Crews are testing the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad geysers, as well as the coaster’s trains, ahead of its spring opening. The Magic Kingdom ride has been closed since January 2025 for a major refurbishment.
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Refurbishment
In front of the attraction, we saw two crew members painting lampposts among the ride’s rockwork. Both posts appeared to be half-painted.
Behind the crew members, we saw an empty train climbing the lift hill. The ride has been testing on and off for a few months. The trains and the entire track have been replaced.
Beyond the rocks and faces of the ride’s entrance, we saw two geysers sometimes spraying water towards the sky. Guests pass these geysers near the end of the ride, in a hot springs scene.
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad will reopen this spring. Changes include an updated opening scene with a transformation of the Rainbow Caverns, refreshed Audio-Animatronics, and gold props. Here is the concept art of the new Rainbow Caverns opening scene:
The trains will enter the Rainbow Caverns, full of hundreds of bats, phosphorescent pools, and shimmering stalagmites and stalactites. It starts as a majestic, beautiful scene.
But then thunder will rumble as the scene changes to something menacing.
Watch our POV of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad from before its closure below:
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