BAY LAKE, Fla. – Walt Disney World’s wilder and more legendary than ever Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is calling.
The beloved Magic Kingdom roller coaster is reopening May 3 after closing in January 2025 for a sweeping refurbishment that brought a new track, a lowered height requirement of 38 inches, refreshed trains, and a deeper dive into the mountain’s legendary lore.
At the heart of the reimagined experience is the legend of Barnabas T. Bullion, founder of the Big Thunder Mountain Mining Company.
According to Dan Flynn, Executive Show Management with Walt Disney Imagineering, the refresh expands on a story that guests have long loved.
“Guests will finally be able to crest one of our last hills and see that gold motherlode,” Flynn said. “But the mountain still, with defiance, will push you out to try and warn you that anybody who does try to mine in the mountain — just as a warning as you go forward.”
One of the most visually striking additions is the transformation of the Rainbow Caverns. Flynn described the scene as layered with phosphorescent pools and iridescent stalagmites and stalactites.
“You’ll start hearing a menacing trance rumble as it transforms into something more ominous to tell stories of things to come as guests continue to rise up that hill,” Flynn said.
The mountain now features more than 2,000 bats in that section alone — raising the stakes on the mountain’s age-old warning to stay away from the gold.
Flynn also highlighted the return of two working smokestacks on the mountain’s exterior — a detail that had been dormant for years.
“Those smokestacks had not been running for a long time,” he said. “We were able to bring back that lore and tie it into — it’s a working mine, and it’s there for our guests to experience.”
The attraction’s queue was also enhanced to better weave the Bullion storyline throughout the wait. Flynn said the refurbishment reflects Disney’s broader commitment to preserving its classics.
“We try to invest not only in our new experiences, but dedicate that experience and that funding towards keeping our existing attractions — those classics — refreshed for our guests to enjoy from generation to generation,” he said.
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad’s return also comes as Walt Disney World reshapes its Frontierland area with the construction of Piston Peak National Park, a “Cars”-themed land currently taking shape nearby.