Crews are getting ready to test one of the roller coaster trains of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at Magic Kingdom after replacing the ride’s track.
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Refurbishment
WDWNT caught sight of this refurbished train last week. The train is still visible from the Walt Disney World Railroad, now with clearance envelopes attached to one of its cars. Crews were working on strapping the envelopes to the seats of the first car behind the train engine.
Clearance envelopes are large circular devices that test the space between a car and anything else on a coaster. These are used for ride testing to ensure guests won’t be hitting their heads or limbs on anything. Although Big Thunder Mountain Railroad appears to be approximately the same ride as before refurbishment, all the track being replaced could lead to minor changes in the ride’s clearance, so it’s important to test.
Disney has already tested the ride with clearance envelopes on carts instead of full trains. An envelope is currently visible on a cart near an opening in the mountain. After clearance testing is complete, crews will test with dummies.
A tent has been erected next to the coaster’s bridge, indicating crew members have been working in this area. Rockwork needs to be reconstructed around some new boards where the bridge meets a building.
In the town of Tumbleweed, there haven’t been significant changes to the buildings or wagon. But there is a tarp covering some props on the side of the track closest to the Walt Disney World Railroad. This is near a refurbished prop cart we already spotted. A wagon wheel appears to be sticking out from under the tarp. This is where a man in a bathtub usually floats when the area is filled with water.
Crews have removed scaffolding from around the town’s tree. There used to be possums on the tree, but they were removed early during refurbishment.
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad will reopen in 2026 with “a little bit of new magic.” Watch our POV video of the coaster below.
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