PHOTOS: Envelope Testing Begins on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad After All New Track Installed

Shannen Ace

A yellow and black windmill structure stands in front of rocky orange cliffs behind a wooden fence.

PHOTOS: Envelope Testing Begins on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad After All New Track Installed

Now that all the new track has been installed on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad in Magic Kingdom, Disney is starting to test the track and envelope.

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Refurbishment

Roller coaster track under construction with scaffolding by rocky cliffs and water.

As we reported in our last construction update, there is a yellow cart on the track for testing. From the Liberty Square Riverboat, we could see the cart is still where we first saw it, right at the end of this curve heading into the mountain.

A yellow maintenance vehicle sits on a black curved roller coaster track between rocky, reddish canyon walls.

This small cart is just used to test how ride vehicles will move on the new track, ensuring a smooth experience (at least as smooth as Big Thunder Mountain Railroad should be). Since the cart hasn’t moved, testing in this area might not have begun yet.

A roller coaster track ends abruptly at a cave in a rocky cliff, blocked by a yellow barrier.

There’s a gap in the mountain near this curve of track where rock work was torn away. The mountain’s steel framework is visible through the gap.

A yellow roller coaster car sits on tracks emerging from a rocky cave under construction, with scaffolding and a paint can nearby.

Beyond the small yellow cart, we can see that the new track extends into the mountain. One of the final pieces of exterior track was recently completed, leading us to believe that most, if not all, of the new track installation work may now be complete. Since we can’t see all of the interior track for ourselves, we can only speculate.

Metal scaffolding structure with platforms, nets, and construction materials at a worksite over water.

There is still exposed concrete at the bottom right closest to water. There appears to still be a good bit of work to be completed on the nearby supports.

Scaffolding set up next to rocky, reddish cliffs under a cloudy sky, with green trees partially visible.

Scaffolding is still present near one of the mountain peaks, which does appear to have a fresh paint job or protective coating.

Two large artificial rocks with a wooden fence and some construction materials visible in the background.

Portions of the new track near the top of the mountain are covered in plastic, likely to protect them from painting and concrete work.

Weathered wooden structure with scaffolding and metal equipment, set against a rocky, reddish background.

Inside the barn structure, a few tagged props still remain. In our last update, there was a white piece just to the right of the barn believed to be some sort of testing device.

A wooden roller coaster track passes in front of rocky orange cliffs and a cave-like tunnel entrance.

That white device has now been replaced with a larger, yellow and black testing mechanism. These will help crew members run tests based on the size of the ride vehicles in order to make sure guests cannot accidentally get hurt because the new track is too close to the walls.

A yellow and black windmill structure stands in front of rocky orange cliffs behind a wooden fence.

Another of the new testing devices can be seen past some of the rock structures and caution cones.

A wooden roller coaster in front of red rocky cliffs is reflected in a calm body of water under a partly cloudy sky.

The safety devices are currently being used at the entrances and exits to buildings and caves along the coaster’s ride path, as these pose the largest safety concern in relation to guest position in ride vehicles.

A section of a rocky roller coaster under construction, with orange cones and wooden barriers blocking the tracks.

Although the new track installation is likely complete, there are still orange caution cones sitting around this curve of the track for crew member safety.

Red rock canyon theme park ride under construction, with scaffolding and equipment surrounding the structures and tracks.

From the  Walt Disney World Railroad we could see the entire town of Tumbleweed is still completely covered in scaffolding as the repainting work continues. The Gold Dust Saloon Building looks to be nearly complete on the front side. This building, which was previously a darker shade of teal, is now all light blue.

Construction workers on scaffolding repairing a theme park ride with a rocky mountain backdrop and blue sky.

While scaffolding is still up around Tumbleweed, the majority of crew members were focused on one project, which appears to be some new structural elements. There are some new wooden posts attached to the side of the track that were recently added to the project.

Construction workers in safety gear work on scaffolding in front of artificial red rock structures under a cloudy sky.

These wooden posts are a bit too close to the actual ride track to become permanent, so they are likely a temporary measure while work on this side continues.

A roller coaster passes by scaffolding and construction at a western-themed amusement park attraction.

Construction crew members were working on adding a painted sign to the left side of the saloon in our last update, and that sign now appears to be complete. It reads, “Hot Baths: Soap & Towels 5¢. The text is white on a red background.

A Western-themed roller coaster under construction, surrounded by scaffolding and desert rock scenery.

While the first paint work began on the saloon, most of the other structures in Tumbleweed most have now been repainted. The short building to the left of the left of the stagecoach used to be a dark shade of brown, but it is now painted bright yellow. The stagecoach has also received a new coat of paint and signage.

Workers in safety vests on scaffolding around a fake tree and red rocks, with cacti and blue sky in the background.

The tree on the mountain range is also still completely surrounded by scaffolding as work continues on the facade, and likely interior, of the attraction before ride testing begins.

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad closed for refurbishment in January and will reopen in 2026. A more exact opening timeframe was not announced, but the most recent permit related to construction expires in April 2026. Disney said the ride will have “a little bit of new magic” when it reopens.

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