Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Overhaul Preparations Continue as Another Permit is Filed

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Big Thunder Mountain Railroad overview

Posted: Wednesday December 4, 2024 1:47pm ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

Disney has filed a new permit for Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom as preparations continue for the extensive refurbishment project starting in early 2025.

Big Thunder Mountain will be closed for a lengthy refurbishment starting January 6, 2025

The permit, filed today, is assigned to long-time Disney Imagineering partner Elite AV Systems Inc. and expires on December 3, 2025.

Elite AV Systems Inc. has a history of working on recent Disney projects, focusing on technical and electrical components.

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is scheduled to close on January 6, 2025, for what Disney has described as its most extensive refurbishment to date. Previous permits for the project included work with Coastal Steel Inc. for general construction and DPR Construction for complex structural updates. The DPR Construction permit is valid through March 13, 2026.

Disney has previously said it plans to reopen Big Thunder Mountain in 2026, promising the ride will return with "a little bit of new magic."

Early site preparations for a crane installation are already underway

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Goofyernmost12 hours ago

If I read it correctly, they are replacing the old extensively used tracks with new ones. I took that to mean that it is just the physical tracks not the design of the tracks. No change in the direction they took. Along with that, and more importantly, they have been changing the "show" scenes (plussing it, so to speak) with some different scenes and freshening what previously existed. Please correct me if I misunderstood what the plans were.

TheCoasterNerd22 hours ago

I heard the same thing. Also at least one wall knocked down in the station

Delta-710 days ago

Can’t be certain, but I had heard from someone who previously worked at the attraction that the ride’s controls (“tower”) would be reconfigured as part of this refurbishment.

flyerjab10 days ago

Not being an engineer or familiar with construction projects of this nature, since the entire track was changed, were the mechanics and/or controlling system also changed out? I’m probably not using the correct terminology here so apologies for that. I’m even talking about the control panels the cast members stand in back off while the trains load and unload.

esskay10 days ago

Yep probably intentional tbh, within a year or so it'll look 'rust red' so will fit the ride really well!

JoeCamel10 days ago

Florida sun will fix that quick

Delta-710 days ago

By the way, that boiler jacket is such a bright red that it’s hurting my eyes. At least the way the sun’s shining on it.

Disgruntled Walt10 days ago

I'm really digging (get it, in a mine!) the new color scheme on the cars. The days of gaudy orange are passed!

Delta-711 days ago

Another train (IM Brave) is now on site and testing. I wonder if the other trains have arrived as well. https://blogmickey.com/2026/01/sporadic-ride-testing-continues-at-big-thunder-mountain-railroad/

FigmentFan8211 days ago

Fingers crossed this opens by end of may

dmc49312 days ago

I’m a tragic optimist it doesn’t usually get me very far

HauntedPirate12 days ago

If they say "spring", it can mean anywhere from mid-March through mid-June. I looked forward to Rat in March 2020 and that not opening then was a disappointment. Thankfully I had already ridden the original in DLP, and the Epcot area is such a downgrade/letdown from the one in Paris, so I wasn't altogether disappointed that we missed it. Set the bar low with Disney and it's hard to be disappointed.