Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at Magic Kingdom is getting closer to reopening with an effect restored and cast members possibly testing the ride on Wednesday.

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Refurbishment

The pipes sticking out of the queue building were either repainted or replaced recently. We saw steam rising from the pipe on the far side of the roof. The effect may have just been testing this morning, but it’s still a good sign that the refurbishment is almost done.

We previously saw geysers being tested.

The fencing and scrim along the ride’s exit has been expanded to now include construction walls. When the ride reopens and the construction walls in the foreground come down, the walls around the exit queue will remain to block the ongoing construction of Piston Peak National Park.

We saw regular cast members (not construction workers or Imagineers) heading into Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, maybe for testing or training.

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is scheduled to reopen in early May, but an exact date hasn’t been announced.

Pavement work continues in front of the attraction with a fresh patch of brown sidewalk surrounded by ropes. This matches other pavement completed in the area. The older pavement is more of a reddish color.

Some of that red pavement next to the new brown patch has been scored — cut to make removal easier.

When Big Thunder reopens, it will have an updated opening scene with a transformation of the Rainbow Caverns, refreshed Audio-Animatronics, and gold props. The ride’s entire track was replaced.

Watch our full ride multi-cam POV video of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad from before its closure below.

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