Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at Magic Kingdom to undergo major refurbishment, closing the attraction for at least a year!

The wildest ride in the wilderness is not gonna be so wild for a long, long time...

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at Magic Kingdom is to receive a major refurbishment, closing the attraction for at least a year!

Bad news for fans of the wildest ride in the wilderness, as Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is temporarily closing soon, with Walt Disney World confirming rumors that have been circulating around Frontierland for quite some time.

As predicted, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at the Magic Kingdom Park is to undergo a major refurbishment project which will close the ride for upwards of a year, the longest downtime for the attraction since it opened in 1980.

One of Magic Kingdom's most popular attractions, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad will close beginning January 6, 2025.

The coaster will be closed for over a year, with Walt Disney World planing not planning to reopen the attraction until sometime in 2026, promising that the ride will return with "a little bit of new magic."

Although the exact details of the refurbishment is unknown, a previously filed permit for the project shows that Coastal Steel Inc. will be undertaking "General Construction" on the coaster. It is expected that major work is planned for the ride system to enhance its longevity and to ensure smooth ride operations into the future.

Speculation points to a refurbishment in the scope of Disneyland's Big Thunder Mountain Railroad renovation in 2012, which included new ride vehicles, track replacements, and freshened mountain scener.

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