Credit: DisneyYesterday, October 14, 2024, The Walt Disney Company’s Disney Experiences division dropped some major theme park news. Multiple new developments surfaced at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Central Florida, including the year-long closure of an iconic Magic Kingdom location.
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Closes Indefinitely
Commencing on January 6, 2025, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, found in Frontierland at Magic Kingdom Park, will close and is expected to open sometime in 2026. There were no details shared regarding the reasoning for the lengthy closure, but that hasn’t stopped Disney park fans from trying to decipher the news.
Scott Gustin (@ScottGustin) shared the Big Thunder Mountain closure update on X (formerly Twitter), and fans were quick to offer their input.
NEW: Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at Magic Kingdom Park will close for an extended refurbishment on Jan. 6, 2025. The last day to ride before it closes is Jan. 5.
The ride is planned to reopen in 2026 with new enhancements. No other details provided.
NEW: Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at Magic Kingdom Park will close for an extended refurbishment on Jan. 6, 2025. The last day to ride before it closes is Jan. 5.
The ride is planned to reopen in 2026 with new enhancements. No other details provided. pic.twitter.com/TcXOVNnArY
— Scott Gustin (@ScottGustin) October 14, 2024
While the House of Mouse has not confirmed this, these new enhancements may be similar to the update Disneyland Resort’s version of the roller coaster received in 2013.
Over a decade ago, the ride in Disneyland Park was shut for over a year, reopening with mostly new tracks and trains and a new ending featuring projection mapping and lighting. It wasn’t long ago that Walt Disney World’s version was briefly closed for refurbishment, but the timeframe given here suggests more extensive work will be committed.
Upon the news of its long closure being made public, fans took to social media to offer their own takes on the refurbishment.
The American Culturist (@MericaCulture) wrote:
A whole year for what? [Bob] Iger keeps wasting money fixing things that aren’t broken…..
A whole year for what? Iger keeps wasting money fixing things that aren't broken…..
— 🇺🇸 The American Culturist 🇺🇸 (@MericaCulture) October 14, 2024
The Walt Disney Company’s Chief Executive Officer has received increasing amounts of criticism since his surprise return to steer the Disney corporation in late 2022, following Bob Chapek’s immediate ousting.
About the update over on the West Coast, Dee Bee (@RopeDropLife) showed disappointment at the Big Thunder Mountain closure news:
A whole year for dynamite lighting effects? Geez
A whole year for dynamite lighting effects? Geez
— Dee Bee (@RopeDropLife) October 14, 2024
Another reply also predicted that this closure means an updated version of the ride; Native Honesty (@Raingoons) wrote:
Maybe they’ll take the chance to plus it up to the level Anaheims is at.
Particularly the finale scene with the explosions smoke and lit fuses
Maybe they’ll take the chance to plus it up to the level Anaheims is at.
Particularly the finale scene with the explosions smoke and lit fuses
— Native Honesty (@Raingoons) October 14, 2024
Others noted the date of the closure–January 6–being another notable January 6 for the history books. The other being the U.S. Capitol riots in 2021.
Lex (@wheretolex) posited that the closure might signal an even bigger retheme, one that may include the Cars franchise that is soon to be added to Frontierland at Magic Kingdom.
Radiator springs racers in coaster form?? lol what is happening?!
Radiator springs racers in coaster form?? lol what is happening?!
— Lex 🌎 (@wheretolex) October 14, 2024
Related: Disney World Announces Extended Closure at Hollywood Studios, Effective Through 2025
Radiator Springs Racers is the e-ticket attraction located in Cars Land at Disneyland’s sister park, Disneyland California Adventure. The addition of the Cars franchise to Walt Disney World Resort was announced at this year’s D23 Expo in Anaheim, where Disney Experiences chairman Josh D’Amaro surprised fans with major theme park updates.
A Cars land–not a carbon copy of Disneyland’s–will be added to Frontierland in the coming years, as will a Villains Land behind Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.
The colloquially called “Beyond Big Thunder” was first teased at 2022’s Expo, wherein D’Amaro and fellow Disney executives Jennifer Lee (Walt Disney Animation Studios) and Chris Beatty (Walt Disney Imagineering) hinted at major new IP injections across the theme park portfolio in the near future.
In 2024, those plans were solidified. Magic Kingdom Park would gain both the Disney Villains and Cars land, while Hollywood Studios would get the company’s first Monsters, Inc. land. D’Amaro also confirmed that DinoLand, U.S.A. would be rethemed to the Tropical Americas, with the location being known as the Pueblo Esperanza and featuring the Encanto and Indiana Jones franchises.
“The American West has always been about keeping your eyes on the horizon … believing in yourself, carving your own path, and striving toward success,” D’Amaro said when introducing Cars land at the D23 Expo (via Disney Parks Blog). “That goes for miners in the mountains, bears from the country, a princess from the bayou … or a racecar from the big city.”
Disney confirmed that the unnamed Cars-themed land would feature two attractions: one “thrilling rally race” targeted for older guests and another for the whole family. But as a shiny new thing is announced, something old has to be taken away.
Related: Disney World Shuts Down Ride for Overhaul Weeks After Reopening
Perhaps the most controversial update, which D’Amaro skirted around at this year’s INBOUND conference in Boston, MA, was the confirmation that the Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island will be completely removed from Frontierland with the addition of a Cars land.
The arrival of the Cars franchise will come shortly after the opening of another Frontierland newcomer: Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. The Princess and the Frog-themed ride officially replaced Splash Mountain earlier this year.
How do you feel about Disney World closing Big Thunder Mountain Railroad for over a year? Let Inside the Magic know in the comments down below!