Credit: DisneyMagic Kingdom Park hasn’t had the easiest ride this morning.
First opened on October 1, 1971, Magic Kingdom marked the beginning of Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. Designed as a collection of themed areas, the park’s hub, Cinderella Castle, sits in the middle of multiple themed lands featuring world-class attractions such as “it’s a small world,” Jungle Cruise, TRON Lightcycle / Run, and the newly opened Tiana’s Bayou Adventure.
Decades later, it’s the most visited theme park in the world. However, that doesn’t mean it doesn’t face its fair share of obstacles.
Magic Kingdom Park opened today and has faced a series of operational issues. When guests arrived at the park at 9 a.m., four of its most popular attractions were unexpectedly closed.
Niche tweet but I’m at Magic Kingdom on a Saturday. It’s 9am and Space Mountain, Thunder Mountain, Tron and Seven Dwarves Mine Train are all out of action. Ironically Tiana’s/Splash Mountain (which is always broken) is working fine, but this is going to be absolute chaos.
Niche tweet but I’m at Magic Kingdom on a Saturday. It’s 9am and Space Mountain, Thunder Mountain, Tron and Seven Dwarves Mine Train are all out of action. Ironically Tiana’s/Splash Mountain (which is always broken) is working fine, but this is going to be absolute chaos.
— Dr. Chris Ince (@Chris_Ince) September 7, 2024
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Pirates of the Caribbean, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, and Space Mountain were all off-limits, meaning Tiana’s Bayou Adventure was the only “mountain” ride available to guests (unusual, considering the string of issues it’s faced since replacing Splash Mountain earlier this year).
As of 12.30 p.m., Pirates of the Caribbean, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, and Space Mountain have all resumed operation.
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, however, remains listed as “temporarily closed” on the My Disney Experience app.
At present, it’s unclear why the ride has closed. However, a major refurbishment has been rumored for Big Thunder Mountain Railroad for months now, with the idea being that Disney would rip out and replace the entire track. Earlier this year, WDW Magic unearthed a permit assigned to repeat Disney partner Coastal Steel Inc. that contains plans to carry out “General Construction” by August 8, 2025.
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad hasn’t had a major renovation in 12 years. The ride was shut down for four months in 2012, and its track layout has stayed unchanged since it originally opened 45 years ago.
Should the ride close for refurbishment, that would mark one other major development in this area of Magic Kingdom Park.
As Josh D’Amaro, Chairperson of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, announced at D23, the park will soon welcome its own take on Cars Land on what’s currently Tom Sawyer’s Island and the Rivers of America (RIP). A Villains Land will also be placed between Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Haunted Mansion.
The park is also set to receive a brand-new nighttime parade, Disney Starlight, in the summer of 2025.
What’s your favorite ride at Magic Kingdom Park?