Credit: DisneyWalt Disney World has spent much of the past year making changes to some of its most recognizable attractions, but not every update has gone exactly as fans expected.
Even after a major refurbishment, certain details can remain unfinished, leaving longtime visitors wondering whether something they remember will ever return.
That’s exactly what happened at Magic Kingdom, where a popular attraction reopened earlier this year with several improvements but also a noticeable absence.
For months, fans waited for Disney to address one of the missing elements. Now, Walt Disney Imagineering has finally confirmed that work is underway to bring it back.
And while the restoration isn’t completely finished, visitors can already spot the first signs of progress.
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Reopened With Major Changes
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad has remained a favorite among Magic Kingdom visitors for decades. The Frontierland roller coaster takes riders on a fast-moving journey through an abandoned mining town, complete with sharp turns, sudden drops, and plenty of details scattered throughout the experience.
However, the attraction spent a significant amount of time closed while Disney completed an extensive refurbishment.
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad officially reopened on May 3, 2026, following a 16-month shutdown.
The project included a complete track replacement, giving riders a smoother experience while preserving the excitement that made the attraction so popular in the first place.
Disney also refreshed several scenes throughout the ride, bringing new life to portions of the attraction that had been entertaining visitors for years.
For many fans, the reopening was a welcome development. After spending more than a year without one of Magic Kingdom’s most recognizable roller coasters, visitors could finally return to the wildest ride in the wilderness.
However, those familiar with the attraction noticed that something was missing.
Despite all the improvements, Disney had not restored every detail that appeared before the refurbishment.
One particular group of characters had disappeared from the ride, and their absence quickly became a talking point among longtime fans.
Disney World Confirms Missing Characters Are Finally Returning
On November 3, Walt Disney Imagineering confirmed that the opossums previously featured along Big Thunder Mountain Railroad are officially making their return.
The animals were once part of a memorable scene in the attraction’s flooded mining town of Tumbleweed.
Before the refurbishment, riders could spot the opossum family hanging from a tree branch above the track. Although the scene was relatively small compared to the attraction’s larger effects, it added another bit of humor to the experience.
Unfortunately, the animals were nowhere to be found when Big Thunder Mountain Railroad reopened in May.
Their disappearance disappointed visitors who remembered seeing them during previous rides.
Now, Disney has started bringing the family back.
According to Walt Disney Imagineering, the mother and father opossums have returned to their familiar tree in Tumbleweed.
The team also confirmed that the remaining family members will return in the future.
For now, riders can spot two opossums positioned along the tree trunk.
One sits higher in the tree, with its long pink tail extending down the bark. The other appears to be climbing downward toward the base.
Both feature blue-gray fur, pale faces, and pink noses.
Because the roller coaster track passes close to the tree, visitors should have an opportunity to spot the animals as their train moves through the scene.
While the restoration might seem minor compared to replacing an entire roller coaster track, it represents another step toward completing the attraction’s refurbishment.
Why Were the Opossums Removed in the First Place?
The missing animals weren’t necessarily part of Disney’s original plans for the refurbished attraction.
According to reports, the opossums failed a clearance test following the installation of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad’s new track.
The animals previously hung from a branch extending over the ride path, which meant their placement needed to meet the attraction’s clearance requirements.
After the track replacement, that original arrangement reportedly no longer passed the necessary testing.
As a result, Disney reopened the roller coaster without the characters.
The company indicated in May that the opossums would eventually return, but it did not provide a specific timeline.
That left fans waiting for months without knowing exactly when the missing scene would be restored.
The situation also raised questions about whether Disney would bring the characters back in their original positions or make adjustments to accommodate the updated track.
Although the mother and father have now returned, Imagineering has not confirmed whether the younger opossums will eventually hang over the track in the same way they did before the refurbishment.
For visitors who remember the original scene, that remains an important detail.
Disney could restore the familiar arrangement or make changes to how the remaining animals appear.
Until Imagineering provides additional information, the final appearance of the scene remains uncertain.
Signs of the Restoration Appeared Weeks Ago
Although Disney only recently confirmed the opossums’ return, there were indications that something was happening around their former location.
On October 3, observers noticed a dark tarp covering part of the tree in Tumbleweed.
The covering appeared near the area where the original opossum branch had been attached.
At the time, the tarp raised questions about whether Disney was preparing to reinstall the missing characters.
Then, on October 8, Walt Disney Imagineering filed a permit for the installation of set elements at Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.
The timing immediately caught the attention of those following the attraction’s refurbishment.
While the permit did not specifically confirm that the opossums were returning, it suggested that additional work was planned for the roller coaster.
Now, with two members of the opossum family back in place, those earlier developments appear connected to the restoration.
Interestingly, the tarp remains over the upper portion of the tree.
That could indicate that Imagineers still have additional work to complete before the entire family returns.
However, Disney has not confirmed exactly what the covering is hiding or when crews will remove it.
For now, the tarp serves as another reminder that the scene is not quite finished.
Walt Disney Imagineering Completes Work Overnight
Disney also offered a behind-the-scenes look at the work involved in returning the animals to Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.
Rather than shutting down the attraction during regular operating hours, Imagineers completed the installation overnight.
Images from the project show team members wearing Walt Disney Imagineering safety vests while working from scaffolding positioned around the tree.
Temporary lights illuminated the area as crews worked to place the animals back into the scene.
One of the opossums was already positioned higher in the tree while the team continued working below.
Completing the installation overnight allowed Disney to make progress without interrupting regular daytime operations.
That’s particularly important for an attraction like Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, which remains a popular destination for visitors exploring Frontierland.
The work also demonstrates how much effort can go into restoring even relatively small pieces of a theme park attraction.
Although the opossums don’t represent a major new ride system or a large-scale addition, their return still required planning, installation work, and coordination.
And with the rest of the family still missing, additional work could be coming.
More Changes Are Still Coming to Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
The return of the mother and father opossums is encouraging news for fans who have been waiting to see the original scene restored.
However, the project isn’t finished.
Walt Disney Imagineering has confirmed that the remaining animals are coming back, but the company has not announced an exact return date.
It’s also unclear whether Disney will recreate the original hanging arrangement or introduce a modified version of the scene.
For now, visitors riding Big Thunder Mountain Railroad can enjoy the first two returning characters while keeping an eye on the tree for additional changes.
The restoration also shows that Disney is continuing to address smaller details months after the roller coaster’s major refurbishment ended.
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad reopened with a smoother track and refreshed scenes, but the missing opossums left part of the experience incomplete for longtime fans.
Now, six months after the attraction welcomed riders back, Disney is finally addressing that unfinished element.
For guests who enjoy spotting the little details throughout Magic Kingdom, the returning animals provide another reason to pay attention during their next ride.
And once the rest of the family arrives, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad will regain another familiar piece of its longtime character.
