Big Thunder Mountain Railroad closed in early 2025 for a year-long refurbishment and has officially reopened with enhancements and a new height requirement!

On January 6, 2025, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad closed for a lengthy refurbishment, with Disney updating with new effects and enhancements. Well, were happy to say you can now ride the wildest ride in the wilderness once again – Big Thunder Mountain Railroad has reopened!

The New Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

Ready for a bit of backstory on Big Thunder?

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad’s narrative is rooted in the lore of America’s early gold rush era. According to the attraction’s backstory, Bullion founded the Big Thunder Mining Company after striking gold in the region, only to find his operations repeatedly disrupted by unexplained phenomena: equipment failures, cave-ins, and forces that seemed to resist every attempt to extract the mountain’s riches.

All aboard Big Thunder Mountain Railroad! The wildest ride in the wilderness reopens May 3 at Magic Kingdom Park in Walt Disney World with new magic following a mountain-top to cavern-deep refurbishment, ensuring the classic fan favorite attraction will delight guests for years to come. Amy Smith, Photographer.

That tension between human ambition and the untameable wilderness remains central to the experience, and Disney says the refurbishment was designed with that story firmly in mind.

A New Track and Height Requirement

Central to the refurbishment was the installation of a brand-new track system and updated passenger trains. Disney says the changes were carefully implemented to maintain the attraction’s trademark character while improving ride quality and adding new movement and detail throughout the experience.

Photo by Morgan Flaherty

Following a comprehensive safety review, the attraction has also reopened with a lowered height requirement of 38 inches, down from the previous 40-inch minimum. The change means a broader range of younger guests will now be able to experience the ride.

Discovering the Rainbow Caverns

Among the updates is an expanded sequence set inside a series of underground caverns. Guests will pass through luminous, phosphorescent pools that illuminate iridescent stalagmites and stalactites, a visually striking moment insider the Rainbow Caverns.

The scene is presented as more than just a visual treat. Within the attraction’s storyline (which follows gold rush prospector Barnabas T. Bullion and his ill-fated Big Thunder Mining Company), the caverns carry an ominous undercurrent, hinting at the mysterious and seemingly supernatural forces that have long plagued the mountain.