom. The expansion will be behind Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and include two major attractions, dining, and shopping.
It’s likely crews are removing the track piece to be refurbished off-site and returned later. But the expansion could mean changes to the layout of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, the same way Tomorrowland Speedway had to be adjusted to accommodate TRON Lightcycle Run.
Nearby, the Rivers of America will be filled and replaced with a new “Cars”-themed area including two new rides. This project will include the permanent closure of Liberty Square Riverboat and Tom Sawyer Island.
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